Results 6,541-6,560 of 24,319 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I recall the sale of Eircom. Who did that? It was Mary O'Rourke. Do Members opposite remember the e-voting machines and what the cost was in that regard?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: What about PPARS? Who was responsible for that? It was Bertie Ahern and the then Minister for Health, Deputy Micheál Martin.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Murnane O'Connor forgot about the €40 million overspend in regard to the Mater Hospital plans for the national children's hospital under the watch of Bertie Ahern. I know that Fianna Fáil wants to airbrush him from Fianna Fáil history and I understand why but they should not come in here and lecture us.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Fianna Fáil should not be lecturing us.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: A Leas-Chathaoirligh, they do not want to hear the good news.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: They do not want to hear the good news but they will have to listen to it because it is factual. We now have the largest number of people ever to have worked in the history of our country. When Fianna Fáil left government, the unemployment rate was at 15%.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: There were people from Senator Murnane O'Connor's home town, Carlow, on boats and planes emigrating. Shame on Fianna Fáil. They should put up their hands and admit they were wrong.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Look at the way in which the country is being rescued today. We have the greatest number employed today.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I inform Senator Craughwell that under this Government and its predecessor, the minimum wage was increased three times? He should ask himself whether he voted for it?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I have the Senator's texts about consulting on votes.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I commend Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell on her contribution on the Order of Business. The points she makes on culture and heritage are actually very important and should not be just glossed over in an Order of Business reply. I would be happy to have a debate on the points she makes. What we must learn from our past is that we must prepare and plan. This involves a combination of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I was not sure from the Senator's contribution who he was referring to. I believe he referred to trade Ministers.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: He is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I would be happy to have the debate.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I will ignore the Senator. Senator Murnane O'Connor, as part of her contribution on the Order of Business, raised the issue of broadband. She should look at the task force report published. Does she want to heckle me now or will I finish? She is about to start.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: The Member opposite fails to recognise that 1,000 km of fibre-optic cable have been laid. There is a commitment to have 400,000 businesses hooked up. There is a commitment to activate 135 live stations this year. As the Senator knows, the task force is quite clear on what is required. I refer to the action points. The national mobile phone map is live. ComReg is working on that. The...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of the CE scheme supervisors and the industrial action this week. There is a review being undertaken by the Departments responsible for social protection and finance. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection answered questions on this during a Commencement debate. I would be happy to have her come to the House to debate the matter again....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: There is not unanimity on the Bill.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: We do not have unanimity on the Bill. We have a report that was produced and agreed by an Oireachtas sub-committee of both Houses. As to what happens down the line, however, that is for further discussion. I do hope we will have Seanad reform, and I am committed to it. As to whether it is the same type of reform the Senator wants, that is a different issue. I commend Senator Noone on her...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I was not saying the Senator was.