Results 23,501-23,520 of 24,340 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator is clutching at straws now.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following; "considering: there has been a reported seven fold rise in the number of cocaine cases seeking treatment between 2001 and 2006; the number of new heroin cases outside Dublin doubled between 2001 and 2006; levels of drug use among Irish teenagers are now far greater than the European average with...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: One can consider what the programme on TV3 last Monday produced. Customs and Coast Guard personnel lack resources, X-ray machines are not being dispersed throughout the country and there is a lack of dog units.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: There is a lack of joined-up thinking between Departments. That is what the Government is presiding over.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: That is what the Government is presiding over. With regard to residential treatment centres and detox beds, there are nine counties with no such facilities after 11 years of prosperity. Senators have the temerity to come in and lecture us on how to tackle drugs but we should get real.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: The argument——

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: ——is we are small island community. Our teenagers have overtaken those in the United States of America in the use of drugs. What does that tell us? What are we telling the people around the country in every urban and rural part of Ireland?

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: What will we tell them about the issue?

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: If we are to talk about the twin pillars of education and enforcement, we should have real and meaningful education that will tackle the core of the issue and give young people an opportunity to buy in. I subscribe to Senator Cannon's comments on the use of youth cafés. We have one in my local election area of Togher and it is brilliant. We also have a brilliant example in Ballinlough....

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I would introduce them immediately. We should empower, enforce, educate and resource. We should not kid ourselves. Senators on the Government side have come to this debate to lecture us. We accept money is not the answer but the essence of what we are at is down to problems such as a sevenfold increase in the use of cannabis. If we need to take in the variations across the counties of...

Seanad: Local Development (5 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise on the Adjournment the issue of Cork docklands. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen. Cork docklands are pivotal to the growth of Cork given the need for the city to develop and grow. They could have a profound impact on both the economic and physical force of Cork into the future. The docklands project in Cork concerns light...

Seanad: Local Development (5 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Minister of State for the reply, although it is disappointing. When does the Minister of State envisage that a decision will be made on this project, given the budgetary changes in the national development plan announced by the Taoiseach last week? The Minister of State is well aware that this project is pivotal to Cork. When are we likely to see this being brought to a...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: At the risk of embarrassing anybody, I would like to second Senator Fitzgerald's amendment to the Order of Business. Yesterday, the Leader got rather nasty with me in regard to my comments in respect of the budgetary position. However, I accept the cut and thrust of politics and the Leader's position. We now have a budget deficit despite the Government having had a surplus this time last...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: We have had a €2 billion surplus during the lifetime of this Government. The Government is a little like Tom Thumb sitting on its hands while having its fingers in the pie. It is time we had an urgent debate not alone on the national development plan but on the economy. I want to hear what the Green Party Members have to say on the programme for Government which is now in tatters.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: It is in tatters.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I remind the Members on the Government side that the cutbacks being introduced hurt the poor, the old, the disabled and the young and it is on their heads.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: What will Deputy John Gormley do at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government?

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: Go back to the organic farming.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: The Green Party intervened and fought with cabbages.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: With the Green Party in Government.