Results 2,561-2,580 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

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.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Rubbish.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Rubbish.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Rubbish.

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]

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...

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...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Question 279: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts the European Union is making to secure the release of Ms. Ingrid Betancourt and other political hostages held by the FARC guerillas in Colombia. [35640/07]

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]

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (19 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Question 205: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of fatalities caused by the LUAS since it came into operation; the number of passenger journeys per year; and the operating subsidy annually. [35751/07]

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (19 Dec 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Question 219: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if referendums were held prior to accession in each of the 12 member states of the EU; if all those states were represented in the European convention prior to the drawing up of the constitutional treaty; and if in his opinion the people of those member states were in a position to take account of the principal developments and issues now...