Results 3,861-3,880 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Interim Report on Flooding on River Shannon, November 2000: Statements (4 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Which one?

Seanad: Interim Report on Flooding on River Shannon, November 2000: Statements (4 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I thank all Senators who contributed to what was a most constructive and positive debate. I noted at least a couple of dozen points that were made and I will try to respond to them briefly. Senator McFadden inquired about the request for assistance from Europe. That was addressed in some detail by the Minister for Finance in the Dáil yesterday. He attended an ECOFIN meeting and he...

Seanad: Interim Report on Flooding on River Shannon, November 2000: Statements (4 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I mentioned that.

Seanad: Civil Defence Forces Equipment. (4 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I share Senator McFadden's admiration for the Civil Defence. I happen to know its chairman who lives only five miles from me, across the county boundary in Limerick. It is one of the State services I came across when I was a very small boy because a woman who worked for my grandmother put on her uniform once a week and went off to work for the Civil Defence. At least I think in those days...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (8 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: To facilitate planning for the management of future flood risk, OPW has embarked on a programme of Catchment Flood Risk Assessments since being assigned lead agency responsibilities in 2004, following the review of flood policy. These studies, which are required by the National Flood Policy and the EU Floods Directive, are designed to identify the areas at risk from flood events for a range...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (8 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: In its drainage operations, the Office of Public Works distinguishes between, on the one hand, the removal of silt and débris that has accumulated in a watercourse over time and, on the other hand, the deepening or deepening and widening of a watercourse below its original bed profile. The former case, generally referred to as maintenance, is a duty of owners of property along the...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (8 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I advised the Dáil on Tuesday 24 November and Wednesday 2 December that the OPW will shortly go to tender for consultants to carry out a strategic review to assess operational structures, costs and benefits of a National Flood Warning System. The purpose of undertaking a strategic review of options for Flood Forecasting and Warning (FF&W) is to: (a) Examine the potential benefits that FF&W...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (8 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Under a scheme introduced during the Summer, the Office of Public Works invited Local Authorities to apply for funding for localised minor flood mitigation works, subject to specific economic and environmental criteria. The OPW understands that an application will be made by Limerick County Council under this scheme for funding for works to address the flood problems at Castleconnell and...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (8 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works constructed an embankment at Shannon Banks, Corbally, Co. Limerick as an emergency response measure, following consultation with an inter-agency group set up by Clare Council to co-ordinate the response to flooding in the region. The work was carried out by OPW's own workforce. Given the extreme urgency involved, the full cost of the works has not yet been...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (8 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Following previous flooding at Westbury, County Limerick, an embankment and pump installation were constructed by the developers of the estate to protect it. The estate was not flooded during the recent heavy flooding in the Shannon area. The Office of Public Works understands that the estate has not yet been taken in charge by the Local Authority involved, Clare County Council. In the...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (8 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The reply to the Deputy's Question of 3 November coincided unexpectedly with the receipt by the Office of Public Works of the ecologist's report. The OPW were, therefore, in a position to submit the report to the National Parks and Wildlife Service sooner than had been anticipated in that reply.

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

Martin Mansergh: The Draft Regulation to transpose Directive 2007/60/EC is complete, and is awaiting a clarification on a single legal point from the Office of the Attorney General. It is expected that the transposition will be completed within a few weeks and I am informed that this timing is in concert with many other Member States. The Report of the Flood Policy Review Group (2004), approved by Government,...

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

Martin Mansergh: I visited the Carrick-on-Shannon area on Tuesday 1 December, and witnessed at first hand the level of devastation experienced in the area. While it is too early to comment on what flood alleviation measures can be usefully provided in this area, I should point out that the Engineering Division of the Office of Public Works (OPW) has met with Leitrim County Council in relation to this matter....

Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Rubbish.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I find the pathos and indignation of the last speaker entirely unconvincing.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I agree that the statement that the most callous thing the Government could do would be to find itself in a situation where it is unable to pay because of indebtedness and not being able to borrow.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: In 2010, even after the budget reduction, more than €21 billion out €54 billion will be spent on social welfare, some 39% of gross Government expenditure-----

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: -----in a context where Exchequer would amount to €18.78 billion, or over 11.5% of GNP.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Perhaps those on the opposite side do not want to pay any attention to economic and financial realities. So be it, that is their choice. The social welfare system generally tracks the cost of living. In certain periods, after we joined the EEC, and I pay tribute to the national coalition of 1973-1977 in this respect,-----

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: -----during the early 1980s, during the early 1990s when the commission on social welfare report was being implemented, which former Minister for Social Welfare, Gemma Hussey, said in 1986 would be unaffordable,-----