Results 14,821-14,840 of 24,350 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I was in the middle of giving a response.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I did not hear Senator Leyden.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The introduction of new standards has already happened and was set out by Government. There is a commitment of funding for increased inspections. That has already commenced and now extra resources have been ring-fenced for 2018. A new system of compliance will be progressed as part of the change management plan for the RTB which the Minister, Deputy Murphy, announced in September, prior to...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: A total of €7.5 million has been provided to local authorities for inspection purposes over the four years to the end of 2017. In addition, the Government has increased the provision for inspections with €2.5 million in funding to be provided in 2018. The Minister, Deputy Murphy, intends to further increase the annual allowance up to 2021 and €10 million will be...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I cannot speak for his state of mind, but he is very much committed to ensuring that-----

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: He is very much hoping to see both sides return to the mechanisms of the State. Whether he steps aside from the debate or not, I am not sure. However, he is willing, and he is urging both sides to go back to the mechanisms available to them. It is a very serious matter, because to be fair-----

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: -----the issue of rail is one which affects the travelling public. It is also one where the workers, who are frustrated at not having a pay increase, should have their pay demands met in some shape or form. The interesting point that I noted yesterday was that Dermot O'Leary, while on a debate on radio, was reluctant to have Deputy Ross get involved at all, because he felt that the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the remarks of President Trump, who said this morning in South Korea that he wanted to avoid military action. In answer to Senator Humphreys, the Citizens' Assembly produced a report last weekend, and I welcome its deliberations. The national mitigation plan and the energy White Paper reflect the recommendations that came from the Citizens' Assembly last weekend. As the Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: -----and the previous Government, and all Governments who brought in any type of policy to ensure that as a nation we are open to business, deserves to be complimented. However, it does not behove us at all to come in here and play politics with it.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Where I agree with Senator Leyden is on the point that we must ensure that the regions outside of Dublin and outside the M50, are prioritised for job creation. The Industrial Development Authority, IDA, did this when the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, was at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and this is continued now by the Minister of State, Deputy...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Thank you.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I appreciate that. I was not referring to the Senator per se. It is important that, collectively, we work to ensure there is success in terms of the pay and conditions of councillors who are doing a huge amount of work in changed circumstances. We recognise that there needs to be an increase in their pay. That is not a matter of us trying to appease our electorate, rather it is based on...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Absolutely. The point Senator Norris made about the listening to people and hearing their side of the story first is an important one. I join him in commending Senator Richmond on his dignified response on the radio this morning. The issue of our history in terms of recognising those who died and served in armies in other countries is one we should not just airbrush from history, but one...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: On the issue of the water refunds, I join Senator Murnane O'Connor in expressing the hope that the people who have paid will get their money back before Christmas. We will not hold up the debate in this House. I am sure that when we get the Bill from the Dáil, it will be passed in this House. I am happy to accept Senator Craughwell's amendment to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister and the Bill back to the House and commend Senator Black on her performance on television last night. As the former Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, I welcome the insertion of children in the Bill. I remind Senator Norris that this a Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. It is not a question of collaboration with anybody but it is to ensure...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: During the pre-legislative scrutiny on this Bill Professor Joe Barry said that minimum unit pricing is a proven effective measure with gains in the short term. That is the reality. This part of the Bill is probably the most important. I welcome that there is cross-party support for it in the Seanad. I note there was a minority viewpoint in that regard in the committee report but there is...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I am showing my age now.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: These days, young people are being encouraged to drink more. I would like to see a return to the pub being the only place where a person can drink alcohol because it was controlled and relatively safe. The barmen in the pubs at the time I was in college would not have tolerated any indiscretion. Minimum unit pricing is about setting a floor price below which alcohol cannot be sold. That...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Perhaps we should focus on section 10, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I wish to speak to the section, which relates to labelling, rather than commenting on the amendments. I would be happy to come back in when we discuss the section.