Results 101-120 of 562 for speaker:Larry Butler

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (3 Feb 2010)

Larry Butler: I concur with previous speakers in terms of the major problem caused by these head shops. In 2009 alone, €104 million was spent on addiction treatment. The people who use the products sold in these head shops will eventually progress to harder drugs, which will cost the Health Service Executive a great deal more money because they will become addicted. There is no question about that....

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Feb 2010)

Larry Butler: I compliment the Minister of State on bringing forward this very important and required Bill. He cannot be accused of not being forward-looking in terms of youth matters given what he has done in a short period of time. Our commitment to child care is what is most important. We must ensure our young people are well educated and well looked after because that will serve them well going...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2010)

Larry Butler: I support my colleagues who raised the issue about depressed mortgages. Before Christmas I went to the EBS and Bloxhams and they have a report that supports what we are suggesting. We should have legislation across the banking and financial sectors to ensure we are all singing from the same hymn sheet. The banks we control are behaving themselves reasonably well but outside that there is a...

Seanad: Banking Sector: Statements (26 Jan 2010)

Larry Butler: I welcome this timely debate. I note much time has been spent on the investigation into the banks, which is terribly important. Senator Norris is correct that we must ensure our banking system is of the highest standard and has the highest standards the public will accept. It is also important to have international standards in order to have standing internationally. At the time the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2010)

Larry Butler: I welcome Senator Mooney back to the House. He gave great service to his county of Leitrim for many years and I know he will continue to do so. Leitrim is now very well served with two great Senators. I am delighted to see the Senator back, for himself and his family, and I believe he will be able to make a major contribution to this House. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: It is aspirational.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: It is very aspirational.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: The party of which the Senator is a Member wanted to tax them.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: People on the other side of the Border have to live on €75 a week.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I welcome the Minister of State. We have had to put together a very difficult budget. I am sure the Minister spent much time on the budget to ensure we got as fair a one as possible. It is fair to say we were forced to do things we probably should have done earlier. We should have looked at our public sector, which we have now been forced to do. That is the one criticism I have that we...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I have listened carefully to the debate and it is very good, but I would like to draw on Senator Doherty's remarks about punishment. His party would know more about punishment than most. It uses its own punishment system.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I did not interrupt Senator Doherty.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I have no intention of withdrawing them.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: Excuse me, I did not interrupt you, Senator Doherty-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: -----I listened to what you had to say. Your economic policies make no sense.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I will do so. Many are making comments about cuts in child benefit and so on. It is not so long since Fine Gael lost power owing to a tax on children's shoes.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: Taxing children's shoes was a big issue at the time. Fine Gael lost power because of it.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: Do not try to lecture-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I listened to Senator Buttimer earlier.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I listened to what he had to say and many contributions were valuable, to which I will respond now. I do not think the Opposition can lecture Fianna Fáil and the Government on what it has done on the issue of child care in the last few years. We probably have one of the best child care facilities in Europe. It is regrettable that we must take budgetary action to reduce such facilities....