Results 11,321-11,340 of 24,326 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: This Government and this budget -----

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: This budget is committed to protecting a fragile economy. Senators Brian Ó Domhnaill and Diarmuid Wilson spoke about the problems around Brexit. What this Government must do now is not what Sinn Féin would do -----

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: That encapsulates the approach of Senator Ó Clochartaigh and Sinn Féin to everything. We are in opposition, we will oppose, oppose, oppose. Ochóin, ochóin agus ochóin. This budget is about ensuring that what we have to spend and, to be honest, what we have to borrow is spent prudently and invested wisely. It is also about making sure that all people in all sectors...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Bacik spoke about this budget lacking ambition. Can I remind her about the 2 million people at work, representing a drop of 7.9% in unemployment from the height at the peak of our economic distress. The ambition is to lift the lives of all our citizens, whether they are working in a factory in Cork, living on the Border in Cavan or Monaghan or out in the heart of Connemara. The aim...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I will address that now. This Government has unveiled the biggest housing plan in the history of the State, announced by the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, and supported by the Minister for Finance in the budget.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: As Senator Ó Clochartaigh knows quite well, because he is a smart man, supply is critical.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: One cannot have people in houses unless one incentivises the market to have people to build and people to buy. If the Senator speaks to those in the construction sector, they will tell him that supply is the big and fundamental difficulty.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator has not listened to anything in today's budget. He has opposed everything and continues to do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: First-time buyers, as we all are aware, are experiencing difficulties in accessing finance. I wish we could do everything for everybody but the Government must prioritise. Home ownership is a good thing, as is the ability to supply housing - be it social housing or otherwise. Enabling people to have their own homes and to put a roof over their heads is the aspiration and objective - in so...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: In addition, a home renovation scheme will be available. Senator Conway-Walsh will have an opportunity to raise the point she made when we debate the budget later. Moreover, we will have the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in the House on 18 October. Senator Craughwell raised the very important issue of conditions for members of the Defence Forces. He may be aware that the...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: The figure is €2.25 million, I am told, for support schemes in Údarás na Gaeltachta. A €2.4 million grant for capital works for 2016 has been announced, along with works for Inis Oírr last week. There is a commitment by Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: There is a commitment by Government. Senator Ó Clochartaigh is wrong to say there is no interest in the Irish language on this side of the House. I very much regret that I could not have this debate with Senator Ó Clochartaigh as Gaeilge but I will try, as he knows. The Minister is committed to coming to House.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: He is willing to come to the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I have explained it to Senator Ó Clochartaigh on numerous occasions.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: He is not running scared. The only person who is scared here is Senator Ó Clochartaigh because this country is going well and he does not want it to go well.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Reilly raised an issue relating to the budget, as did Senator Jennifer Murnane O'Connor. Senator Murnane O'Connor made a point on payments and the timeline. The Minister has said that the reason it applies from now is to allow for more people to be included in the improvement. Senator Murnane O'Connor is probably young enough not to remember it, but-----

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I remember, predominantly when Senator Murnane O'Connor's party was in government, those responsible announced the budgets in December but it was nearly the back end of the following year when the social welfare increases came into effect. I am glad they are coming in next March. It is important that all people benefit from the €5 increase, whether the pensioner or the carer....

Seanad: Budget 2017: Statements (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister and thank him. I welcome the opportunity to have the debate and speak and have a real debate on the budget. To listen to some of the people speaking here today, one would reckon we were in the land of Charles Dickens. As I said on the Order of Business, this is the first of three budgets by the Government. Let us put it in the context of where we have come from. We...

Seanad: Budget 2017: Statements (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: It is called voodoo economics.

Seanad: Budget 2017: Statements (11 Oct 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: At the same time, we have a Minister for Social Protection announcing a budget with an increase to all people. People complain that the Christmas bonus is only 85%. It was gone until the Government came back. We restored the Christmas bonus. We increased the minimum wage; we did not cut it. More people are at work, some 2 million people. Someone, I think Senator Ó Clochartaigh,...