Results 2,341-2,360 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Yes. On the question of whether we are happy, 46% of the people are very happy, 92% are satisfied with their standard of living and 94% are happy with their quality of life.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: On the matter of schools, 78% of people find their local schools satisfactory compared to 62% in the UK.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome the discussion afforded by this Bill. As I noted last Wednesday, I thoroughly approve of the introduction by Members, be they Government, Opposition or Independent, of legislation or Private Members' Bills. Such legislation can stimulate discussion and the deliberative process and can give a push towards a destination. On that...

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I refer to section 12(9)(e), which excludes those who have been "nominated as a candidate for election as a member of a local authority". Unless I have misread the provision, this constitutes an exclusion of local authority members.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Very well.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Section 19 states that all credit unions must abide by the new company's rules. At the very least, such rules must be agreed by consensus with the credit unions before one begins to impose them. Moreover, there may be difficulties in respect of the Competition Authority's views. On yesterday's Order of Business, I was somewhat critical of the Competition Authority. If its position is to...

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Motion to Withdraw. (1 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 6 March.

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome this legislation. I have some knowledge of its pre-history. In the late 1970s I was working on the energy section in the Department of Foreign Affairs with the then Department of Industry and Commerce and I have a clear recollection of all the discussions that were going on, with the EEC and more particularly, the International Energy Agency, IEA, about the holding of reserves....

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Cars are taxed according to their CC level.

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Wood chip boilers are manufactured in County Tipperary.

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Does this have any connection with the Bill under discussion?

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Ten out of ten for relevance.

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: But not the Bill we are discussing.

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The Bill, perhaps?

Seanad: Defence of Life and Property Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Bill and the initiative behind it, and I compliment Senator Morrissey on it. I was astounded by the political petulance——

Seanad: Defence of Life and Property Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: ——that greeted this initiative which I found difficult to reconcile with the dignity of this House. There is no such thing as political patents on good ideas. Good ideas, even when put forward first by a particular politician or party, do not belong exclusively then to that person or party. If they are good ideas they will gather support from many different sources and of course if...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: At the risk of annoying some of my learned friends, legislators should encourage a culture of apology. By apology, I mean a proper and full apology. I accept this may not always mitigate the harm done, in which case further litigation is possible. It is right that apologies can be made without strict admissions of legal liability. It would be desirable for Members to try to cut down on...

Seanad: Defence of Life and Property Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I would like a quorum of Fine Gael members.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I strongly support what Senator Ó Murchú said about community employment schemes, the need to review their operation and remove the cap, especially in respect of the older age groups. I also support Senator Coonan's call for more planners in the context of the pace of development in the country. Notwithstanding anything said by Senator Ross, this Government appointed a former Fine Gael...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: It appointed a former Fine Gael leader to review agriculture to 2015 and it provided necessary backing for a former Fine Gael Taoiseach to become EU ambassador to Washington.