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

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: If it were included in the programme for Government, would it actually be implemented by any Minister for Finance one would care to name? I just think—

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Other things being equal, of course it is desirable to index tax allowances and bands. For most of the last five years, this has been done. In fact, more than this has been done but there are other circumstances where one is in the downward part of the cycle where it is not easy to do so. There is a lot of talk about stealth taxes. It is perfectly transparent as far as the public is concerned...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I am not so sure.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Very true.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I fully agree that Fine Gael deserves much credit for the Tallaght strategy. In the period in question, the high growth rate of between 8% and 10% and surpluses of up to £4 billion put great strain on infrastructure. The Government had leeway and people from all quarters were pressing us to spend money. The Minister for Finance maintained a substantial surplus for most of the five years in...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: It did not go ahead.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: We shall see. One cannot win them all.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Given the figures in recent years, no one could accuse the Government of being anti-public service. The public service has expanded and blossomed. I do not like the implication that public servants, per se, are less productive than others in the marketplace. I have equal respect for people who work in the private and public sectors. They both do essential jobs. The only difference is that in...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: If the bigger countries impose pressure to modify the pact, we should seek to ensure that any changes accommodate our interests. Speaking in the presence of the former Minister for Public Enterprise, I caution against the suggestion that we seek an exemption to fund public transport projects on the basis of our low level of debt. While I am in favour of public transport, I am against wasting...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Drawing lines on maps has always struck me as being fictional or utopian.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: That was an issue on which the tax strategy group, of which I was a member, was bypassed and wrong footed by the Minister. Nonetheless, I strongly support the measure. Perhaps, as the Minister half hinted earlier, there is scope for its extension to the social welfare system in due course. The change made then was a reflection of changing social reality. I remember being told by one of my...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I would be the last person to deny the underlying problems which Senator Higgins mentions. Getting young people into the housing market is a real problem. I hope one of the achievements of the Government over the next three or four years is the improvement of the affordability of houses. There is a sense of injustice in that it seems much more difficult for young people at roughly the same...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Second Stage. (27 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials. The decision on the regulatory authority was one of the most difficult and important made by the previous Government, and today's debate partly reflects the one which took place over two or three years. It was a very important decision and held up for some time until the Government clarified the direction in which it wanted to go. As an...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I have attended as an observer two Sinn Féin Ard-Fheiseanna.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Mansergh: The Northern peace process is of some value.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I support Senator Finucane in wanting to focus on the cancer strategy. Early treatment is absolutely vital. I have seen things during the years about which I am not happy.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Although it is not relevant to this Bill, I envy the Minister of State the magnificent road which goes through his constituency from Sligo. I wish a similar road would materialise some day between Tipperary and Carrick-on-Suir. I welcome the Bill, despite the fact that I will be adversely affected by it. It will provide a 16% increase in own resources for local government. Better funded local...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Apr 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I support Senator Ó Murchú and others regarding 16 Moore Street. A more general principle is involved, namely, a requirement that some kind of certification be provided by an appropriate body regarding those buildings which are historic and those which are not. These matters should not be left to the casual decision of an official who may or may not be historically aware.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (2 Apr 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Regardless of its merits, with which I will deal in a moment, the placing of the amendment in the preliminary section of the Bill is extraordinary. It is an amendment of some substance and this is clearly the wrong place for it. I have not worked out where it should go, but to put a matter of substance like this in the preliminary section is a fairly extraordinary piece of drafting.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (2 Apr 2003)

Martin Mansergh: To come to the substance of the matter, despite a difficulty a few years ago the Government has good and close relations with the credit union movement and deeply appreciates and values the good work the credit union movement does in practically every town. There are ongoing meetings between the credit union movement and the Department of Finance and, where necessary, the Government. If...