Results 8,301-8,320 of 24,339 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: I very much welcome the debate and wish to address the motion and the amendment. In doing so, we should show not just by our words but also by our deeds the respect we have for our seniors. Irrespective of party politics, we all strive to keep our senior citizens within the community. I hope the Minister, in his contribution, will state that there is a need to address the concerns and...

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: I was also out there yesterday speaking to people. I met them and understand the frustration they have. I do not live in an ivory tower, I understand the concern people have, and my opening remarks addressed that. All I hear from Deputy Boyd Barrett is utter baloney about living in a utopian world that does not exist. He is from a failed ideology.

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: Our senior citizens are people we should respect and are not just economic statistics. I remind the Fianna Fáil Members opposite of the failed policies they pursued from 1977 to 1981 and also in their last 14 years in government when they bankrupted the country. They threw money at everything. The only cash Mr. Bertie Ahern traded in was to buy votes and we know what happened. Deputy...

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: I hope when Deputy Niall Collins and I grow old -----

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: I know Deputy Niall Collins is uncomfortable because he does not want to hear-----

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: If I am, then I would be happy to go and face the people.

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: Regardless of whether Deputy Niall Collins likes it, the reality is that he cannot airbrush what Fianna Fáil did for 14 years and which he supported for the years he was a Member of this House.

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: I hope those of us in the Chamber will be able to grow old and along with many other citizens-----

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: If Deputy Niall Collins wants to go down that line, we can talk about the record of his party. We will have a very good history lesson and the Deputy will not come out of it smiling. Let us not do that, please.

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: I will conclude on this. I had much more to say.

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: I hope-----

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: Deputy Niall Collins can talk about what he wants to. I know he is ashamed about the record of his party and he should be. If I were him I would not be seen in public. I ask him not to tear the House into a political protest, as he is doing, because I-----

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: ----- will be happy to debate the record of the Minister, Deputy Reilly, with him and his party leader. I challenge them to that debate anywhere they want it. Deputy Martin ran away from the Department of Health and Children. His party did not have the courage to take responsibility for that Department and decided to leave Ms Mary Harney there. Deputy Niall Collins should stop now because...

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: I will conclude on this.

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: As a society and a state we must respect our senior citizens.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: I too am glad the Deputy is in the Chair. I listened to the contributions of speakers to the debate from early this evening and in the last segment I was not sure whether I was watching "Love/Hate", "Will and Grace" or "Friends", given the contributions of some of speakers. I am not sure what world they are living in. Albert Camus, in his writings, speaks about being a stranger in the...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: Let me remind Deputy McGrath - it is a pity he is not in the Chamber-----

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: -----that he ran from government. He did not have the political courage to stand and defend his Government. He ran. I am disappointed with Members of this House who come in here and have a solution to everything but do not take responsibility. It would be much easier and very simple for all of us on this side of the House to listen to Deputy Adams and go to the country and have a general...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: -----and abandon the country in the way that Fianna Fáil did. It is bit like Groundhog Day. We have a lesson to learn here. Let us go back to the beginning of modern Irish politics and work forward to today. The Acting Chairman spoke about this earlier and I mentioned it last night. From 1977 to 1981, the most outrageous promises were made by a Fianna Fail-led Government, and what...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Jerry Buttimer: The essential safety net of social welfare is one we all respect and need in our democracy and in our economy because those who experience financial difficulty deserve and need the support of the State. Nobody on this side of the House has urged more austerity. The opposite is the reality. We have urged spending the money better, that it be more people-centred and invested in jobs,...