Results 341-360 of 562 for speaker:Larry Butler

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

Larry Butler: It is important to debate issues like the IMF report and the economy in general. The IMF has focused our minds on what we have to do in the next budget. It has made it clear that the Government is doing the right thing and has the right policies. The IMF has said that NAMA is the right vehicle for doing the job that is needed in the banking and finance sectors. It is important that a body...

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

Larry Butler: I did not use any names. I referred to "the previous speaker". It is important to acknowledge the grave situation of those who are unemployed. Over the next three years, we need to give them some sort of hope for the future. The way forward involves looking after such people as best we can, for example by making supplementary welfare payments. It is even more important to get them into...

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

Larry Butler: Bank of Ireland's share price, which went as low as 55 cent, has increased to almost €1.50. I admit there has been a substantial increase in paper profit. I have examined the IMF report and read all of the important priorities dealt with in it. We are dealing with those priorities in a professional manner, as we should. It is important to have the support of people on the other side of...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2009)

Larry Butler: I wish to raise an issue I believe will be extremely important in the future. Local authorities are not prepared and certainly are not well organised in respect of inward investment that comes into a county. I call on the Leader to ask the Minister for a debate in this regard. I note that IKEA, which is a fantastic company, is about to open in Ballymun with the creation of 500 jobs....

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: Resign.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: I wish to defend the House, as I did not get a chance to do so yesterday. I also wish to defend the right of Members who rise to speak in the Chamber without being interrupted. I have been interrupted many times and was obliged to write to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to have it stopped. It is unfair that any Member should be interrupted when speaking. One must honour Members...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: It is important that Members play a major role in addressing the matters that are not right with the House. I agree that they could deal with their business more efficiently and so forth and it is important that they do so. Changes must be made, of whichI am in favour.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: I will wind up on a point regarding small businesses, to which a previous speaker alluded in respect of support from banks. However, many small businesses are being put out of business by the rates levied at local authority level. Fine Gael and the Labour Party are in a great position to freeze rates in each local authority this year to help out and ensure-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: -----such enterprises stay in business.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: The rates business has been a milch cow for local authorities for many years; there should not be an increase this year.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: Moreover, Fine Gael and the Labour Party, which control 90% of councils nationwide-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: A total of 90% of councils are controlled by Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Let us see what they will do.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: The Opposition is telling the Government what it should do but it is in a position to do something about the matter.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (22 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: I express my sympathy to Tony's family, his many friends, Deputies Cyprian Brady and Dooley and former Senator Chris Wall. I knew Tony long before I ever became a Member of the Seanad. I knew him through his work at the city council and also that which he did in his constituency and at election time. He was a key man in all of Deputy Bertie Ahern's election campaigns on the northside of...

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: I wish to share time with Senator Ormonde.

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: We have had an extremely good debate on appointments, which I welcome. Having served on a health board for many years, I met many people with ability on that board who came from the different political parties and from none. I am not one of those who believes, when a board is being appointed, that one needs to be a member of the Labour Party, Sinn Féin or any other party to be appointed....

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: I support the calls for a debate on next week's action. However, if NAMA is to be dealt with in the House next week, it is a very important vehicle to ensure we get our banking system back on track, which is vital. If that is not being dealt with in the House next week, I would certainly support a discussion of the issue of next week's action. It is rich when one sees somebody like Arthur...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: Excuse me, I did not interrupt when others were speaking.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: We have an indebtedness due to people's use of credit cards and others who bought too much land and paid too much for it, right the way up the chain. Members opposite should consider this as it is very important.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Larry Butler: This indebtedness runs right through the system. Until we clear that, the economy will not improve. If we do not try to get out of this by working under partnership and with the unions and everyone else who is involved, it will not work.