Results 11,701-11,720 of 24,571 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: We will come again. Senator John Dolan requested that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, appear in the House in regard to the UN report on people with a disability. I would be happy to have her come to the House before Christmas.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re arrangement for speaking time on the Order of Business, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion re Standing Order 57, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1 without debate; No. 3, Paternity Leave and Benefit Bill 2016 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 2 and to conclude...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the 25 Senators who raised matters on the Order of Business. The main theme was Brexit. Senators Mark Daly, Conway-Walsh, Ó Donnghaile, Coughlan, Feighan, Richmond and Paddy Burke raised matters relating to it and the Taoiseach's remarks yesterday in Glenties. It is important that the House has a timely debate on the role of Senators in the country's future post-Brexit and on...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I hope not but if there are, they are not moving towards me. Senator Mulherin raised the constituencies boundary commission. That is an independent group chaired by Mr. Justice Haughton and Members who have an issue with the commission should communicate directly to it. I will be happy to invite the Minister to the House. We will debate the matter anyway when the Bill is brought to the...

Seanad: Order of Business: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

Jerry Buttimer: I move:That the Leader of the House be called to reply to the Order of Business no later than 55 minutes after the proposal of the Order of Business; that the contribution of each group leader shall not exceed three minutes; the contribution of every other Senator shall not exceed two minutes; and the reply of the Leader of the House shall not exceed ten minutes.

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...