Results 3,561-3,580 of 24,308 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Is it the case that the Government is not closing post offices down but is trying to keep them open? When a post office is threatened with closure, its future is not just a Government activity. Surely, there must be bigger buy-in from the Irish Postmasters' Union and local communities, with local authorities and the Government.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: On that last point, is that the nub of the problem? The public - an gnáth duine, the citizen, and all of us living in our communities - are not thinking about or using our post office network in sufficient numbers. How do we make the public - men, women and children - use it? I remember going to school when we had post office stamps, which helped us to save. We then had TSB Bank...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Please do not take this wrong way, but the citizens' assembly seems to be a port of call for every potpourri of issues. I have often thought about this. I have followed our committee's work and I appreciate the major effort the Minister of State has made to engage with An Post for which she deserves huge credit. Her last comment concerned getting the public to use the post office network....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: The fundamental task we all have to collectively work to achieve is more people using the post office service. An interdepartmental group was set up to examine the feasibility of government services being moved over to the post office network. There was also an announcement today. I believe we need a citizens' assembly to discuss the future of the post office network because it is not just...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I was not going to refer to Cork at all in this next question because I do not want to be too parochial. I appreciate the Minister of State has to wear the Ireland hat, despite the fact she is, like Deputy Carey, probably coming from the perspective of the west, as is the Chair, which is fair enough. Has the Minister of State, the Minister or the Government sat down with the airlines, to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: We gave them money as part of the pandemic response.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: We gave Aer Lingus money as part of the package. Surely the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, the Minister for Transport, the Minster of State or someone sat down with Aer Lingus and said "Hang on a second. Aer Lingus has not resumed a number of flights, for example, out of Cork". Has it been asked why? Will those flights come back? Emerald Airlines is taking over some of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I applaud the Minister of State, lest she think I am being critical of the role she played in ensuring that funding was given to Cork, Waterford, Knock and Shannon, for example. I thank her for that. Dalton Philips said today that the airports were losing €1 million a day. My point is that the Government, like the Government before it, is all about regional development and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I am sorry. I included Waterford Airport in my remarks as an example. I did not mean to refer to it in the context of getting funding but, rather, in the context of connectivity. I am happy to clarify those remarks for Deputy Shanahan. I know he is still hurting after the day below in Waterford, but they will rise again.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 May 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 May 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome Ms Cara Darmody and congratulate her on her tremendous endeavour. Like Senator Wilson, I would have hoped that someone like her could have done my intermediate certificate examination for me and wish her well. She is a very brave young woman who deserves our huge admiration and praise. I join with Senator Wilson in expressing my congratulations to the Georgian people and their...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I have finished my questions. I thank the witnesses for the clarification. From the input we have received today, it is pretty clear in my mind. I thank the witnesses for attending and for giving us the opportunity to bring to an end any ambiguity. My knowledge is pretty limited, to be honest. Awareness raising is an important part. I ask the Department officials to highlight the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I pay tribute to the Cathaoirleach on the success of yesterday when Congressman Richie Neal shared his words with this House. I support the call of Senator Craughwell for the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, to be included in the pay talks. It is extraordinary that we made a decision about PDFORRA but did not include RACO in that reimagining. I hope we can change...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Ask the Opposition.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Medical Bureau of Road Safety: Chairperson Designate (25 May 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome Dr. Bedford to the meeting. I have absolute confidence in his qualifications and experience. I propose that the committee engage further with the Medical Bureau of Road Safety following today's meeting. Its annual report for 2020 is an extraordinary piece of work that the committee should examine. A report earlier this year revealed a trebling in the number of drivers behind...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Medical Bureau of Road Safety: Chairperson Designate (25 May 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: It is a very fair point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Medical Bureau of Road Safety: Chairperson Designate (25 May 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: In my next question, I will be putting Dr. Bedford on the spot although I do not mean to. I am confused by a statement on page 21 of the 2020 annual report. It states 86 station-based systems were available and that 43 of those were available for use outside the station. It adds that, in total, 87 analysers were available exclusively for mobile use. I am curious as to what that actually...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Medical Bureau of Road Safety: Chairperson Designate (25 May 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: In preparing for today's meeting, I read the 2019 and 2020 reports on the bureau's website, which is fascinating. The amount of available data is unbelievable. That is why I asked the question. I was not in any way trying to trip up Dr. Bedford. There is analysis of difference by county and charts indicating what happens at different times of the day, including the mornings, afternoons...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Medical Bureau of Road Safety: Chairperson Designate (25 May 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Does Dr. Bedford support early morning breathalyser checks by An Garda Síochána?