Results 10,441-10,460 of 24,339 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (28 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I thank the Minister for Health for the initiatives contained in the Bill. The Bill is a positive development, which is about looking after those who are most in need and ensuring ease of access, as the Minister said in the Dáil, for people who require health care. This means that people with disabilities will be empowered to ensure they...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Order of Business is No. 1, Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and adjourn not later than 2.45 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each; No. 2, Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: At the beginning, I apologise to the House as I must make an amendment to the Order of Business. The Minister, Deputy Zappone, has had to defer the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 today for a personal reason which I will explain later to Members. I move to withdraw No. 1 and take the other items on the Order of Business as outlined. We will suspend at the end of the Order of...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Until 2.45 p.m. I will explain to Members later. This has just come to me now. My apologies for that.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: No, on the basis of ministerial commitments.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the 18 Senators that have-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Ardagh raised the very important and topical issue of the anniversary of the Treaties of Rome. The summit in Rome this week is a very important one. The Senator is correct and I hope we will have a debate on the future of the European Union, not just within the Brexit Seanad committee, but as a House. Senator Ardagh is correct to raise the point that there is a mood change within...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: We can argue about its quality or lack of quality. Yes, it is popular to knock the salaries of high earners - Senator Norris did a good job defending us here today - and it is necessary to examine how and what one pays people but we must have a public broadcaster that is independent and can produce not just news, sports and current affairs programming but also drama and coverage of arts,...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: That must be examined. We all grew up watching the TV sponger advertisements on the television and the threat of the van outside one's door. I remember those advertisements well. It is an issue we must consider. I agree that we should invite the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, to the House to discuss the matter. Senator Lombard raised...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator's party is for high spending and high taxes-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: -----but it cannot live in that utopian bubble all the time. One must live in the reality.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator should read Cliff Taylor's article in The Irish Times and other commentary on our dependence on foreign direct investment. If the Senator had his way, there would be no Apple in Cork, no manufacturing in the country-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: -----and no pharmaceutical companies.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator cannot have it both ways. I join Senator Hopkins in welcoming new members to the community in Ballaghaderreen. I thank the local people for the welcome they have afforded the new residents. I agree with Senator Hopkins that the education piece must be put in place by the Roscommon and Galway ETB. I will be happy to talk to the Minister about that. Senator Norris raised a...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: -----and I make no apology for saying that. I have no difficulty with being here. I had the highest voting record in the Dáil in the last Oireachtas, but it counts for nothing in the overall scheme of things.Our job is not just about being in Dublin, in Parliament, in the Chamber or committees, but about other parts of our work. I know that some Senators claim we do not have a...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: -----with the exception of the six university Senators, if we were to adopt the policy that we have no constituency, it would be a different story. It is a point at which we need to look on a wider scale, given that we are Members of the Oireachtas and take our role seriously. There is a multifaceted approach to our job; as such, it is ridiculous that members have to use a fob I have said...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: In the recent Assembly elections I canvassed in the North and health was an issue for the people I met on the doorstep.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I do not see Sinn Féin's health document being widely published at this stage. It might publish and show it to us.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I apologise to Senator Gerry Horkan. I was taking note-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I agree fully with the Senator that a seven-month delay is inordinately long when people require an access pass, sticker or licence to park. In some cases, the parking space can be outside someone's door, in a church car park or a shopping centre. The point raised by the Senator is important. Senator Colm Burke referred to Ireland's ranking in the World Economic Forum's democracy index,...