Results 10,701-10,720 of 24,447 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Taoiseach was not on "Morning Ireland".

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Taoiseach was not on "Morning Ireland".

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the 17 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business. Senators Ardagh, McDowell, Craughwell, Coffey, Conway-Walsh and Gavan raised the matter of a public inquiry. It is important we allow for the tribunal to do its work first of all.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: That works both ways, Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: If I can reply without being heckled or bullied either, that would be nice.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It is important to recognise a couple of things. A tribunal is being set up which is public, chaired by an eminent judge, and I have absolute confidence that he will do the job required of him. We are Members of the Upper House and our language is important. By extension of that, as I say every day of the week in this House, we cannot be judge and jury or attempt to influence or be seen to...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: We have the terms of reference before us today. There are no findings against anybody yet. There are allegations in all shapes and forms. It is the job of the tribunal to establish the truth. I have every confidence it will. We are presumed innocent until otherwise proven guilty. We have a duty as Members of the House to ensure that the tribunal gets the support it needs. I think...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: That is what worries me.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: In the context, I am happy to announce to Senator Ardagh that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, will be in the House next Tuesday for education statements. In terms of the first-time buyers grant that she raises, it is new scheme and it will take time. May I just remind Senators Murnane O'Connor and Ardagh that we had a recession that killed off the construction industry...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Some day Senator Craughwell will be standing here and I look forward to hearing him give his reply.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The facts are very simple. We had a recession under the watch of Fianna Fáil in government which killed off the construction industry. That is a fact which must be acknowledged by the Members opposite.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: It is important to recognise that the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, in Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness has set out targets and actions that must be followed up. We will have control of rent, which he has addressed by the introduction of rent pressure zones, which I am sure Deputy Murnane O'Connor will welcome....

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I share his view on the Passport Office. It is good to see an increase in the staffing levels to deal with the increased level of applications.It would be interesting to have a debate on how we might make access to passports easier for people. I do not see any reason why we could not have such a debate in Derry, Belfast or wherever else. I would very much welcome that. Senator Murnane...

Seanad: Establishment of a Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I move:“That Seanad Éireann:- bearing in mind the serious public concern about allegations that senior members of An Garda Síochána sought to discredit Sergeant Maurice McCabe because of complaints he made about the performance of An Garda Síochána; - noting the Protected Disclosure that was made by Superintendent David Taylor to the Minister for Justice and...

Seanad: Establishment of a Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (16 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: I will be brief. I welcome the Minister. I want to remark again, without making a political charge, that our language and our words are very important. What we say gets covered. I know that today in the Order of Business, Senator McDowell raised the matter of the Garda Commissioner as he did again today. To be fair to him, he said there was a professional issue that he could not comment...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on transport and tourism, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude no later than 2.45 p.m., with the initial contribution of the Minister not to exceed 12 minutes, the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be given ten minutes to reply at the end...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: That is a new low.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator ought to hold a mirror up to herself.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator has some cheek.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Jerry Buttimer: Oh dear God.