Results 9,001-9,020 of 24,340 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: The main item on the agenda is a discussion of the heads of the Bill on the plain packaging of tobacco products in Ireland. As members are aware, the general scheme of the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013 was referred to the joint committee shortly before Christmas for its consideration. The Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, and the chief medical officer...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Go ahead.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: I invite Mr. Moran, assistant secretary at the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: I ask the assistant commissioner, Mr. Byrne, to read his statement, given the importance of the subject matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Mr. Byrne and invite Mr. Gavin Maguire to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Mr. Maguire and now will hand over to members. Incidentally, I should relay the apologies of Deputy Kelleher, who is speaking on the Order of Business. Deputy Ó Caoláin sends his apologies, as do Senator Henry and Deputy Catherine Byrne. Senator MacSharry also was obliged to attend the Order of Business.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Five other members have indicated I will call them now starting with Deputy Mitchell O'Connor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: On behalf of the committee, I join the assistant commissioner in paying tribute to him and sympathising with his wife and family and other members of the Garda Síochána. It is a tragedy that people are not prepared to assist the Garda Síochána in taking those involved to task. We salute and support the Garda Síochána in its endeavours and thank the family for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Do any Members wish to comment or are they happy to defer?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: I shall allow the Deputy to contribute again later.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Mr. Moran is okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Sure, and if any members want to come back in, they are more than welcome.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Could I ask one question on that? I put this question as a former educator and as a non-smoker. We get bombarded with statistics and documentation. I have here in front of me documentation on behalf of a vested interest in the tobacco industry, which makes the point that smoking prevalence is quite high in Ireland, despite Ireland being one of the strictest tobacco regulatory environments....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Deputy Conway indicated that she wished to comment again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: I call the assistant commissioner.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Does anybody else wish to contribute? Is everybody happy enough?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank most sincerely all of the delegates for their co-operation and strong testimony. This is the first of a series of meetings and hearings on the issue of plain tobacco packaging. I also thank members of the committee for their participation. I remind them that the Select Committee on Health and Children will meet on Tuesday next at 5.15 p.m. to discuss the health Estimate.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Ceann Comhairle's Office for selecting for discussion this important issue regarding the development of special facilities at Cork University Hospital for people with cystic fibrosis. This has been possible because of the outstanding fund-raising efforts and dedication of those involved in Build4Life in raising the necessary capital investment required. While Build4Life has...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. Certainly I have no wish to add anything that would do anything to damage the resolution. I commend the Minister of State and I know she has been involved in the process. It is important we reach a resolution. In the interests of all concerned I wish to put on record that it is important that we reach a resolution. I thank the Minister of...