Results 3,341-3,360 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Forthcoming Budget: Statements (26 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: It is my understanding that officials continue to be available to the Opposition for further briefing subject to the requirement to maintain Cabinet confidentiality. It is the responsibility of Government to draw up the budget but everything possible has been done to ensure the Opposition has the information it requires to make constructive suggestions and constructive criticism. The...

Seanad: Pension Provisions (26 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I fully subscribe to what Senator Norris stated on the importance of research. As it happens I am very familiar with the situation he describes as I have a daughter who is a research fellow at Trinity and is, of course, subject to the pension levy. However, I have not had representations on the pension levy from that source. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009...

Seanad: Pension Provisions (26 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: That is nearly accurate, but not completely accurate. There is nothing to say that people cannot constitute themselves into an ad hoc group. They must write in the first instance to the people who pay them. The people who administer their pay must then refer to the higher authority, such as the Department and the HEA. When they have made a recommendation on it, it can be submitted to the...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (31 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works has agreed to a request from Kilkenny County Council to examine flood alleviation at a number of locations, including Piltown, in the County. A Steering Group has been established to progress the matter. A Consultant has been appointed to prepare a pre-feasibility report on problems in Thomastown, Callan and Graiguenamanagh and their report is expected shortly....

Local Authority Rates. (1 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I commend Deputy White for placing on record the valuable work done by the community initiative to which she refers. I hope my reply will be of assistance. The Valuation Act 2001, which came into effect on 2 May 2002, provides that all buildings used or developed for any purpose including constructions affixed thereto are rateable. Under the Act, the Commissioner of Valuation is independent...

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: While I register that last point, needless to say, the Senator would not expect me to either anticipate or pre-empt any budget measures relating to mortgages. The Government amendment refers to the substantial investment already made in energy infrastructure and water services. It invites the Government to continue to invest in those economic priorities that will assist economic recovery....

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: —— or indeed the Labour Party for that matter. I would like to address some of the infrastructural improvements in the areas of green energy power generation, broadband, and water treatment and distribution in which the Government has invested and the results of which can be clearly seen throughout the country. Building and maintaining our energy infrastructure is a key strategic...

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I do not really have time to go into broadband even though it is mentioned in my script. The widespread availability of broadband is a major priority for the Government. The Irish market has taken major strides forward since 2000 when there were only 4,000 broadband subscribers, whereas today there are 1.2 million. We are now seeing the beginning of next generation broadband. The...

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Three years.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed on the attached tabular statement: Decentralisation Programme Expenditure of site purchases Location Site Cost â'¬ Carlow 1,440,000 Clonakilty 2,875,000 Buncrana 1,105,860 Killarney 4,500,000 Newcastle West 325,000 Longford 576,250 Trim 3,600,000 Thurles 967,500 Dungarvan 2,100,000 Knock 390,000 Cavan 2,900,000...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (2 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has produced an outline design for a preferred flood relief scheme for the town of Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford and has just completed a formal public exhibition of that design, as required under the Arterial Drainage Acts. This outline design was completed by internal Engineering staff within the OPW in consultation with Enniscorthy Town Council and Wexford...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (7 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works is working with Bray Town Council to develop and implement a Flood Relief Scheme for the town. Funding is being provided to the Town Council from the provision in the National Development Plan for Flood Risk Management measures. The Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed scheme and the necessary Compulsory Purchase Orders have been approved by An Bord...

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed). (8 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I think Deputy Naughten means AIB.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: A caretaker has been employed for the past number of years at Quin Abbey for the period May to September. His duties include opening the site on weekdays, excluding Tuesdays, between 10am and 4.30pm and on weekends from 9.30am to 3.30pm. This post is subject to the embargo on public sector appointments, and the filling of the post is being examined in this context. The provision of...

Seanad: Appointments to State Agencies and Public Bodies: Motion (8 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I am pleased to be here today to have this opportunity to discuss the ongoing review of State agencies being carried out by the Government. As Members will be speaking on the budget tomorrow, I do not propose to discuss it now except where relevant to this debate. I thank Senators Boyle and de Búrca for raising this important topic which is under active consideration and forms part of the...

Seanad: Appointments to State Agencies and Public Bodies: Motion (8 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: One fifth is quite a lot. Since the foundation of the State, public bodies, State agencies, State-sponsored bodies and semi-State bodies, however described, have made a tremendous and indispensable contribution to our national development. Within a year of independence, the first agencies had been established, among them, the Irish Film Censor's Office, with the support of, I am sure, a...

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed). (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The coming together of financial, banking and economic crises, part-global, part-domestic confronts this State with one of the biggest challenges to its independence that it has ever faced. In its suddenness and scale of overall impact it came upon us completely unexpectedly, even if a few people had anticipated individual elements such as the housing crash. The supplementary budget...

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed). (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: While capital investment is important, the severity of the deterioration in the public finances inevitably means there will be a significant delay in the delivery and completion of the national development plan. When we had the resources over the last ten years, it enabled us to go full speed ahead on improving many deficient aspects of our infrastructure. The completion of the national...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Officials at the Office of Public Works met with Kildare County Council on 13 March 2009 as part of the Steering Group overseeing this project. It was agreed, in the light of the outcome of the preliminary investigations that had been undertaken, that OPW and Kildare County Council would continue to work together towards completing a detailed design for the proposed works. The Local...