Results 8,901-8,920 of 24,326 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I am confident that we will get it done. I am very happy to facilitate the debate but I would again ask Senator Daly, who came back to us, to listen to what his learned colleague, Senator Wilson, said. We should never have sold off Eircom, which his party did, and the consequence of that is that it was asset-stripped from then. That is where we are at today in part. The question that must...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: At least our party in government is ambitious for our people.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: Some 77% of our people have connectivity.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I will roll on. Some 77% of our people will have broadband connectivity by the end of the year. That is not a bad achievement and there has been a 19% increase in connectivity since the Minister, Deputy Naughten, came into office. Senator Boyhan has requested a debate on Coillte and I would be very happy to facilitate that. The chief executive officer of Coillte, Mr. Gerard Murphy, was...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I am well aware of that. I have met these workers and spoken to them, as has the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: If I can answer the issue the Senator raised, the funding position of section 39 organisations is that they get a grant, a service level agreement. There is an obligation on all Departments to engage with Oireachtas committees. In this case, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform cited that the relevant Department was the Department of Health, but it would be helpful it there was a...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I would be happy to have that debate with him. I did not get all of Senator Leyden's contribution on the Druid production but I wish that production well. The Senator is certainly a good advertisement for being on stage with the actors in that production. I congratulate Senator Dolan on his advocacy for and work on seeking the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: The Taoiseach will be here.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: It is very important and it works both ways. What we need to have are debates on what is factual and what is not factual in terms of what people bring into the House as part of their contributions. If that is the point the Senator is referring to, and I am not sure it is, that is okay. I would be happy to meet her any time to discuss Seanad reform.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised the issue of water privatisation. I do not believe we have privatised water but I would be happy to-----

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: The Oireachtas has made the position quite clear. I have asked Irish Water to have the clinics resumed.We will have the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, come to the House for a debate on water. Senator Wilson will be glad to join us in congratulating Senator O'Reilly on seeing the road grant for Cavan increased by 18%.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: I know they work well together in Cavan. The important point, as the Senator indicated, is that it is not about St. Jude or St. Jeremiah. It is about all of us working to advance our own local areas. I have asked for the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, to come to the House to discuss the issue of Coillte. I will ask for the Minister, Deputy Naughten, to come to address the issue of...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: That is the best Kerryman joke of all time.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: The Galway tent, is it?

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: Those of the few.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: It sounds like the Senator has.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: Ar an gcéad dul síos, cuirim fíoráilte roimh an Taoiseach. Gabhaim buíochas leis as ucht na hóráide láidre agus dúshlánaí. B'fhéidir nach mbeadh muid le chéile tar éis an ráiteas ach bhí sé iontach ar fad. In welcoming the Taoiseach, I concur with Senator Coghlan and hope his visit will not just be an...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: On behalf of the Government, I gave the Senator time on Deputy Doherty's Bill prior to the summer recess. As a House, we are efficient in passing legislation. I hope we will see more legislation commence here and emanate from the Chamber. We live in a changing and evolving world which presents challenges, not only to the political parties but to us as public representatives. We are...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: The job of Government is to represent all of us as citizens, reward work, invest wisely and to acknowledge that enterprise and business play a key role in our society. We cannot go back to the old days of boom and bloom of the McCreevy-Ahern era of politics. We must invest our money wisely in our services and in our people.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Ruane spoke of the morality of class and that is a challenge we must all face. That is why the republic of opportunity speaks about that. It is not just about spending Government money, it is about the delivery of services. When we speak of reform of the Houses of the Oireachtas, let us have reform of our public services where people are held to account in the jobs they do so we...