Results 3,641-3,660 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: European Union Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I accept that the Senator is registering a protest and that he would like to reverse the position which has obtained since 2007. However, I have no discretion in that regard.

Seanad: European Union Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I merely wish to make the general comment that as the previous Seanad, of which I was a Member, showed, this House is, on an equal basis, extremely well placed to scrutinise EU legislation and developments. Long may it continue to do so.

Seanad: European Union Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: On behalf of the Minister, I thank Members for expediting this legislation through the Seanad. The conclusion of consideration of the Bill in this House sees the completion of its course through the Houses of the Oireachtas. This means that Ireland will complete the ratification process of the Lisbon treaty ahead of next week's meeting of the European Council with the deposit of our...

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I am pleased to have the opportunity to take part in this debate on appointments to public bodies and to hear the view of Senators. Oireachtas Members who go to the trouble of preparing Private Members' legislation are always to be commended. Even when, as is more often the case, the Bill is not accepted as it stands, it can help to inform subsequent Government legislation. It is a little...

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The OECD said that there is now a need for an improved governance and performance dialogue to address what it described as the current disconnects between the central Civil Service and the broader public sector, especially between Departments and agencies. It noted that there are neither formal nor informal criteria for establishing agencies in Ireland, either at the national or local level....

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I nearly changed it.

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: There are other boards for which there is no money at all.

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: They have been able.

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: What about Richard Burke?

Seanad: Inter-Country Adoptions (28 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I will be taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs. I am familiar from experience in my constituency with the issues surrounding adoption from Vietnam, and I know about the strong desires and emotions involved. I hope this reply will throw some light on the Senator's concerns. The Government's objective on adoption...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (28 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I am happy to respond on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who unfortunately cannot be present. I thank Senator Ó Domhnaill for raising this matter and giving me an opportunity to outline to the Seanad the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the current position in respect of Scoil Chonaill Naofa in...

Seanad: Denominational Schools (28 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Before I read the official reply, I say to Senator Ross and others that I am not a Protestant first and an Irish citizen second.

Seanad: Denominational Schools (28 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: On behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, I am pleased to be given the opportunity to confirm to the House the Government's continued commitment to Protestant schools and to clarify the position on the funding arrangements for fee-charging Protestant schools. I assure the Senator that the Minister and his colleagues in Government recognise the importance of...

Seanad: Denominational Schools (28 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: With the indulgence of the Cathaoirleach, I will give a more personal view and analysis which I hope will none the less be consistent with the position of the Government and the Department of Education and Science. Historically, the State has treated favourably Protestant schools and pupils of those schools. It has allowed small schools to continue in existence that might not otherwise have...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Business Plan: Statements (29 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I thank Senators for the opportunity to contribute to this important debate on the draft business plan of the interim National Asset Management Agency, NAMA. I look forward to hearing the views of Members during the course of this debate. Today is the final day of Committee Stage deliberations on the National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009 by the Select Committee on Finance and the...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Business Plan: Statements (29 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I thank all 16 Senators - more than one in four of the Members of this House - who contributed to what has been a very constructive debate overall. A very large number of points were raised and I will do my best in the time available to answer them. To pick up the general point made by Senator Bradford, he said correctly that this is not about saving the banks or developers but about saving...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Business Plan: Statements (29 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: One has to look beyond the confines of this Bill. It raises a general issue about the confidentiality of the tax system except, obviously, where people are gazetted for reasons of tax evasion. I am simply expressing a reservation about that. The Senator can of course put these points to the Minister for Finance when the legislation comes through the House. If the toxic loan valuation paid...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Business Plan: Statements (29 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Thank God for that. We do not need any more bubbles. We need a tighter operation. At the same time, however, I also agree with his point that banks cannot and should not be compelled to lend to projects that simply do not stand up. We must be careful that in seeking socially desirable responses in return for the support that is being given to the banking system, not for the sake of the...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Business Plan: Statements (29 Oct 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Senator Mary White stressed the importance of competitiveness. In the general debate we are having about budgetary matters and cutbacks, a key element is the fact that we belong to the eurozone, which has many advantages. One fears to think where we might be if we were not members of the eurozone. We can all remember the crisis of 1992-93 in much more benign circumstances than those that...

Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: [Seanad] Second Stage (3 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the introduction of the Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009. The Road Transport Act 1932 belongs to a different era, when we had an extensive loss-making rail system and a bad road system. The spirit of the times was perhaps closer to the command economy than to the era of competition. The Minister is to be congratulated not only on bringing the reform of the 1932 Act, which...