Results 1,581-1,600 of 24,326 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: It is important that, under this legislation, there is compliance and proper procedures are in place. However, we must make allowances for training for charitable organisations to enable them to comply with the legislation. I hope that, as a consequence of this Bill, there will not be a prohibitive cost to charities in complying with the legislation because that would defeat the purpose of...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I wish to speak to amendment No. 29. The Minister of State and his officials are well aware of the issue of the scam involving pre-signed mass cards, which are sold in shops. Companies sell mass cards to newsagents, purportedly signed by priests, often missionaries from abroad. I compliment the Irish Missionary Union, particularly Father Moran, on his work on this issue. The cards are...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator's conscience must be at him.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: No, no.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: On that——

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I am just going to explain what I intend to do in light of what the Minister has said.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I am just going to say——

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I am learning every day. I will withdraw the amendment for Report Stage.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I take cognisance of what the Minister said. I appreciate that it is getting late and we have been here all day. However, this is an important issue. I do not agree with Senator Norris, by the way, regarding the apparitions at Lourdes and Knock.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: It is important to mention in this context that we have faith and we are all entitled to that. I do not agree with the Senator. The Minister of State's amendment to strengthen the Bill is probably a good one. We need to introduce an offence for those who purport to be collecting for charity, as is the case here. Go raibh maith agat.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: Given what has happened with the Broadcasting Bill, with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the FÁS debacle, would it not be wise that we take away the power from the Minister to appoint members to the charity appeals tribunal and establish a new body to appoint them? I fully support the need to have on the tribunal those from a legal...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: Given the decentralisation project, is it known where the location of the headquarters will be?

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I was hoping it would be Cork. I appeal to the Minister of State to locate it in Cork.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I will not dwell on Senator O'Toole's point, but it is important to strike a balance here. We can argue the merits and demerits of "shall" versus "may" but it is important that we protect people. Senator O'Toole correctly said we do not want spin put on certain events that may transpire later, but we must allow for the protection of people. None of us condone wrong-doing or irregularities,...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: On the section, I want clarity on an issue concerning organisations, such as Respond, that enter into contractual agreements with Government agencies like the Health Service Executive. There is a reference to indemnity insurance in the Bill but we need a commitment that voluntary directors or trustees will not be caught up in a situation where Government agencies, city councils or county...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I concur somewhat with what Senator Norris said, particularly on the integrity of the flag day. In my city of Cork, Share collect in the week leading up to Christmas. On the Friday or Saturday of a St. Patrick's weekend, COPE Foundation collect. We should adhere to the principle that there should be only one flag day per area. That might not be manageable, and I might be shooting myself...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Minister of State for his amendment because this provision exercised many charities. I pay tribute to the Irish Cancer Society and other charitable organisations that raised the issue with us and put forward practical solutions. I will withdraw my amendment on the basis that the rationale behind the Minister of State's amendment is to eliminate the difficulty that would have...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: The Minister of State made a remark earlier on the inclusion of local authority members. It is important we would desist from the practice of excluding members of local authorities from boards, tribunals and authorities. If I heard the Minister of State correctly, he said they would not be debarred from being included. While I may be wrong, if not, I hope the Minister of State has not...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator voted for it.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: The Government voted for it in the Harbours (Amendment) Bill.