Results 1-19 of 19 for buttimer segment:2900542

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

The Dail Divided: For the motion: 18 (Ivana Bacik, Paul Bradford, Jerry Buttimer, Paul Coghlan, Pearse Doherty, Paschal Donohoe, Dominic Hannigan, Fidelma Healy Eames, Nicky McFadden, Rónán Mullen, David Norris, Joe O'Reilly, John Paul Phelan, Eugene Regan, Shane Ross, Brendan Ryan, Liam Twomey, Alex White) Against the motion: 24 (Martin Brady, Larry Butler, Ivor Callely,...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: That is the reason for our amendment.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: Is Senator O'Malley saying the rest of us are unreasonable?

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator is clutching at straws now.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: One can consider what the programme on TV3 last Monday produced. Customs and Coast Guard personnel lack resources, X-ray machines are not being dispersed throughout the country and there is a lack of dog units.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: There is a lack of joined-up thinking between Departments. That is what the Government is presiding over.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: The argument——

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: ——is we are small island community. Our teenagers have overtaken those in the United States of America in the use of drugs. What does that tell us? What are we telling the people around the country in every urban and rural part of Ireland?

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: What will we tell them about the issue?

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: That is what the Government is presiding over. With regard to residential treatment centres and detox beds, there are nine counties with no such facilities after 11 years of prosperity. Senators have the temerity to come in and lecture us on how to tackle drugs but we should get real.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: If we are to talk about the twin pillars of education and enforcement, we should have real and meaningful education that will tackle the core of the issue and give young people an opportunity to buy in. I subscribe to Senator Cannon's comments on the use of youth cafés. We have one in my local election area of Togher and it is brilliant. We also have a brilliant example in Ballinlough....

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I am quite simple in my approach and we must eradicate drugs from our society. To do this requires political leadership, more resources for the Garda for enforcement, better use of the courts and help for young people through education. The advertising campaign on the issue this spring was ineffective. We must learn from the mistakes that have been made and go forward. I hope the Minister...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Paschal Donohoe: I am delighted to second the amendment to the Government's motion tabled by my colleague, Senator Buttimer. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Curran, to the House. My support for Senator Buttimer's amendment is forged by the constituency I represent, Dublin Central. In recent months I have had two experiences that emphasise that this amendment is correct and that it is important we...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Fiona O'Malley: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, to the House. I thank everybody for their contributions to this debate. I do not want to be accused of trying to silence Senator Buttimer, which would be a considerable task. I do not mean he had no right to table an amendment to highlight areas where he feels there are shortcomings. However, I believe he will be impressed with the Minister...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I would introduce them immediately. We should empower, enforce, educate and resource. We should not kid ourselves. Senators on the Government side have come to this debate to lecture us. We accept money is not the answer but the essence of what we are at is down to problems such as a sevenfold increase in the use of cannabis. If we need to take in the variations across the counties of...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Jerry Buttimer: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following; "considering: there has been a reported seven fold rise in the number of cocaine cases seeking treatment between 2001 and 2006; the number of new heroin cases outside Dublin doubled between 2001 and 2006; levels of drug use among Irish teenagers are now far greater than the European average with...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

John Curran: ...commitment of all involved at that time. The Government is determined that the new strategy will facilitate its tackling of the illicit drugs problem in a comprehensive and effective way. Senator Buttimer passed significant comment on the current strategy and raised a number of issues. He can put forward figures on what was not done and find flaws with the strategy and I can rebut them...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Larry Butler: ...these activities, and conducting target operations on criminal networks based on intelligence and collaborative work. The review of the drugs strategy is important. It is not the case, as Senator Buttimer said, that we simply have not delivered in various areas. By discussing this issue and reaching conclusions we could have collaborative support in the House on the way to tackle the...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Cecilia Keaveney: ...if the resources are not on their doorstep. While I accept there cannot be such facilities on every doorstep there must be access to someone's door when this issue arises. I agree with Senator Buttimer on the issue of using drug dogs. I remember the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform telling me that after dogs were introduced into prisons, the number of prison visits declined...