Results 61-80 of 562 for speaker:Larry Butler

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Larry Butler: I welcome the Minister of State. He is doing an excellent job ensuring the children of the country have a voice through the preparation of the legislation. I refer to the remarks of Senator Cannon. It is not long since he was involved with the Government on this side of the House. He made little or no contribution on child care while on this side of the House. Since he went over to the...

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Larry Butler: Following the last by-election, one of Senator Cannon's colleagues was only able to stay the pace for six months.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Larry Butler: Should we put the cost of another by-election in Dublin South to the taxpayer?

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Larry Butler: One of the Senator's colleagues could only stay in the House for six months.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Larry Butler: I must raise questions about the Senator's credentials.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Larry Butler: I am sticking with the statements but it is important to bear in mind that we should hear solutions in the House rather than criticisms. Too many people are criticising various organisations but do very little themselves. I would prefer to see a more hands-on approach and proposed solutions to matters under discussion in the House, whether legislation, guidelines or whatever. It is...

Seanad: Public Service Agreement 2010-2014: Statements (13 May 2010)

Larry Butler: I would not be the most supportive of unions. I was an employer and always prided myself on paying more than the union rates. If somebody had a beef with me, I would say that he or she might like to work for some company with union rates. It was never an argument with me because I always paid more than the union rates. Social partnership was quite a good idea but I disagreed with parts of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

Larry Butler: I concur with Senator Harris. As usual, he has got the temperature right. I also welcome the support shown for the euro. When the eurozone was introduced some 11 years ago, a mechanism was not established to support the euro as a currency.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

Larry Butler: I am delighted they have seen fit to ensure we have a stabilisation plan for the euro when it is attacked outside the eurozone. That is to be welcomed. Negotiations have to be structured around the situation. I accept the importance of Opposition spokespersons highlighting this, but it is not acceptable for them to put misinformation out there. Negotiations are taking place to have a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2010)

Larry Butler: I welcome the news that there has been reasonable growth in the retail business - at least 1% - in the first quarter of this year. This is the first time we have seen signs that we are coming out of recession. In addition, exports are up by 2.5%, which is encouraging. It is good to see the economy growing in that direction. The car industry has seen a major increase in sales, with more...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2010)

Larry Butler: It is important to recognise that the Government has taken the right decisions on the economy on many occasions in the last two years. It has been difficult, but we are now seeing the results of these difficult decisions which Greece is refusing to take even now when it is being bailed out by the rest of the European Union. We should consider why it has defaulted in the way it has.

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

Larry Butler: This motion is cynical and hypocritical because Members on the other side of the House were in receipt of pensions. I spoke to a Member at noon on the day the story about Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn broke and he said there was no way he was going to give back his pension. At 6 p.m. he was announcing his intention to give back his pension. I wonder what happened to make him change...

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

Larry Butler: Senator Norris was correct when he said we made our own decisions about pensions and the way we looked after ourselves. That is fine, but we are not as well looked after as many others, including bank managers. Members of the teaching pension are working and drawing a teacher's pension. Retired civil servants are working in the private sector and continue to draw their pension. The motion...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2010)

Larry Butler: I welcome the quarterly report from Davy that shows we are out of recession and moving in the right direction. We also had international success during the week, following the provision of support for Bank of Ireland. The bank's placement issue was oversubscribed three times. I congratulate the Minister for Finance for doing a very fine job in restructuring the banking system. I agree...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2010)

Larry Butler: That is an important statement which was made yesterday. We overlook the fact that many good things have happened over the past three months in terms of job creation . Some 150 retailers have said they will employ 1,000 people, which is a huge jobs boost. If we had a multinational company coming in, they would be clapping their hands and saying what a great proposal it is. I support...

Seanad: Banking: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Larry Butler: The Senator's party has said that.

Seanad: Banking: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Larry Butler: My hearing is quite good.

Seanad: Banking: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Larry Butler: I agree with the previous speaker on how the banks have behaved. In short, they have behaved in an appalling manner. The public will be obliged to foot the bill for bailing them out. It is important to bear in mind, however, that a new Governor of the Central Bank and a new Financial Regulator have been put in place. In addition, new legislation to support the activities of these two...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2010)

Larry Butler: I support Senator Quinn's proposal that we pay attention to the good news stories told everyday. He gave the retail industry a lead in this regard through his successful television programmes which demonstrated how people with the expertise he possessed could turn around an ailing business. It is an important and positive initiative. I ask for a debate on job creation with the relevant...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2010)

Larry Butler: I also welcome the new jobs which have been announced this month, which number more than 500. It is the first time for some time that we have seen some good news in this regard. There has also been a reduction of 12,400 in the number unemployed.