Results 2,501-2,520 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: During that period and since I found him motivated by public interest and dealing with fairness, integrity, an even temperament and, above all, a basic decency, with all the issues with which he was confronted. I am surprised the opportunity has arisen to express confidence so soon. The electorate has spoken only recently and a Government has only just been formed. There has been no...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I would like to bring to the attention of the House some important financial transactions in December 1994 not referred to in the tribunal in which the then Minister for Finance was involved and which have been of lasting public benefit. Following the IRA ceasefire, the then Minister for Finance, Deputy Bertie Ahern, did all the groundwork leading up to the decision made by the European...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: ——but it was rapidly adopted by the party when it took office.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: During some of the period under examination by the tribunal, in addition to preparatory work on Estimates and the budget, the then Minister for Finance had already been elected party leader, was supervising detailed negotiations for government and did not have a great deal of time in which to attend to his personal affairs. Since that time, the Taoiseach, who returned to office in 1997, has...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: It is understandable that, facing into a further five years in opposition, Fine Gael and the Labour Party would like to overturn the result of the recent election and destabilise one of the most popular Taoisigh ever. There is no adequate explanation as to why, if they felt this way previously, they did not take a stronger line, except that the people would not have liked it. As far as the...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I have a clear memory of the events that occurred on the date to which I refer. I was with the then Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, in Budapest, the then Minister for Finance was in Brussels — I suspect on the business I outlined earlier——

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: ——and telephone calls were going backwards and forwards as the Government of the day collapsed. There are many in the Labour Party who in retrospect — perhaps also at the time in question — deeply regret what happened.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: What is happening now is the playing of a game of ethical knockout, particularly in view of the fact that, in addition to a lack of recent experience in government, the merits of the parties opposite are insufficient to recommend them to the people. The idea is that if people cannot achieve total, consistent and coherent recall of all their dealings a dozen or more years ago, then they are...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: ——with lawyers earning amounts of money that are many multiples of the sums we are discussing. It is wrong that the tribunal should be taking up so much of the Taoiseach's time. There is no evidence whatsoever that the public has lost confidence in the Taoiseach. In my opinion, there has been no change in that regard since the election. If I might use a phrase that de Valera employed...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Of which I am proud.

Shannon Airport: Motion (27 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: On a point of order, surely there is a difference between calling a statement a lie and calling a speaker a liar.

Shannon Airport: Motion (27 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Will Deputy O'Dowd ask Deputy Kenny to withdraw what he stated about the Taoiseach?

Shannon Airport: Motion (27 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Deputy Higgins is obviously not familiar with the UN resolution of 2004.

Shannon Airport: Motion (27 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: As the national spatial strategy acknowledges, in practical terms regions overlap. West Tipperary has a close relationship with the Limerick and Shannon region in terms of employment and services. Several people from there are employed at Shannon, including Aer Lingus employees. There is also a wider interest common to all counties outside the metropolitan area in maintaining regional...

Shannon Airport: Motion (27 Sep 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The Minister should reserve the right to hold Aer Lingus to its responsibilities.

Written Answers — Bridge Repairs: Bridge Repairs (2 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Question 177: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if, following completion of bridge repairs, Swiss Cottage, Cahir, County Tipperary, will re-open to the public next season; and, if so, the months during which it will open. [21510/07]

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (2 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Question 209: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans and the timescale for extending BreastCheck and the national cervical cancer screening programme to County Tipperary. [21511/07]

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (2 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Question 210: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to improve the orthodontic service in the south east region, and in particular the waiting times. [21512/07]

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (2 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Question 507: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on affording official recondition and funding to an organisation (details supplied). [21638/07]

Tackling Crime: Statements (Resumed) (3 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I congratulate the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, on his appointment. He has all the qualifications to be an excellent Minister for Justice. I welcome his earlier statement that he is consulting this House before finalising priorities for the Garda Síochána in 2008. I especially welcome his statement that it is easy to sound tough on crime, but what...