Results 14,341-14,360 of 24,348 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Fianna Fáil bought that election, did it not?

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator is going well.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the 24 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business, the vast majority of whom paid tribute to our outgoing Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny. Together with the Cathaoirleach and all the Members of House, I extend, on my own behalf, on that of the Fine Gael Party and on that of the House, our every good wishes to An Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, to his wife, Fionnuala, and to his...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I pay tribute also to the outgoing Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, and thank him for his service. He was a member of every Fine Gael-led Government since 1982. He said yesterday that he enjoyed most of all being Minister for Finance. As many of us know, he is a man held in huge affection, a man in whose company we enjoy being and who has had a strong sense of what it means to...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: That happens in this House too. Many of us do that, but arrogance or whatever does not cut the mustard. It is important that the power-sharing Executive is restored. There is an onus on members of all parties elected to the Stormont Assembly to sit down and negotiate a return to power of the Executive.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Irish Government has not been and will never be found wanting in that regard. The Fine Gael Party, which was the party that negotiated Sunningdale and is a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, will always put the people of Ireland and all of our country first in our endeavours and engagements. Senator Ardagh raised the issue of housing.I will be happy to have the new Minister,...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I am sorry - retirement. The bottom line is that the issue of Seanad reform is still very much on the agenda. I believe Senator Michael McDowell's name was mentioned in dispatches in different guises before the outgoing Taoiseach left and I am not sure whether it is in the ether now. The other point is that the programme for Government is not put before the people, as the Senator knows...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I will not comment on that suggestion.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator James Reilly referred to the community school in Lusk, for which he has been a champion in this and the Lower House. The Cathaoirleach is correct that may it be more opportune to discuss the issue as a Commencement matter. Senator Frances Black raised the issue of inequality and referred to the work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It is important that we recognise the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It would be remiss of us, however, not to recognise the progress made in the country in the past six years in reducing the unemployment figures and having more people back at work and increasing the standard of living. We all accept, of course, that there is still a lot of work to be done. Senators Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Victor Boyhan and Gerry Horkan referred to Stepaside...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Exactly. Senator Norris congratulated Jeremy Corbyn. It is important that we congratulate all who stood for election but where Senator Norris is coming from concerns the importance of being able to campaign. What Jeremy Corbyn did quite successfully was take his message to the people. It proves that if someone shies away from debate or engagement, people look upon it as a sign of...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I am sure many would like to be in a booster seat around the Cabinet table. I did offer Sinn Féin-----

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Exactly and it will be well stocked as well. I offered the second Private Members' session to Sinn Féin this evening but it declined the offer so it is my intention to have two Private Members' sessions next week. I thank the party leaders in the House, the Cathaoirleach and Seanad staff for their co-operation this week. It has been a different week. We will sit again next Tuesday...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re Standing Order 70A, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion re amendment to the orders of reference of the Special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1 with the time allocated to group spokespersons not to exceed five minutes; No. 3, Inland...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Just to clarify for the Senator-----

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Just to clarify for the benefit of Senator Higgins who, to be fair, was late coming in, I have allowed for debate given that the motion refers to an issue that was raised in this House. I have allowed for a spokesperson from each group to contribute rather than having no debate at all.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I am glad to be of help.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Would you stop?

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: There are two Ministers from Galway now.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I am not.