Results 9,661-9,680 of 24,326 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Health Care Issues Arising from the Citizens' Assembly Recommendations: Masters of the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street and the Rotunda Hospital (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: What I wanted to say, to assist Senator Mullen and the members of the committee, is that the people who work in the Rotunda and in the other maternity units are doing exceptional work. We should not allow them to be portrayed otherwise on the record of this committee. I previously chaired the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children and I must say that Dr. Mahony is a credible and...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The order of business is No. 1, statements on Northern Ireland to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude no later than 2.15 p.m. with the contribution of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes - time can be shared - and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, the Minister to be given no less than five minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, motion regarding the eighth report of...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: You keep calling and he will deliver.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the 15 Senators for their contributions on the Order of Business. I join Senators Conway-Walsh and Mulherin in extending sympathy to the partner and the family of the late Neill O'Neill. I had the pleasure of meeting him and of knowing about him.As Senator Conway-Walsh said, for him to be taken away so suddenly in the prime of his life is very upsetting and distressing for his...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It is disappointing that Fianna Fáil's Brexit spokesperson, Deputy Donnelly played politics with the issue last Monday on "Morning Ireland". What we must do is wear the green jersey, which Senator Daly does, in fairness, in the context of Brexit. The Taoiseach has made it quite clear that we do not want any return to a border on our island and there is unanimity on that issue in this...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I hope there is no breaking of ranks in the Kingdom.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: That is a fair point.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Lawless raised the very important issue of the human rights of the Rohingya people. The refugee crisis is a damning indictment of the Burmese authorities and a solution must be found immediately. Aung San Suu Kyi has to do more than condemn what is happening because it is within her gift to bring about change. I hope that our Government, through the United Nations, can play a role...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Devine will be interested to know that the education budget will see a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio, more special needs assistants, more teachers, a return to the provision of career guidance as well as the building of new schools under the capital development plan. The Government of which Senator Ó Ríordáin was a member built more schools than any Government...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It is crocodile tears.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I am not hurt at all but what I-----

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I intend to do that as well, but it is ironic that the parties are on the radio, reading from the old one-pager from Sinn Féin, because they cannot find anything to criticise. The health budget announced yesterday is bigger than that contained in the Sinn Féin document, with €646 million in current expenditure-----

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I did and it is voodoo economics.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Sinn Féin is a tax and spend party.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It is important to set the tone in terms of what is happening in our country. Some of the Sinn Féin Members do not see the value of being in government. To be fair to Fianna Fáil, while we disagree with its Members on many matters, they at least want to go into government, and when they do-----

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The problem with Sinn Féin is that it will not go into government in the North or the South and it is also absenting itself from Westminster. The good news, and the Cathaoirleach is right that I should hammer home the good news for Senator Devine and her colleagues, is that an additional €646 million-----

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: This is the good news that Senator Ó Clochartaigh might like to hear. I do not think he has a press release about it but he might just do me the courtesy of listening to the good news. There is €646 million in current expenditure, more than €200 million of which will be for new developments.That is an additional €471 million for capital over the period from 2018 to...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: There is €75 million in the budget for reducing waiting lists. I hope Senator Gavan will welcome this. Does he welcome it?

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: There you go.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: All the Sinn Féin Party wants is a wealth tax. Tax and spend is all it wants. It is not interested in good news. That is the good news - €75 million but Senator Gavan cannot even welcome it.