Results 2,581-2,600 of 24,326 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I congratulate Senator Ross on the Bill and commend him on bringing it before the House. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, and thank him for his great speech, which I listened to with incredulity. If ever I heard a case for Senator Ross's Bill, it was in the contributions of the Minister of State and Senators Ormonde and Butler. Senator Ormonde should buy a book entitled...

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: We must get rid of cronyism and patronage if we are to restore public trust and confidence in the political system.

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: If we are honest with one another, that is what we must do. The Bill is important because it seeks to provide accountability and transparency. If we take Senator Ormonde's point about qualifications, that will happen. I do not agree that someone should be debarred from appointment to a State board because he or she is a political appointee or a member of a political party. I never said...

Seanad: Denominational Schools (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I would like to share time with Senator Ross.

Seanad: Denominational Schools (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue, which was brought to my attention by parents and teachers and which has been commented on publicly by both Church of Ireland and Catholic clergy. The many fine Protestant schools in Cork, including Ashton School, St. Luke's national school, St. Michael's national school in Blackrock, St. Fin Barre's national school and St. Mary's...

Seanad: Denominational Schools (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Minister of State for his remarks. I made no reference to his faith, as he knows. His reply is wholly unsatisfactory given that the block grant is not the issue. An ancillary grant is being paid. Why is the advice of the Attorney General suddenly being sought on it? I hope we can have this clarified. As the Minister of State said in his reply, there are many schools providing...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: In light of the impending appointment of a new European Commissioner, what steps is the Government taking to ensure that we will get the right person? May we have a debate in this House on that appointment? I ask the acting leader to endorse the candidacy of John Bruton for the position of President of the European Council. What steps is he taking to ensure that the Government will support...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: He should get the job.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: With your permission, a Chathaoirligh, I wish Senator Boyle every success if he gets the appointment in Brussels as a member of the European Court of Auditors. I would wholeheartedly support him and wish him bon voyage.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I listened with amusement to Senators Leyden and Butler regarding social partnership. As I said yesterday the fragmentation between public and private workers has partly been caused by the media, but has been further accentuated by the Government in the last two budgets, and by the bad economic policies pursued by Fianna Fáil, primarily, over the past decade.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I will conclude on this remark. I was interrupted five times.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: My last sentence is that in the context of social partnership, worthwhile suggestions have been made this morning to the effect that we should invite IBEC and the ICTU to this Chamber, where we can have a meaningful discussion on it, rather than a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: However, the Deputy Leader does.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: In light of the impending budget and Friday's national day of protest, will the Leader facilitate a debate on social partnership? Never before was social partnership more needed. I am not sure if the Members opposite understand that we are bordering on civil unrest. People are genuinely angry and frustrated at being unable to see a light at the end of the tunnel. The absence of leadership...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy (3 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter and I welcome the Minister of State. Drug treatment services and the national drug strategy are important, as is the allocation of grant aid to organisations and those who are serious in an attempt to help those on the road to recovery. The Minister of State is familiar with the Adjournment motion, which concerns the Fellowship...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy (3 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. However, it is a disappointing reply as it does not address the fundamental issue at hand, which is that we have a waiting list for entry into Fellowship House. I know the national drugs strategy does not fall under the remit of the Minister of State's Department but his reply makes a mockery of the press statement issued by the Minister for...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy (3 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Will the Minister of State ask the Minister of State, Deputy Curran, and the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who will take responsibility if a recovering addict relapses? That question was not answered this evening. It is a fundamental question on the drugs strategy. I am very passionate about this. The buck must stop somewhere.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy (3 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: The fundamental question still pertains. If we are serious about drug rehabilitation and intervention in the national drugs strategy, then responsibility lies somewhere. I appreciate it is not the Minister of State's specific area of responsibility but he is here as the representative of the Minister and the Government. The Government has a role to play in this. I will not be fobbed off...