Results 20,601-20,620 of 24,447 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Is the House sitting on Tuesday? It is a simple question.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: On what basis?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The Leader cannot blame the staff.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The Leader did.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Will the Leader give the House a commitment that he will hold a pre-budget debate on the state of the economy next week? Will he indicate, in the light of the economic crisis the country is facing, whether the House will sit next Tuesday? It is important that we recognise that politics is not continuing as usual. As Members of this House, we must play our part by sitting next Tuesday and...

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I was struck by Senator O'Malley's euphoric speech. I wish her well with her colourful revisionism.

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The facts are the facts. The Senator is dead right. Governments of various hues since 1997 have brought us to where we are. Small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the lifeblood of our communities, are in serious trouble. I agree with Senator O'Malley that we need to get our house in order. We need to ensure this country's SME sector survives. I am concerned we will have nothing...

Seanad: Announcement on Banking by the Minister for Finance: Statements (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh. Listening to Senator Mooney's remarks I was struck by the fact we must live in different worlds. If one walks or drives around the city and county of Cork, or even around the capital city or many of the main provincial towns, one will see "To Let" signs aplenty in idle and empty buildings. While I agree with the Minister of State's sentiment...

Seanad: Announcement on Banking by the Minister for Finance: Statements (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Announcement on Banking by the Minister for Finance: Statements (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Through the Chair, please.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Panel Members)(Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Bill which I will support. I ask the Minister of State and Members opposite to clarify the remarks made by the Leader at a conference held in Listowel at which I believe he endorsed the Bill and promised Government support for it in Government time. Is that the case? If it is, why is the Government doing a U-turn and reneging on its commitment?

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Panel Members)(Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Therein lies the crux that we all face as elected representative in this House. The political process has failed the people. That is what they believe. They believe we have let them down, that, in particular, Fianna Fáil in government has let them down. They also believe the Government is bereft of leadership and cannot be trusted. As such, they do not have confidence in the main...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Panel Members)(Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: How is that a means of having confidence in a House of which we are Members? How can one have confidence in a House that is meant to be an Upper House rather than a mini Dáil? I am as guilty as anybody for creating a mini Dáil out of this House but understand that we must become realists and consider how we respond. If we are to have confidence in one another and create an Upper House...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Panel Members)(Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: If we want to reform the House, we should talk about all of us, bearing in mind that none of us is perfect. I agree with Senator O'Toole that the House, as presently constituted, cannot keep going. We need to reform the manner in which we get elected. I am not a bit afraid of having change. We should have a referendum to vote on change in the manner in which all of us are elected. I refer...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I join with Senator Bacik in calling for a series of debates on the economy in the run up to the budget. In welcoming the talks today, I wish the leaders of Fine Gael and the Labour Party well in their task of getting the truth from the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance because today must be about truth. Will we get the truth from the Government about the State's finances? Can the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Ellis is wrong because the party leaders are meeting the Taoiseach today.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Can we trust Fianna Fáil to give the correct information?

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: It is a question.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: With respect to the Cathaoirleach, I ask the Leader to address that question. I ask that question given that we have now discovered the Minister for Finance has been wrong on each occasion. The Department of Finance knew the financial position last June. Why has it taken until now to get information? I believe Senator Harris found the road to Damascus on this morning's "Morning Ireland"...

Seanad: Criminal Prosecutions (19 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter. I do not approach this question in any racial or prejudicial manner but with the wish to create an awareness of the issue for Members of this House and the public. There are people entering our jurisdiction in Ireland who have a criminal record in other jurisdictions, either inside or outside the EU. It is important for us to...