Results 8,041-8,060 of 24,320 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I hope it will not but I think it will. Senator Gavan will have no hair left by the time he is in government, I assure him.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: We will have that debate at a later date.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: The independence of the Chair should not be confined to comedy, but I take the Cathaoirleach's point. I am sure there are some on his former benches who would love to be in with Sinn Féin.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: It is a republican party. The phrase, "republican party" has many different attributes, and I think we all share-----

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: And definitions. I thank the Senator. Senator O'Mahony referred to student accommodation. The USI is holding a briefing today, and I apologise that I have not been able to make it. This issue was raised yesterday by Senator Gallagher as well. May I refer the House to a number of figures? In Dublin we now have 6,180 accommodation spaces specifically for students under construction; in...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I think the Senator protests too much about that. It is an experience. I accept that there is a difficulty in sourcing accommodation but, to put it in context, we have 31,296 beds, 11,114 public and 20,182 private, so there is an imbalance in that respect that needs to fixed. The Cathaoirleach has ruled on Senator Gavan's motion and I would be happy to have that debate. I believe Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: -----at the Senator's request last week, I think. I would be very happy to accede to her request and I will endeavour to have him in next week. The point she makes about homelessness, communication and the strategy as to who does what is a very valid and pertinent one. I believe we have many different organisations and entities, all wanting the same outcome, but there is perhaps no meeting...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I join with the Cathaoirleach in welcoming the delegation, whose members I had the pleasure of meeting earlier. I hope we can continue to build relationships and promote areas of concern and interest. Senator Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of child benefit. Rules are rules, although the Senator made a pertinent point regarding those over 18 and still in school. I am happy to look at...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I will do that. Senator Noone made a telling contribution on the issue of illegal dumping. As I said, I am happy to provide for a debate on the issue. Senator Ó Donnghaile raised the issue of access to RTÉ in the North in the context of the failure last week of Sky to transmit one of the championship matches, which is disappointing to say the least. I ask Senator Marie-Louise...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: Now, Senator McDowell, no contrary behaviour.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: What is wrong with black pudding?

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. In welcoming the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, I reject Senator Bacik's assertion there is a grubby deal. It is anything but. Her own party was very happy to do a deal with Sinn Féin to get votes for the Seanad election on more than one occasion. To borrow a phrase - we are where we are. I am not quite sure if it is a plate of...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: President Obama could not even get an appointment over the line. Mr. Gorsuch was then appointed to the Supreme Court. If one looks at what happens in the context of the American Supreme Court, we want to avoid the situation here where people are afraid about what happens if a particular judge dies. We must avoid that situation. It is not about liberal or conservative, it is about merit...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: It is not necessarily about that.It is not about that per se.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: If some people got their way, we would have all the one type on the Bench. We should have a balance and the criteria for appointment, on merit, should include legal qualifications. That is the point I am making. Notwithstanding the amendments by the Minister, the Bill will change the manner in which judges are appointed. In creating the judicial appointments board, we will change the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I will finish on this but I did not realise I had only one minute left. I thought I had more.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I go back to when the judicial appointments review committee was established in 2013. It said that the relative success of the administration of justice in Ireland was achieved in spite of rather than because of the appointments system. That was the process established prior to Deputy Ross becoming a Minister. That should raise questions for us. Senator Bacik referred also to the issue of...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: It is an extraordinary indictment that the ratio under the current system is 84:16.