Results 10,941-10,960 of 24,571 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator is not interested in the answer.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator is never interested in it.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Rose Conway-Walsh is never interested in knowing the real facts. Her party wants to tax people and spend its way out of everything.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: There is an election in the North and some day it will be found out up there also. Its policies have done nothing to help communities in the North.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Government must balance the need for foreign direct investment and to create jobs. Senator Colm Burke is right: when we took over in government, 15% of citizens were unemployed; today the figure is 7.1%. That means more men and women are at work, contributing to the State in order that more can be spent on health services. There is an extra €2.6 billion for capital...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: This and the last Government rescued the people-----

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: -----with no thanks due to Sinn Féin which both here and in the Dáil oppose everything everyday.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: One cannot have it both ways.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator's party has discovered in government in the North that it cannot do everything. The proof lies in the economy. Farmers will receive no payments from the European Union.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It is also reflected in hospitals and the education system. Schools and police stations have been closed, while the health system is in rag order. Senator Maria Byrne referred to the subject of mindfulness. I will be happy to have the Minister for Health come to the House to discuss it. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Helen McEntee, was here last week to speak...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I will forward a copy of the e-mail after the Order of Business. I share the Senator's view that there is an obligation on Tesco, as an employer, to treat its workers fairly and with respect. That means combining pay and conditions together because in some cases workers are on or just above the minimum wage and require protection. If what the Senator says is true, it is not good enough.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I appreciate that, but it is important to note that there are mechanisms of the State that could and should be used by all sides in that regard. Senator Michelle Mulherin raised the issue of immigration. While we have discussed it, I will be happy to have the Minister responsible come to the House to discuss it again. Senators Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Frank Feighan thanked...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The issue of the unity of the country is not the preserve of Sinn Féin.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It is the preserve of all of us. If one goes back to the Good Friday Agreement, it is about consent and all of us working together if we share that viewpoint, as I do. As such, it is not the preserve of Sinn Féin but about all of us having that aspiration.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I am just making the point. Every day Sinn Féin Senators mention a 32-county Ireland. Every political party is in favour of that principle. How we get there is what we must work on. It is important to make the point that it is not just the preserve of Sinn Féin.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I have every confidence in the Taoiseach who is leading the negotiations for us on Brexit. He has done a very good job in the six years since he took office. Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn raised the issue of broadband. I will be happy to have the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, come to the House to discuss it because the Senator is...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 3a, statements on progress on the national children's hospital, be taken on the conclusion of No. 3, with the time allocated to the debate not to exceed 45 minutes. The contributions of group spokespersons shall not exceed six minutes and the Minister will be given four minutes to reply at the end.

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Minister for the initiative and for acknowledging the presence of the councillors in the Gallery from AILG and LAMA. This Minister has engaged with representative groups of councillors and with us. It is the first time in 15 years that we have seen the advancement of the cause of councillors. Many of us have served on local authorities and recognise the importance of being a...

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: To be helpful, if Members want to share time or extend the time at the end, I would be happy with that.

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I propose that we extend the debate for 20 minutes.