Results 11,461-11,480 of 24,326 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Standing Order 57: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I move:That Standing Order 57 be amended by the addition of the following paragraph: "(2) On the recommendation of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and with the leave of the House, representatives and persons in public and civic life may attend and be heard in the Seanad.”

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Irish Bank Resolution Corporation) Bill 2016: Second Stage (19 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: In welcoming the Minister of State, I must point out that it is important that the issue before us, which is a matter of public concern, should be addressed and investigated. Anomalies and irregularities in transactions that potentially cost the taxpayer must be investigated. The Government's approach to this has been transparent, notwithstanding the fact that Deputy Catherine Murphy...

Seanad: European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: As Leader of the House, I acknowledge the presence in the Visitors Gallery of Sr. Maureen. I congratulate her on being 100 years young and wish her a happy and enjoyable day. It is a tough task to follow Senator Martin Conway because everything he said was apt and important. I am thinking particularly of what he said about the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore, the best way to...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, to the House. I start on a discordant note with Senator Ó Clochartaigh. We had very good Irish Water clinics in the last Oireachtas. My experience was 100% positive in that regard.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: Today is a very important day because it is the beginning of new politics. It is Fianna Fáil reinventing itself as the catch-all populist party. I welcome the fact that we are going to have a commission.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: Fianna Fáil has never done the right thing.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the commission because we can have a real debate about water, the payment of charges and the funding of our network, system and services. I challenge anyone in the House to show me the colour of his or her money. The Irish Water list of projects for Cork is going to require investment. That means money. As Sinn Féin becomes more mainstream, as it has done in the North of...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: The memorandum of understanding is clear, as Senator Craughwell, Senator Humphreys and Senator Coffey have said. We are opening ourselves to daily fines from the European Union if we do not continue to charge for water. These will cost the Irish taxpayer more and more money and that will mean less investment. The memorandum of understanding was signed by Fianna Fáil in government....

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: He cannot do that. Moreover, Deputy Barry Cowen cannot promise everything and deliver nothing in terms of investment.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: What we are doing today with this Bill is to provide for the setting up of the commission. I believe the bona fides of the Minister of State, Deputy English, and the Minister, Deputy Coveney. The energy regulator has been sidelined. The regulator is the independent authority that approved the pricing structure for water and other utilities. Let us remember that under the memorandum of...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: If we want a debate about water, then let us have it. There is another concerning aspect that no one here has addressed. Last week, Professor Seamus Coffey from UCC referred to the revelation of the significant drop in the number of people who had paid bills by the end of the last billing quarter. There has been a 50% drop. The company is looking to collect approximately €260...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: If we are to have investment in our water network and system, then let us allow this commission to produce its report.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: If the commission makes a recommendation as part of the final outcome, then I will accept that as a democrat. We can talk about new politics but that does not mean we can be a catch-all for everyone. Let us remember 1977. The Leas-Chathaoirleach was an active member at the time.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I will finish on this point. That was the beginning of the end of local government funding. Then, we had a gargantuan U-turn by one political party and we are going to see another one now with this question. I welcome this commission. I hope it will be a success and I will await its outcome. I very much regret the fact that Joe O'Toole had to resign. He was forced out. This is...

Seanad: Citizens' Assembly: Motion (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I move:That Seanad Éireann: approves the calling of a Citizens’ Assembly to consider the following matters and to make such recommendations as it sees fit and report to the Houses of the Oireachtas: (i) the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution; (ii) how we best respond to the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population; (iii) fixed term parliaments; and (iv) the...

Seanad: Citizens' Assembly: Motion (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I wish to share time with Senator James Reilly. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English, to the House. Notwithstanding the remarks of Senator McDowell, some of which I agree with, I very much welcome the composition and creation of the citizens' assembly. It is a good idea, not least because the decision-making rests in the Houses of the Oireachtas and with the people. Ultimately,...

Seanad: Citizens' Assembly: Motion (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: There was no pre-emption, in fairness. I believe the only downside of the Constitutional Convention was that the Government failed to come back in a timely manner with a report on the proceedings of the convention. I say that as one of just two politicians who did not miss any of the days of the Constitutional Convention. I travelled to various events as part of the convention....

Seanad: Citizens' Assembly: Motion (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I agree with Senator McDowell that there is a need for transparency on the selection process. I do not subscribe to the theory that it will come down to self-selection or that the selection process is open to manipulations being put forward by others. I refer to my experience of the Constitutional Convention. I found it hard to listen to the contribution of Senator Ó Domhnaill, whom I...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: -----level of research and preparation they undertook in their participatory role in the convention. The academic panels put with those were, to be fair, balanced and unbiased, and they brought forward clear papers for everybody. Senator McDowell referred to the cost of the assembly, but we can argue that we should not have any Ministers of State-----