Results 2,281-2,300 of 24,326 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I second the amendment to the Order of Business. I ask the Leader for an urgent debate on the twin issues of co-location and the role of An Bord Pleanála in the planning process. I do so in light of the decision today by An Bord Pleanála to go against its own inspector's decision to refuse planning permission to the Beacon Medical Group in the context of the co-located hospital in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I ask the Leader for an urgent debate regarding Seanad reform.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: It is a folly and an insult to the people that the Leader and the Deputy Leader are fighting over the seat in this House of former Senator Kelly, whom I congratulate on his election to the European Parliament. Are we serious about reform of the Seanad? Do we want to see democracy regarding this issue, which is not in the gift of the Leader or Senator Boyle?

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Nor is it in the gift of the Taoiseach. It is about democracy and if we want real democracy we should have reform of the Seanad——

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: ——as the Fine Gael Party proposed earlier this year.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I hope we will have meaningful reform of the Seanad and that the Leader and Senator Boyle will put their differences aside and support the alternative candidate from this side of the House for the proposed by-election. I congratulate former Senator Kelly on his magnificent victory in the European elections in Ireland South. I hope he serves the full five years in Europe and that he will come...

Seanad: Departmental Reports (16 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Cathaoirleach for again allowing me to raise the issue of the publication of the Cork docklands forum report. The development of the Cork docklands is critical in terms of infrastructure and employment. Cork is the country's second city and, under the national spatial strategy, a gateway city. It is the obvious counterfoil to Dublin. In 2007, the Government established the Cork...

Seanad: Departmental Reports (16 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: With respect, the reply from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is not satisfactory. It is an appalling response from a Government that has had 11 months to peruse, deliberate on and arrive at "an appropriate response" to the report. Why is there a question about the publication of the forum report? I accept this is not the Minister's Department but the reply is...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: It would not happen on the train to Cork.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I join with other speakers in asking the Leader to provide time, if possible this week, for a debate on rural Ireland and community life. Senator Ó Domhnaill spoke about the evening rural transport scheme which is to be cut. Let us not forget that three quarters of Ireland is rural. We need a viable transport link in rural areas. The Government is taking a short-sighted approach to...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: When is it going to act?

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Tell the Leader that.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: It is the Fianna Fáil way.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I call on the Leader to address two specific questions in his reply on the Order of Business. Given that we are celebrating the 90th anniversary of the first Dáil, have Members on the Government side adopted a new abstentionist policy to the House? When does the Government propose to hold a by-election for the vacancies arising in the membership of the Seanad? Is it the intention of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: With respect, it is.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Will the Leader facilitate a debate on the issue of social partnership? Never in the history of the State have we required social partnership more. I agree with Senator Donohoe, who is spot on. It is absurd that Ministers are paid exorbitant sums of money, well in excess of what they deserve. The Senator is correct to say we should cap the salaries of Deputies because we cannot afford to...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: How is he on Seanad reform?

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Will the Leader scrap the tax?

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: On a point of order, I asked the Leader two questions which he has not answered. I asked about the abstentionist policy of members of the Government and about the date of the by-election.