Results 21,861-21,880 of 24,447 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: However, the Deputy Leader does.

Seanad: Denominational Schools (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I would like to share time with Senator Ross.

Seanad: Denominational Schools (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue, which was brought to my attention by parents and teachers and which has been commented on publicly by both Church of Ireland and Catholic clergy. The many fine Protestant schools in Cork, including Ashton School, St. Luke's national school, St. Michael's national school in Blackrock, St. Fin Barre's national school and St. Mary's...

Seanad: Denominational Schools (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Minister of State for his remarks. I made no reference to his faith, as he knows. His reply is wholly unsatisfactory given that the block grant is not the issue. An ancillary grant is being paid. Why is the advice of the Attorney General suddenly being sought on it? I hope we can have this clarified. As the Minister of State said in his reply, there are many schools providing...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Through the Cathaoirleach, I clarify for Senator Walsh that John A. Costello was never leader of Fine Gael, but he was an excellent Taoiseach. I clarify for Senator Doherty that the Fine Gael Party has always been pro-public servant and, in that regard, I ask for a debate on this matter. Unlike Senator Doherty's party, Sinn Féin, we do not claim both salaries.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I have not provoked any comment here this afternoon.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I am defending the record of the Fine Gael Party regarding public service. The remarks this afternoon by Senators on the public service are indicative of the fact that we have, through this Government, divided public and private sector workers. Shame on the Leader's Government for doing that. I ask the Leader for a debate on education. Single-handedly the Minister for Education and...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: On a point of order-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: The Leader is misleading the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: The schools are public private partnerships. Private money is being put in.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Is the Leader in Government or what?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister. I sympathise with and congratulate him on his party's acceptance of the renewed programme for Government at its recent conference. After two and a half years in government, it is time for the Green Party to allow us to clean up the mess that now exists. I appreciate that the Bill represents an attempt to start the clean-up of the planning sector. I am concerned...

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I wish to share time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I congratulate Senator Ross on the Bill and commend him on bringing it before the House. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, and thank him for his great speech, which I listened to with incredulity. If ever I heard a case for Senator Ross's Bill, it was in the contributions of the Minister of State and Senators Ormonde and Butler. Senator Ormonde should buy a book entitled...

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: We must get rid of cronyism and patronage if we are to restore public trust and confidence in the political system.

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: If we are honest with one another, that is what we must do. The Bill is important because it seeks to provide accountability and transparency. If we take Senator Ormonde's point about qualifications, that will happen. I do not agree that someone should be debarred from appointment to a State board because he or she is a political appointee or a member of a political party. I never said...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome Senator de Búrca's and Senator White's defence of Deputy Enda Kenny this morning. It is welcome that there is broad cross-party support for what he suggested. Senator Fitzgerald raised a legitimate issue this morning on which I ask the Leader to arrange a debate. A prisoner in one of this country's prisons was in possession of 73 bags or deals of heroin. What does that tell us?...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens are unemployed, queueing in social welfare offices and waiting for six to eight weeks to get social welfare payments. That is what we should be about, not who shouts across the Chamber. I will defend this Chamber everywhere but we need these urgent debates.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.