Results 20,321-20,340 of 24,376 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Horticultural Peat (Temporary Measures) Bill 2021: Second Stage (30 Nov 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: That is fine.

Seanad: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Minister of State for being here. This is an important and ambitious plan for Ireland and, more importantly, for the regions. In the context of what the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, is trying to achieve, with a modal shift in traffic from cars, then this plan is to be admired and supported. However, the M20, the Cork to Limerick motorway, is of gargantuan importance to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: Today is World AIDS Day. We must as a country, collectively and individually, continue to remove the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. We must also do so in the world of sport, where a parallel exercise is necessary. I ask for a debate in this House, and with the Government, on the criteria used in the selection of host countries for major sporting events, such as the Olympics and FIFA...

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: That is not fair.

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: Be fair now. That is not fair.

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy. I ask, not in a discordant manner but in a friendly one, that Senator Mullen withdraw his remarks and the inference attached regarding former Members. It does not serve us well in the debate. There is much more that binds us than disunites us. I respectfully ask Senator Mullen in this context to do so.

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I appreciate that.

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: The Acting Chairperson did a very good job in intervening. To be fair, in his own right Senator Mullen would be justified in standing up and lambasting some of us if we did what he did. This is a very important motion. The world stands at a crossroads. This week, The New York Timeshad a very interesting article on China, Taiwan and the growing closeness between Europe and the Taiwanese...

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: -----on which we should all reflect in the fullness of time. For far too long, there has been a hands-off policy and a policy of keeping Europe and Taiwan at arm's length by European governments. Thankfully, that is changing. Senator Conway spoke about President Biden and relations with Taiwan. There comes a time in the affairs of men and women where we must stand up. We have made...

Seanad: Covid-19 and the New Measures (Health): Statements (1 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for attending this important debate. Yet again we are at a crossroads in the context of Covid-19. It is a bit like Groundhog Day with a recurring pandemic that continues to baffle eminent immunologists and virologists. We must certainly keep our guard up. I endorse the remarks made by my colleague and friend, Senator Burke, about the...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House, in particular, as Senator Conway said, on international disability day. It is important and appropriate that today we pay tribute to Senator Conway on his work and advocacy on disability matters.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: Today is an important day. I also said this on Wednesday when the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, was in the House. In a way, it is a bit like Groundhog Day. Many people thought in March 2020 we would be out of Covid-19 by the summer or Christmas. We are here again on the edge of the following Christmas. It amazes me that the experts know everything. They can pontificate on...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: That one is particularly good. I respect the fact that the Minister for Health is in the Lower House and cannot be here as he does not have the gift of bilocation. The Minister of State is his very willing and able replacement.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I am glad that the Cabinet sub-committee is meeting today. I ask the members of the Cabinet to make their decision based on the recommendation of NPHET sooner rather than later because what will happen? On Saturday, Sunday and Monday we will have every genius again pontificating and driving people daft. I say that with respect because I do not know all of the science. I also accept that...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I join colleagues in commending our front-line workers who worked so tirelessly yesterday to keep us all safe. I say "míle buíochas" to them. I agree with Senator Lombard that there is a need for the Office of Public Works, OPW, to expedite flood defence schemes across Cork as a matter of urgency. I exhort the OPW and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, to get on with the...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: Bring it on.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister to the House. This is an important Bill, but it is also a missed opportunity. We should not have taken this week and next week to do it, which are the last weeks in which it can be done. We should have done this in a rolling way. As I said on the Order of Business two weeks ago, our role as parliamentarians and the role of our staff have changed considerably over...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I made the point in the Chamber two weeks ago that our staff are parliamentary assistants, researchers, psychotherapists, sociologists and mental health experts. They are now social media gurus, journalists writing press releases and speeches, and deal with members of the public at their most vulnerable. Nobody is taking cognisance of that in officialdom. The role has changed, as has our...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: There are not too many who are trying to ride both horses in being a Deputy and a Seanadóir. As Members of the Upper House, the research we have to do in the scrutiny of legislation means that we deserve to have parliamentary assistants and not just one member of staff. I thank the Acting Chairperson for his indulgence.