Results 8,201-8,220 of 24,320 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: That is not a lot.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: How do I answer that?

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the 16 Members who contributed on the Order of Business. I note regarding the amendment proposed by Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell that the Minister is not available today but he will be here on Wednesday when he is prepared to make time available after he deals with his Bill for statements on the matter the Senator raises. I will come back to her comments later. Senator Mark Daly...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I will not read the Minister's reply to the House but Senator Daly must be fair here. We have never, on this side of the House, blocked a Bill coming in. The Senator made a request to us and the Bill passed on Second Stage. The Minister made a very clear point to the Senator last week and he needs to be fair about it. It is the Minister's understanding that it is not expected that such...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: To come in and pretend otherwise is unfair.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: To listen to the Senator this morning, one would swear there was no engagement or willingness to get involved.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: The gully trap needs to be plugged as well or the water will keep leaking. The Department is working on the insurance (amendment) Bill to implement the recommendations of the Review of the Framework for Motor Insurance Compensation in Ireland report and it will be published soon. As the Senator knows quite well, the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, when he was Minister of State at the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I am just saying-----

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I fully understand the protestation of Senator Mark Daly because I would be embarrassed at seeing those costs under the reign of Fianna Fáil. The Senator is correct though. We should not put up a barrier and the insurance companies must have a social responsibility to organisations, such as the Men's Sheds or community associations. I agree completely with the Senator on that because...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: The working group has been set up. Where I again agree with my learned colleague is that the cost of motor insurance is unacceptably high. What we must have, though, which Senator Mark Daly has not said-----

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: It is not just legislation. You come with a one dimensional view to life and you are always right.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: This is the reply to the Order of Business, not Senator Mark Daly's hour.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: We have distinguished visitors in the Gallery and I welcome them. We must look at what are the costs associated with why the premiums are so high, whether it is the compensation system and what are the other factors around the cost of insurance being so high, and that is what the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, is committed to and what Government has started. Reductions of 14% and 20% are...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: -----and children. Without argument, I accept that. However, there is no way that we can change the present constitutional arrangement unless the people vote "Yes" on Friday quod erat demonstrandum.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I respect, as I stated at the beginning of this debate, whatever way the people will vote but I hope that the people will go out and vote and that they will vote in a compassionate and genuine way. I will not give a lecture to anybody today, but let us be fair. There is only one way we can change and deal with life in general, and that is by voting "Yes" on Friday.

Seanad: Visit of Croatian Delegation (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: As Leader of the House, I join with the Cathaoirleach in welcoming our distinguished guests. Mr. Milas and the ambassador, H.E. Mr. Ivan Mašina, are very welcome. Thank you for being here today. It is important that we continue to forge good relations. You are most welcome.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: First, I join with the Senator Conway-Walsh in hoping that the conference in Mulranny on rare breeds will be a success. The Senator is correct, and as Senator Marshall also said, the agricultural community is very important to our country. Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue of the rainy day fund. Sometimes - I know the Cathaoirleach will lecture me - the voodoo economics of Sinn...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: No, I am not but it really does. Let us be fair. The National Pension Reserve Fund, which was the rainy day fund, is nearly gone because of the collapse in our banking system. The Government is committed to getting, and has got, money back from the banks. We are creating a new fund to maintain progress in terms of the living standards and the needs of our people. If Senator Conway-Walsh...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: What the Minister is proposing is that we take €0.5 billion per annum and build it up to €8 billion.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: Sinn Féin is the party that opposed Irish Water. It would not pay for water at one level. One will not have investment. Senator Conway-Walsh cannot talk out of both sides of her mouth.