Results 18,641-18,660 of 24,339 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Community and Voluntary Groups (8 Nov 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: I remind members that we have a second meeting and, as such, I ask that they confine their contributions to questions rather than statements.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Community and Voluntary Groups (8 Nov 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: We will have an opportunity to discuss that with the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Community and Voluntary Groups (8 Nov 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome Mr. Sean Dillon, the public affairs manager for Older and Bolder, and invite him to make his presentation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Community and Voluntary Groups (8 Nov 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome Mr. John Dunne, the chief executive of the Carers Association, and invite him to make his presentation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Community and Voluntary Groups (8 Nov 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: I apologise to the witnesses for the delay in beginning the meeting. There were a number of items of private business to attend to. I welcome everybody to the meeting which is focused on the pre-budget submissions of nine groups and which is divided into two parts. I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery that mobile phones should be switched off in order that there...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Value for Money Reviews (6 Nov 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: To ask the Minister for Defence the date on which the Value for Money Report of the Reserve Defence Forces will be published. [48190/12]

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: Do they want the Government to fail? Their policies do not add up.

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: As their policies are a load of rubbish, they should be burnt in a bonfire outside the gate. The Government has announced a €17 billion capital programme. It is spending €2.2 billion to build 40 schools and develop 180 major school projects. It is allocating €2.9 billion for roads projects and €1.4 billion for rail and light rail projects. It is designating...

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, and pay tribute to him for the way he has demonstrated the ability of the Government to govern. People like him, the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and other members of the Cabinet are now in charge. I listened to Deputy Peter Mathews' remarks and would not like to disagree with him. A famous line...

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: Do not live by the opinion polls. As the Deputy knows quite well, there is no pot of gold, despite what Sinn Féin might think.

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: Let us put the matter in context. We were told the Government would not succeed in getting a €10 billion reduction from the troika. We were told we would not get a stimulus plan of €2.25 billion and that there would be no result at the euro summit in June. Last Sunday there was an outpouring of ridicule of the Taoiseach and the Government, but the position changed on Monday...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance Sector: Discussion (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: The market is contracting, while the cost to the consumer is increasing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance Sector: Discussion (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: It is also important that we be cautious about raising prices in the market.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance Sector: Discussion (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: On that note, I thank the delegates for attending. I thank them for their engagement and hope they have found the experience positive. From the perspective of members, it has been enlightening. As a consequence, we hope to see a reduction in premiums. Policyholders of health insurance companies, as I hope all committee members are, want to see bills reducing rather than increasing. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance Sector: Discussion (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: Deputy Kelleher had a point about a developer or provider incurring the cost rather than the health insurers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance Sector: Discussion (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: Of course. The developer would be the risk taker, buying equipment and hiring staff.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance Sector: Discussion (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: That is fair point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance Sector: Discussion (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: It is supplier-induced demand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance Sector: Discussion (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: That is a discussion for a different day.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance Sector: Discussion (25 Oct 2012)

Jerry Buttimer: I do not personally buy that argument. As Deputy Conway noted, I cannot believe a consultant would call my office and say that because I have a certain medical history, I need an operation.