Results 14,481-14,500 of 24,348 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It was Senator Daly's party in government that introduced many public private partnerships for roads, schools and so forth. There is a need to look at the whole issue around PPPs. The Senator mentioned the 10% and I do not necessarily disagree with the remarks made by him or by Deputy Howlin on this matter. We will have that discussion next week as part of the economic statement. When it...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Gavan made reference to the issue of the right of citizens of the North to vote in European Parliament elections. That is a matter the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, will consider. I have not got the direct answer for the Senator but it is a matter we should...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It is an operational matter for the HSE rather than the Minister. I will talk to the Senator about it after the Order of Business. Senator Colm Burke referenced the issue of the medical cannabis Bill and the decision of the committee yesterday. He has highlighted quite rightly the process available and the protocols associated with supply and the availability of medical cannabis. It is a...

Seanad: Sitting Arrangements: Motion (13 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I move:That, notwithstanding anything in the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, the Seanad shall meet at 12 noon on Tuesday, 18th July, 2017 and the Order of Business shall be proposed at 1 p.m.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (13 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I ask for the permission of the House to suspend the sitting until 5 p.m. as the Minister of State, Deputy Paul Kehoe, is on active duty in the Dáil dealing with defence matters. I apologise to Members and staff for any inconvenience caused.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (13 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It will. There will also be a vote on the matter being discussed in the Dáil.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the establishment of the Joint Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Bill 2017 – Second Stage, to be taken at 2.15 p.m. and to conclude no later than 3.30 p.m., with the contribution of group spokespersons not...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Tell Senator Gavan that.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the 20 Senators who spoke for their contributions to the Order of Business. Senators Ardagh, Ruane and Ó Ríordáin made reference to yesterday's launch of the national strategy on drug and alcohol use in Ireland. I welcome that it is a health-led response. I congratulate the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Catherine Byrne, on her role. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: In fairness, however, we must give credit where it is due. It is imperative that we work on this strategy. A working group has been established and this will examine alternative approaches regarding possession for personal use as well as how considering how this programme might be rolled out across different communities. The idea is to encapsulate what Senator Ardagh rightly said in terms...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Our policy of restoring pay and conditions is also quite good. If Senator Gavan had his way, we would perhaps have people not working at all.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Senators Robbie Gallagher and Aodhán Ó Ríordáin made reference to the pupil-teacher ratio. I would be happy to accept Senator Ó Ríordáin's amendment to the Order of Business, continuing our love-in this morning. We disagree in this case. The budget for 2016 committed to reducing the pupil-teacher ratio, as does the programme for Government. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Sorry. I have a group here comprising Senator Paul Gavan, Senator Mark Daly and Senator James Reilly. I cannot read my own writing given how bad it is. As Leader of the House, I have given a commitment that we will not stop or obstruct the passage of the Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill. It was on the schedule for this week, but at Senator Daly's behest, it...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I will work with all people in a non-political way to advance the cause of all peoples who are marginalised in our society and community, and Senator Daly will attest to that. It is important that we get a Bill that can be delivered and acted upon immediately rather than being lost in the other House. That is the fundamental goal that we both share. Senator Joe O'Reilly made reference to...

Seanad: Establishment of Joint Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care: Motion (18 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I move:"That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders- (a) Seanad Éireann noting-(i) the pressures on mental health services, the waiting times for services, and the need to improve services in certain parts of the country, (ii) the consensus that the 2006 policy ‘A Vision for Change’ charts the best way forward for mental health services, and (iii) the fact that,...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Order of Business is No. 1, Independent Reporting Commission Bill 2017 - Second Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and conclude not later than 2.15 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate not later than 2.10 p.m.; No. 2,...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the 27 Members who contributed. I did my best to listen to everybody and capture everything they said. I apologise to Senator Devine, whom I missed out on yesterday in respect of the issues she raised regarding An Bord Altranais and the accreditation of nurses from the US. She raised an important point, which I hope the Minister will address when he comes to the House in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: -----in terms of their proposals because some of them are as daft as the day is long. We need to have a proper debate about what Seanad reform means and what can be delivered. Then we must decide if we want to go back to the people by way of other referenda to bring about Seanad reform. Those are the real questions. There are differing viewpoints on how we can get there. One size does...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I can tell Senator Coghlan that within the six Senators from the NUI and Trinity College Dublin there are diverging viewpoints. Senator Norris is diametrically opposed to the views that some of the others have.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: There is no-one here from DCU. Senator Alice-Mary Higgins made a reference to the 1979 referendum. I am confident we will get there. I want to go back to the comments made about the issue of decorum and listening. Senator O'Donnell makes a very good point because at the risk of sounding pompous - which I am not - there are Senators who come in here to the Order of Business and they then...