Results 11,001-11,020 of 24,571 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Sometimes less is more. I ask Senator Conway-Walsh to look at and reflect on the unemployment figure in Ireland today, compared with the figure when we came into government.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Kelleher raised the important issue of Traveller ethnicity. I spoke to the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, on this matter last week. He is working on it and is willing to come to the House to discuss it. The necessary piece of work is in progress and is evolving. I will be happy to bring the Minister of State to the House when it reaches a certain point. Senator Humphreys...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I am just making the point. To be fair to the Minister in the case of Bus Éireann, he referred in the Dáil last night to the creation by Seán Lemass of the mechanisms of State that trade unionists want to see remaining in place and being used. If those mechanisms do not work, the Minister should be allowed to intervene if necessary. I think the Labour Party, Sinn Féin...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator would say that.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: When Senator McDowell was a Minister, he was part of a group that was getting lampooned all the time. The Minister, Deputy Ross, is doing his job.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: There is a mechanism in place around the engagement with unions on Bus Éireann.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The people voted him in. That is the reality. Democracy is the way it is, whether Senator Gavan likes it or not.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I would like to give Senators Humphreys and Gavan and the members of the Fianna Fáil Party a sense of cheer. I have put in a request to have the Minister, Deputy Ross, come to the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I look forward to him coming here so that we can have a debate with him.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I will put a time limit on the Minister's speech this time as well.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: There will be no ambiguity about that. Senator Coghlan raised the important issue of obstetric services at Tralee General Hospital. He highlighted the issue of risk management. I commend him for that. I would like to pick up on one reference he made to the hospital. Clinics are being held in the hospital. I understand that the issue is one of shared theatre space. I might be wrong in...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I know, but the Minister told the Dáil last night during a Private Members' debate on this issue that the Government is committed to providing transport for people. I can circulate a copy of that speech to the Senator. There is also a commitment to providing alternatives, but I hope it will not come to that. My view is that we need to have a public service bus transport company. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Mullen made a meandering contribution on abortion information and funding.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I was going to use the word "specific". I heard the conversation with former President Robinson this morning. I must say I thought it was a very measured conversation. I must go back and listen to it. I thought I was listening to a different station.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: No.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: One thing that struck me during this morning's interview was the reluctance of former President Robinson to engage in a political discourse out of respect for the Government and the Taoiseach. I thought that was very interesting.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator might agree with me in that regard. I take his point about human rights across the world. The Members of this House, like the members of the Government, should stand up for human rights, regardless of whether we are dealing with the leaders of Russia, China, Japan, England, the United Kingdom or any other country. It is unfortunate that the new leader of the United States has...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I am not in any way condoning the fact that it has not been implemented in full. The Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, and in fairness, her predecessor, Kathleen Lynch, have prioritised mental health services. We have as a result seen an increase in the budget for them. There is now a proposal that there be weekend access in 17 mental health areas, with partial cover being provided...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Second Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and commend her on the role she is playing in respect of her health promotion portfolio. In the context of this Bill, it is important to focus predominantly on the issue of health promotion. I refer to and agree with the point Senator Colm Burke raised on prescription drug costs and the charge being allocated or ascribed to medical card patients....