Results 5,561-5,580 of 24,308 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: He never mentioned in his contribution the report that he chaired. I compliment him on his role as chairman. It is extraordinary that Senator McDowell is such a democrat that a person who can propose a different person for the position of cathaoirleach is now obstructing democracy rather than having an alternative viewpoint. It is quite extraordinary that he said the Minister, Deputy Ross,...

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: As Senator Paddy Burke said off mic to Senator McDowell, he was the leader of a political party and he did nothing in terms of Seanad reform. In fact, at one time he and his party were in favour of abolition if I am not mistaken. Let us put things in context. We can all change our position and our minds. That is fair enough.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I am very calm, Acting Chairman. I welcome Senator Wilson to the House. I look forward to his contribution. I hope he can articulate and outline the reform that Senator Murnane O'Connor did not enunciate. That is okay too.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank all involved in the process. I genuinely thought it was a very worthwhile exercise. There was not unanimity on the report. I am in favour of reform. I expressed my own views at the meetings. To be fair, the secretariat of Síle de Búrca and Amanda Reilly deserve our praise, as do the experts who came appeared before us. We had 13 meetings from May to December, which in...

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I am not procrastinating because I agree with Senator McDowell.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Those of us who are incumbents at the moment are fortunate and privileged to be here. In the future then one is at best talking about one or two elections. The Senator is right and I concur with what that. I am 52 years of age and I am not particularly worried about my position, and I am being very honest and candid about that unlike others, perhaps. I have a very clear view. I would say...

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: -----but it has question time and it can hold Ministers to account. I would much prefer to have Ministers come to this House to be held to account as well. There are issues that the Manning report addressed that we can implement and we should do so perhaps. Senator McDowell said we are not petty people. We are not but there is a view that some elected to this House on the vocational...

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I take umbrage at the inference that because we are not from the NUI or Trinity panels, that we are lesser beings.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I am not saying the Senator Norris has done so but there is a view out there-----

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: -----if Senator McDowell wants to read up on the matter.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I am not saying that it does, to be fair.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: It is not. The question I would pose is about whether there is a settled position on agreed reform. There is no agreed position on reform other than we all want to see reform, if we are honest about it. The dissenting views in the report is one view. Another view has been expressed by others who have not been elected to the House. They supported the retention of the Seanad and yet now...

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Norris will want to retain the Trinity panels. Others have a different viewpoint. There are Members here who want to retain the vocational panels in their entirety. I am of the view that it is time to reform the vocational panels and have a wider vote by the people. I might be signing my political downfall and the end my membership or whatever but I hope to be elected elsewhere...

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I did not say that it did.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: On a point of clarification and to assist Senator Warfield, I stated that Sinn Féin is a dissenting voice. That is to what I was referring in terms of the document. I did not state that Sinn Féin had produced another report.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: The Order of Business is No. a1, motion regarding the 12th report of the Committee of Selection, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 1, motion regarding the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of No. a1; No. 1a, motion regarding the arrangements for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Thanks very much.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Is the Senator interested?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank 16 Members of the House for their contributions to the Order of Business. On my own behalf and that of the Fine Gael group and the House, I extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Brenda Grace - his wife, Eileen, and his four children - on his sad passing. As has been eloquently described here this morning, he was a gentle person, a person of huge compassion and a great...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: If the Senator has done that, he has had his opportunity. We have had debates on foreign affairs and on European affairs. I would be happy to have a debate on foreign affairs. Our position on neutrality has not changed. I agree with Senator Higgins. We are a peace-building country. Our focus should be, as a neutral country, on building bridges, healing wounds and encouraging dialogue...