Results 2,521-2,540 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

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

Martin Mansergh: I wish to deal briefly with four subjects, namely, terrorism, domestic and international; violent and armed crime and activities associated with that; anti-social behaviour; and the best use of the State's resources. People are concerned about terrorism here and abroad where lives can be ended in a flash entirely without warning. The first rule is to express no complacency nor to assume that...

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

Martin Mansergh: One of my daughters was with many others in August at a going-away party in the company of the young man, an employee of Google, who was murdered in Sandymount. It happened in the early hours of the morning while he was walking home with friends and he intervened to protect a girl on the street who was being physically abused by her companion. The ending of that young man's life had a...

Control of Exports Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Listening to Deputy Higgins inspired me to contribute to this debate. However, I was surprised by elements of the last contribution. Only Dáil Éireann has the right to declare war, therefore, there was no war over the past 30 years. It is all very well to moralise about other people exporting arms, but are we certain that the IRA did not export expertise in bomb-making and other...

Charities Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: It was welcomed by some but not all of the Deputy's colleagues.

Charities Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: It is happening in Tipperary.

Charities Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: What about the Private Security Authority?

Charities Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: It was a bonus.

Charities Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I absolutely agree.

European Union Reform Treaty: Statements (16 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The negotiation of the constitutional treaty was one of the Taoiseach's greatest successes. Therefore, the notion that the Government is lukewarm about the reform treaty, a slightly modified version of the constitutional treaty, is complete rubbish. I have mixed feelings about the respective merits of the constitutional and reform treaties. The constitutional treaty was legible and...

European Union Reform Treaty: Statements (16 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I do not see it as being as powerful a job as the critics make out. It would be akin to the high representative for external affairs trying to bring together and represent views, while not being an independent, powerful governor in his own right. Much has been made of the reduction in numbers for vetoes. If we want decisions made, we cannot allow unlimited vetoes. When countries have vital...

European Union Reform Treaty: Statements (16 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: If one had to choose between Judge Balthazar Garzon who put some Ministers engaged in the dirty war in Spain behind bars and is taking an equally tough line with ETA and Mr. Justice Lord Denning, give me Judge Balthazar Garzon any day. I do not accept that the opt-out reflects any Euroscepticism. Is Deputy Flanagan saying the Fine Gael position is that if it were in government, it would end...

Road Safety: Motion (Resumed) (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the raising of this important issue but there seems to be differences in the contributions of those who wish to discuss politics and those who wish to engage in politics. I was disappointed at the emphasis on U-turns in the opening contribution and the later call for a ministerial resignation that seemed entirely inappropriate to the debate.

Road Safety: Motion (Resumed) (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The commitment made by the Taoiseach during the election campaign is being adopted and delivered but it is absolutely proper for a Government Minister to pause for consideration and proper deliberation regarding anything said during an election campaign, even by the Taoiseach. When I took part in the general election in 2002 and entered the Oireachtas five years ago road safety was one of the...

Road Safety: Motion (Resumed) (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Road investment has an important part to play. The segregation of traffic leads to fewer deaths and less frustration. We have high volumes of traffic on what used to be high grade single carriageways and this is one reason sceptics were convinced of the need for the N8 upgrade. I think particularly of the stretch between Cahir and Mitchelstown, where two or three years ago there was a...

Passports Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: While I may be the only Deputy who has issued passports, including emergency passports, I am not the only person in the Chamber to have done so. I am looking to the bullpen. It was a slow process in the pre-electronic age, but it was a task I enjoyed in Germany. I congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment, which was well-deserved given his interest in the developing world. I...

Passports Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: This is related to the false use of passports but I have finished my point in that regard.

Passports Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Those who administer and issue passports must be very careful of situations that involve a serious threat of international terrorism. I am not referring to Irish jurisdiction, but the attacks of 11 September 2001, for example, involved people who used passports and travel documents. Given the vast number of people travelling, it is very difficult to check the identities of people quickly,...

Pre-Budget Outlook: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Not in the least.

Pre-Budget Outlook: Motion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I compliment my constituency colleague, Deputy Tom Hayes, on what was a very constructive and relatively non-partisan contribution to the debate. However, I disagree with him on one point in that I do not believe in scapegoating individual public servants, which is often too easy a response. I welcome the presentation by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Cowen, of the...

Agrifood Industry: Motion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I would like to share time with Deputy Collins; the Minister of State, Deputy Wallace; Deputy White; and the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent.