Results 10,381-10,400 of 24,326 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I will rephrase the question for those who are hard of hearing.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Which Department would they get rid of? Senator Gavan is saying we should get rid of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. That is the Sinn Féin policy. Sinn Féin wants to get rid of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. That is fair enough. I posed the question to the Members opposite. Let me make it quite clear that the Taoiseach, as the head of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Taoiseach has been here before. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, will be here tomorrow for statements on the North. The Government is committed to protecting and advancing Ireland's cause across Europe. Nobody wants the return of a hard Border. As the Taoiseach says, nobody wants to see the creation of a new border in the future. The Government will defend the Good Friday Agreement as...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It might be fun and a cheap political gain for some, but the Minister is very much aware of the urgency of the issue and will be before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport today. Senators Gerard P. Craughwell, Frank Feighan, Michael McDowell, Máire Devine and Colm Burke referred to An Garda Síochána. The Government is committed to resolving the...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I was going to refer to that fact, that, thankfully, 23 states were standing up to him on the issue. Senator Maria Byrne referred to the Defence Forces. We were due to have a debate on them in the House prior to St. Patrick's Day. I hope we will have it soon. Senator Robbie Gallagher raised the issue of car parking charges for cancer patients. I know that there is a protocol in some...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It needs to be addressed. Senator Davitt asked about Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and the proposed reduction in the minute's silence to 20 seconds. I was in Páirc Uí Rinn last Sunday at the Cork-Tipperary game and to the best of my knowledge, a minute's silence for the late Michael Maher and Tony O'Mahony, two fine former officers of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael at Munster and Cork...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Butler mentioned the fact Retail Excellence Ireland was making a presentation today and he also brought up the question of out-of-town business parks. He raises a very good point because many businesses have moved to the periphery of our major towns. Retailers in the towns are competing with these business parks as well as with online shopping, and parking is also an issue. There...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: He rightly said that 700,000 people die from smoking across Europe and 6,000 of our own citizens die, while big tobacco is interested in promoting smoking among people, particularly young people.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Yes. We acknowledge his support and that of the former Senator Jillian van Turnhout, who played a key role. I also thank the Irish Cancer Society for its role. Senator Norris raised the issue of wages and conditions. We got into a bit of bother last week for some of our comments. I am on record as saying that fobbing in is not a way to do business. In city and county councils members...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Order of Business is No. 1, Health (Amendment) Bill 2017 - Second Stage, to be taken at 4.45 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each and all other Senators' not to exceed five minutes each.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the 25 Members for their contributions on the Order of Business. The Cathaoirleach made a point about the number of items raised on the Order of Business and the fact that many Members do not wait to get the reply. I might join him in walking out some day and giving no reply.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: We should respect the Chair. I thank Senators Ardagh, Conway-Walsh, Humphreys and Boyhan who raised the Garda Síochána issue. All of us are united in considering the issues to be most disturbing and corrosive to the morale of An Garda Síochána and the way in which it is perceived by the public. This needs to be arrested and reversed. Government has committed to an...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: That is a fair point. The Minister is as eager as anybody to have the matter resolved.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It is important that we get a balance in regard to the dispute. It is also about efficiencies and about a model that involves having a secure public-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I did not interrupt the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I want to have a public transport system that serves the commuters of this country. As Senator Gavan knows well from his experience of being involved in activity, cheap talk will not solve this.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Equally-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I fully understand the personal impact this dispute has had on Bus Éireann workers. As I have said, this is about having a bus company. Government policy is supportive of the PSO model. That is why there has been an increase in the amount of money provided. Some €230 million has been provided to Bus Éireann across the PSO through free travel, capital programmes and school...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Then, when we have this matter resolved, I am sure the Government and the Minister, Deputy Ross, will be very happy to talk to all sides as well.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Senators McDowell, Noone and Mulherin-----