Results 19,741-19,760 of 24,361 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. Ar an gcéad dul síos aontaím leis Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile maidir le cúrsaí Gaeilge. Senator Cassells made a very telling and important contribution to the Order of Business. I do not want to usurp the role of the Cathaoirleach or the very generous remarks made by Senator Cassells but I ask that the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: Notwithstanding the remarks of Members of the House, this is a very important Bill.Senator O'Loughlin deserves to be supported for bringing it forward. There are many people in our society who are less privileged that us, in particular those in the transgender community, and we have a lot of work to do as a society. I want to commend the Senator on bringing this legislation forward and it...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: We were very inclusive.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: On a point of information, must we conclude today? Can we not roll the debate over because more speakers have offered?

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: The Government benches suit the Senator.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on his appointment. After 41 years and 14 reports, we still do not have common ground other than it is Groundhog Day and we want Seanad reform. I very much respect Senator McDowell but on his side of the House there is no equality of where to go. There are some people, and not Senator McDowell, who think it is their way or no way in...

Seanad: Living with Covid-19 Restrictions: Statements (Resumed) (18 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome this debate and the Minister of State. I congratulate him on his appointment and elevation to the Department of Health. I do believe that we need to have a rolling debate on the reopening of our country. The former Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, made a suggestion at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting last week on the need to have this debate. It is important that the...

Seanad: Living with Covid-19 Restrictions: Statements (Resumed) (18 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: I know people who have never been contacted by the contact tracing team or the HSE. In saying that, I pay tribute to the men and women working on the front line in Covid wards and ICUs for the way in which they look after and care for patients. Equally, I pay tribute to the people who work in nursing homes for the care they give to older citizens. There is a real debate needed, whether...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (18 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Senator Byrne for sharing time. As an aside, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, the amount of time allocated for this debate is inadequate, given that many of us are from areas where communities are experiencing huge difficulties with flooding. It would be appropriate for the House to review how we do our business. We are the Upper House. We are a bicameral system of-----

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (18 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: I am just making the point that every debate this week has been truncated and many of us cannot get in to speak. That is not good enough for the Upper House of the Oireachtas. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, on his handling of his ministerial responsibility for the OPW and his courage and bravery in taking on vested interests and putting forward a vision and a plan for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Roll-out: Discussion (18 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank all our witnesses and wish to reiterate what Deputy Lowry said. Certainty is very important and if this committee can help to progress the national broadband plan, it is important that it does so. Many of us have issues with the blue and amber areas. I genuinely want to applaud NBI for its honesty today, for the work it is doing and for its engagement with committee members,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Roll-out: Discussion (18 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: I am trying but there is a fundamental difficulty with that service provider. If we learn nothing else from today, it is that there needs to be a synergy between NBI and other providers. Members of this committee are being parochial in referring to particular areas and I can list Matthew Hill, Douglas, Ballinora, Ballyphehane, Glasheen, which are predominantly urban areas in the middle of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Roll-out: Discussion (18 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: That is what drives people berserk. Information, no matter how good or bad, is critical for people. I appeal to our guests to give people information. They mentioned a leaflet drop or whatever, and that is great, but they also need to use social media, whether Facebook or any other platform. They need to engage with people and tell them. What drives people berserk is both a lack of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: On a point of order, some of us are not part of a political grouping at the moment, and there does seem to be apartheid from the Chair regarding some of us.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: Gabh mo leithscéal, I am entitled to make a point of order-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: This is not the first time-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: Some of us have been here since the beginning of the Order of Business to facilitate a quorum, and have been here since half past the hour, and we were not able to get in. I do not know how the system is operated. I am not having a row with the Cathaoirleach, but there is apartheid against some of us in respect of the operation of procedure, which is grossly unfair.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: I have been here since 10.30 a.m. and-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: -----and I raised my hand at 10.30 a.m. to speak. I am not having a row with the Cathaoirleach, but there needs to be an element of fairness in the allocation of speaking time. I will raise the issue again when I get to speak. I would like to make the point that it is not personal.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2020)

Jerry Buttimer: Well I have been here since 10.30 a.m.-----