Results 3,201-3,220 of 24,438 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Fianna Fáil is not efficient.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: How do I follow the contribution made by my colleague, Senator Conway? I welcome his contribution on the organ donation and human tissue Bill. I also welcome the approval from Cabinet today. I commend the Leader of the House, Senator Regina Doherty, who was with me on the health committee. I, too, lament that it took so long for the legislation to reach this point. Senator Conway asked...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.We should let bygones be bygones because today is a good day. I congratulate the Government on its decision. In the good mood I am in today, I also welcome the decision by the Cabinet to defer until July the ridiculous proposal by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, to increase toll charges. I ask that the Cabinet ensure that increase is not carried through in July....

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for being here. As he said, it is important we get this Bill passed. It is critically important to our businesses, economy and people. It is about the protection of jobs, ensuring our economy and businesses have access to credit and I welcome the Minister of State's speech and contribution. It is extraordinary in that little did we think we...

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Tomorrow.

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I move that the House suspend until 4.30 p.m.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: May I make a comment? I compliment the Chairman on the alacrity with which he arranged this meeting. It is an important issue and it highlights the importance of our committee system. The Chairman should take a bow for what he has done.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Will Mr. Walsh address the issue of the level of uncertainty in his presentation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: What does Mr. Walsh mean when he says they will do their level best?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome our witnesses and thank them for being here, In fairness, while I was critical of the increase last week in the Seanad and today, the engagement so far is heartening and the Chair is right that time is of the essence. I raise one note of discord the timing was insensitive and it struck a very wrong note with many hard-pressed motorists. I ask that TII reflect on that. When...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I ask that TII engage with the hauliers on this. On the radio earlier, Mr. Drennan was quite clear in his stance on the issue of the use of the concession that is available to them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I propose that TII do that. It is important. Have the reduced toll fares for electric vehicles commenced? If they have not, where are we in the context of that particular scheme of tagging?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Has this been communicated to the regular user who has a toll tag on the car and who drives through the toll in Fermoy or Portlaoise, a route on which I travel every day?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Whose responsibility is it to let people know they can avail of it? Is TII responsible?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I ask that TII review this. TII has no idea if the motorist has an electric car. Does TII not get that information? For example, I have a toll tag on my car. If I change my car, I must renew my tag. Is Mr. Masterson saying that I have to opt in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Could we look at the process? In fairness to the toll tag I am a big believer in that. For me, as a motorist, it is a fantastic facility to be able to use. I do not mind paying and I am lucky that I can pay the amount per month, whatever way TII uses to take it out. It is a great system. We have had the conversation with Deputy O'Rourke and the Chairman. The whole process seems...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Obviously, people were off the roads because of Covid. The volume of traffic was reduced and, as a result, the income coming in was significantly reduced. Was any levy or penalty imposed on TII in the context of its PPP contracts with the toll companies?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: My overarching point is that we are in a crisis. We have the cost-of-living emergency. We have the war in Ukraine, which is having an adverse affect on everything. These are not normal times. I heard Mr. Masterson's comments about the different processes that TII has undertaken, but is there any recognition that these are not normal times?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: My point is about flexibility. I understand that in order to get to D, TII must go through B and C, but surely there must be recognition on the part of a PPP companies that we are not in peacetime and that there has to be flexibility on their part. They should not, for example, punish TII or the travelling public.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: The Chairman has identified the conundrum. After a decade of little or no inflation, we are now in a period of high inflation. That probably affects people who use the roads more than anybody else. My time is nearly up but I wish to make three points in respect of TII. I thank Mr. Wash, Mr. Maher and Mr. Masterson. We had a conversation about the roadworks at the Dunkettle interchange....