Results 4,001-4,020 of 24,326 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Fitzgerald was right in what she stated this morning. The Minister, Deputy Gormley, used the word "asylum" in the other House last night and not in the context of refuge. His language was wrong. It conveyed the wrong message and sent the wrong signals to the people. He is sitting at Cabinet and is one of a chosen few in a privileged position. If he wants to be in Government he...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: If we learn anything from the Minister's tenure in office, it should be that it is important to engage in consultation. I say lightly and with a smile that one of the strengths of the system over the past decade has been social partnership. Some on this side of the House would not agree with that. If we are to learn from social partnership, we should learn that one must bring people with...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Leyden never ceases to amaze me with his ability to speak in support of a Bill and against the Government and still vote for the Government.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I agree with him that it is important-----

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Yes, I am discussing them. It is important that we protect the service. I am concerned about the commission and its interpretation or its ability to interpret. Senator Coffey was not wrong in the point he made. The headquarters dealing with rural areas might be found on Mount Street or Ely Place. I was in Ardara, County Donegal for the by-election and some of the townlands in that area-----

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Our vote did not collapse by one half and we did not come third.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I accept Senator Leyden's apology.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The Cathaoirleach is correct; this is an important Bill which is why I was making the point about Ardara where, in many cases, the postman or postwoman is the only person the mail recipient meets, sees or speaks to. What does the Minister mean by " geographical conditions"? Today there would be no difficulty if mail was not delivered because one would not expect somebody to go out on in such...

Seanad: National Lottery Funding (1 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. This Adjournment matter concerns the allocation of funding from the national lottery. The amount of money accruing to the Exchequer from the national lottery in 2009 was €275 million. That figure was given by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan. I hope the Minister of State will explain to the House where the money from the sale of...

Seanad: National Lottery Funding (1 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I will raise another issue on the Adjournment in this regard.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I join others in calling for a debate on the Central Bank report published yesterday. It is extraordinary that a Government that can cut the minimum wage can allow excessive pay, higher remuneration and bonuses to be given to bankers. That is some indictment of the Leader's Government. Senator Ross was right in saying that we should not be shocked or surprised by that. The bank culture...

Seanad: Tributes to Member of Staff (2 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I join my colleagues in paying tribute to Shay Byrne, not only for his work but also for his pleasantness, good manners, good humour and the generous spirit he has shown to all of us. We should also express our appreciation of the good work done by Liam Lynch who will also retire this week. As Senator O'Reilly stated, Liam's pleasantness and good humour are well known. Given the weather...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator is not back in the Dáil yet.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Will the Leader arrange a debate before Christmas on parliamentary democracy?

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The events of the initial bank recapitalisation underline the fact that the Government has lost the trust and confidence of the people and cannot be believed. The issue is not whether the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, was asleep or what the Government did prior to the weekend before the guarantee was given. It is why it indicated to the people...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: They misled the people and broke trust again. Budget day will bring to an end the argument and the notion that the bill for the recapitalisation of the banks is the cheapest in world history. Instead, it will be the most expensive. It is the people – the gnáth duine, the ordinary man and woman – who will pay for the Government's failure, dereliction of duty, abdication of...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I am asking him questions. I do not want to hear mealy-mouthed platitudes from Members on the other side of the House. We need to see a budget that is fair, equitable and aimed at those who can afford to pay most. That means an awful lot more than just cutting ministerial pay, even though that would be a start. That debate needs to begin out on the hustings with a general election because...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator should not blame the Minister for this. He may be a bad Minister but it is not his fault entirely.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Deputy Gormley may be a bad Minister but he is not alone.