Results 22,701-22,720 of 24,447 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (27 Jan 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator is correct. I will stand up for the people in my party who have always put the country first, unlike members of the Senator's party who played politics with many issues.

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (27 Jan 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Will Fianna Fáil bring back the tent?

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (27 Jan 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Here comes Muckross.

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (27 Jan 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, to the House. I did not think the bail out of Anglo Irish Bank was free. Perhaps the Minister will give us the report by PricewaterhouseCoopers on the bad debts in Anglo Irish Bank. Perhaps Senator Butler can let the Irish people know what they are paying to bail out the bank and the friends of Fianna Fáil. The bailout was not free —...

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (27 Jan 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I am speaking. There is no plan. What was the result? If Senator Walsh cannot hear me, I will shout louder for him.

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (27 Jan 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: The people have lost confidence, not just in the Government but in each other. Walking through the streets of Cork at the weekend, one could drive a bus through some of the shops and restaurants in town. These small businesses are struggling; they are not multinationals. They are struggling to survive because banks will not lend, liquidity is being taken from them and there is no support...

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (27 Jan 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: We need action, not talk. Fianna Fáil has had its chance for 11 years. It was given a great economy by the parties then in Government and it has squandered it. Now it wants Fine Gael to come in and help it out. Let us have an election and change it for good.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: The phone signal is coming from the other side of the House and it is being picked up by the microphone. It might be Brian Cowen calling. The Holy Spirit is guiding him.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I join other speakers in asking the Leader to postpone the debate this afternoon, given that the relevance of politics and politicians is being debated now more than ever. As Senators Alex White and Fitzgerald have said, we will debate the economy today in a vacuum. We are one of the two Houses of Parliament and this Government has yet again shown disrespect not just to us but to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: The Green Party is rolling over again for Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: Most of what I wanted to say has been said. If one goes around the capital city of Dublin to places like Dawson Street, Grafton Street, Henry Street, Moore Street, O'Connell Street, or goes to Patrick Street or McCurtan Street in Cork one will see a great number of shops for sale or to let. In addition there is a great number of "sale" signs indicating reductions of 50% or 25% or offers...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I wish to make some brief comments on one of the urban docklands areas, Cork docklands. While I welcome some of what the Minister has done in the Finance Bill regarding Seveso sites, he has not gone far enough. I say that for a number of reasons. The Cork docklands regeneration project is of particular importance not just to Cork but to the region. Cork docklands is a pivotal part of the...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I appreciate the Minister's reply but this must be put in context. Yesterday, the Taoiseach launched a programme in Dublin Castle. If we are serious about developing the regions, Ireland does not stop at the end of the M50 or the Red Cow roundabout. I do not subscribe to that view, and the Minister, being from Kerry, will not either. We have dealt with the Seveso sites and given certain...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I appreciate it is not the Minister, Deputy Carey's Department, but on 4 November the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, took my Adjournment debate matter in this House on the travel tax. I welcome the Government's Pauline conversion and flip-flop on the regional airports. I am a strong defender of my region but I still believe the tax is wrong. We should not impose a levy on people...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: Section 55 excludes from the tax "a person under the age of 2". Why do we not exempt passengers under the age of five or seven? Why are children not exempt from this levy? What do we hope to yield in revenue. The Minister, Deputy Mansergh, said the original scheme would yield €95 million in 2009 and €150 million in a full year. What is the revised figure for the scheme? Why have we...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: That amount is €2 million less than what the Government claimed it was taking during a matter on the Adjournment that I raised on 4 November. Why are we penalising children and families? I appreciate that children under the age of two are not included. However, we are imposing a further tax on families who have children over the age of two. Why did we pick that age?

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: It is a pity the real Minister for Finance is not present because there is a clarion call for change in the Government. The patriotic thing the Minister of State and his colleagues could do is to dissolve both Houses of the Oireachtas, call a general election and let the people decide. It is time for leadership, new beginnings and prudent investment that has not happened for the past 11...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: These are decent ordinary people who were working 12 months ago, 12 weeks ago or 12 days ago. This Government has not given them any hope. The Government, through the Cork docklands issue, has betrayed the people of Cork city. We were promised 12 months ago that the Cork docklands would be included in the budget but they were not. There was mention in the budget of Seveso sites. Barack...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: ——and destroy Irish and businesses. It cannot be allowed to continue. Stop must mean stop.