Results 21,421-21,440 of 24,340 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I refer to this in the context of the 5% reduction on the first €30,000 of salary for public sector workers in table 3.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: He will be in here soon as Taoiseach.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: In welcoming the comments of Senator Ellis, I ask the Leader to bring the Taoiseach before the House in the new year. As we adjourn today, I disagree fundamentally with Senator Quinn. People have no confidence. They have no hope. The one thing they are sure about is that they want a change of Government. That is on the way. Fianna Fáil had a great slogan in the 1980s which claimed...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: He is a very welcome addition to us. I ask the Leader to bring in the Taoiseach and to call him to account for the role he and his party played in getting the people into a situation where they have less money, fewer jobs and no hope.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Glynn's Minister, the Government and the Bill we are discussing today are doing that.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Glynn should vote against the Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: It is Senator Glynn's Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: It was a handbrake turn. There was a real spin on it.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Bring back Bertie. Is that it?

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Ring the bell again, Cathaoirleach. We have moved into fairyland.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: It is taxing the people more.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: It shows the poverty of its ambition.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I look forward to the Senator's vote at the next election.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy (17 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, to the House. I am pleased he is present for the debate as he is a former Minister of State with responsibility for this area. I raise this matter because the use of heroin and other drugs is on the increase. The Minister of State, Deputy Curran, is on record as saying that this week in the other House. I am concerned that a reduction in...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy (17 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Will the Minister of State raise with his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy John Curran, the fact that there seems to be a trend running through Government policy on social inclusion. We have seen the amalgamation of community development projects and the closure of some, which is wrong. I am genuinely worried. The Minister of State referred to the programme in Ballyfermot, "Can You...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State. Inchydoney is dead, long live Inchydoney. The cosy cartel on the beach is no more. Public sector workers have no friends in Government Buildings, especially public sector workers who earn less than €30,000 per year. There is an acceptance by all Members that there must be a rebalancing and that we need to correct fiscal policy to get out of this crisis....

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Let us have a new pillar in social partnership. To quote the cliche, we have lost a generational opportunity for reform of the public sector. Senators Butler, Regan and I served on local authorities where there was roll-out of local government reform. What did it mean? We created no new posts only new directors in various positions. In certain places one goes beyond the switchboard which...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: It is wrong. It should not be that way. We must tackle our competitiveness. Our exports have decreased for the past six years. We have become a service based, construction based economy. I am pleased the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, has returned. There is nothing whatever in this budget for jobs. We have put forward an alternative which is painful for some people. There is a...