Results 2,141-2,160 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Question 463: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress that has been made on the building of a sports hall at a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary which she announced in 2006. [35639/07]

Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I wish to share time with Deputies Gogarty and Blaney.

Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Bill and the overall size of the social welfare package which is just short of €1 billion. This would certainly be one of the larger packages of recent years and has allowed increases to be made substantially ahead of inflation, giving a certain margin of safety, even allowing for the fact, as has been pointed out in contributions opposite, that certain items are rising...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I congratulate the Minister on an excellent budget that has given the economy a renewed sense of direction in more challenging economic circumstances. The Minister's approach reflects the underlying strength of the economy, the objective being to keep employment high and taxes low.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: In more difficult times we are making good use of the reserves and strength built up. There has been criticism from the benches opposite of the resort to very limited borrowing, less than 1% of GDP. Not a single commentator, as far as I am aware, shares the Fine Gael view on this subject. The AIB Global Treasury Economic Research review of the budget states: The move to a budget deficit...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The Fine Gael spokesperson spoke about this as the worst deterioration in the public finances. The problem is that nobody believes him. The worst deterioration in the public finances was when the national debt doubled from what was then measured as £12.7 billion in December 1982 to £25 billion in March 1987.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I did not breathe a word when Deputy Bannon spoke even though I disagreed with much of what was said.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I am delighted that the national development plan is being maintained. Public investment is very important and is key to the future development of the economy. The Minister mentioned one of the major projects in south Tipperary, the completion of the Cashel-Mitchelstown road. I am equally pleased at the considerable extra investment in public transport, which I consider to be equally...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: As a result of the Minister's reform, the Book of Estimates is being published with the budget and those changes always accompany the publication of the Book of Estimates. The concentration of tax relief is on those at the lower end of the scale, which is the consistent pattern of the Tánaiste since he took over as Minister for Finance. One of the most interesting tables in the Minister's...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I am glad that significant increases of 12%, 7% and 5% have been allocated in respect of first, second and third level education, respectively, with capital spending up 8%.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: In light of some of the pressures faced by schools, these increases are necessary. I and my colleagues on the Government benches are extremely happy with the budget. When the country was previously in difficulty, budgets tended to be quite tough. However, because of the underlying strength of the economy, it has not been necessary to be draconian in this instance. As an official put it to...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (5 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Question 231: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress on the amalgamation of schools (details supplied). [32729/07]

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Rubbish.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Rubbish.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Rubbish.

Climate Change and Energy Security: Statements (Resumed) (22 Nov 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister and wish him the very best during his period in office. I also welcome this debate and propose, first, to address the issue of climate change. I do not necessarily, on this or any other subject, accept expert views uncritically on trust. Experts tend to be passionate about their subjects, activists about their campaigns. Nonetheless, global warming needs to be...

Climate Change and Energy Security: Statements (Resumed) (22 Nov 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Hear, hear.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Question 155: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of taxpayers in 2006 or the most recent year for which complete figures are available, who returned incomes in excess of €300,000; and the estimate of the number of individual Irish citizens of high net worth, who maintain homes and businesses here, but who are not resident for purposes of income tax. [29805/07]

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Question 240: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has satisfied herself that the refusal of the Health Service Executive to negotiate with the Irish Pharmaceutical Union, on foot of opinions expressed by the Competition Authority, is consistent with article 40 6 1 of the Constitution, which affirms the right of association. [29815/07]

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I am supportive of the Bill on the basis that it is properly and thoroughly discussed and not rushed because it is very important. I was encouraged by the broadly constructive contribution of Deputy Rabbitte who, if I understand him correctly, said he would support the Bill provided there was written into it an assurance that it did not apply to sitting tribunals. In response to one of his...