Results 4,021-4,040 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I thank Senators for what has been a very interesting and worthwhile debate with a very wide range of views expressed. Senator O'Toole began the debate after I had spoken, giving a purported account of the breakdown of the talks. I say "purported" not to cast any doubt on his good faith but simply because he has a narrative from his own sources. The reality is, just taking it as he...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: We should try to focus on the main debate. I have replied to the Senator. Senator Butler referred correctly to the 20% to 25% cuts made and the many job losses in the private sector. If one were to average out the job losses and the cuts, one would be talking about an even greater figure than the one with which he was dealing. Senator Harris is an old sparring partner of mine, both of us in...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: No. That is the sort of thing one or two Fine Gael justice Ministers in the past might have done-----

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I am replying to Senator Harris, as I replied to Senator Twomey, if that is possible. My hope is, notwithstanding the different currents about which he knows and describes, that nonetheless sense will prevail among the majority of trade unionists. I have no sense in my constituency that the majority of public sector workers want to take a militant path. Many of them may, for reasons of...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Yes. I was looking for my note and did not want to sit down before I had replied to them. The Senator raised the issue of the timing of the notification of NAMA to the Commission. There is no formal notification, but consultations are continuing. The notification will deal more with state aid issues rather than the business plan. The documents will, therefore, be different, although they...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Bill was subject to a minor technical amendment in the course of its passage through the Dáil. The amendment was necessary to take account of the fact the Official Languages Act 2003 was passed in both Irish and English. The Act was mentioned in the Schedule as it contains a reference to the Houses of the Oireachtas which must now be changed to the Houses of the Oireachtas Service....

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The proposed amendments would, in the case of amendment No. 8 on behalf of the Labour Party, add an additional section disapplying the pay reductions where there was in a public service body an agreement to achieve the savings some other way. Senator Twomey's amendment which is what we must decide on now would add a further subsection to section 2 to allow for reductions where there were...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Yes, but the subsequent flow of revenue showed that we had exhausted revenue. While one certainly can increase rates, that does not mean one necessarily will accrue more revenue as a result. I fully agree with most of Senator Alex White's comments in that the issue of public service reform is complex and, in some ways, the Bill reflects the complexity of the public service. Moreover, it is...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: -----and there are considerable leadership skills. I could not help smiling when the Senator quoted Fergus Finlay's remarks about talks not being worth a penny candle. I believe the Fine Gael Taoiseach of the day was not a bit pleased with that particular remark, but that did not necessarily affect its validity. A certain British trade union leader has been invoked yesterday and today.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I must confess that in or around 1984, at a time when Fianna Fáil was in opposition, many on the fifth floor of Leinster House were sporting the motto, "We back the miners". At the same time, I am not a great admirer of presidents for life in any sphere, be it political or trade union. However, the point I was making in reply to Senator Harris who I believe argued yesterday that the same...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Many points have been made. Senator Twomey may have many good reasons, from his point of view, for opposing the section but I do not think the disallowance of an amendment which would be unconstitutional because the Seanad does not have the power to increase Government expenditure is one. He may have many other reasons for opposing it. Senator Burke, no doubt tongue in cheek, raised the...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: My apologies, amendment No. 9 is water under the bridge. However, I still want to deal with the point. It is intended that the total remuneration of the office holders in table 1 would attract the reduction specified for them. For example, the salary of the Taoiseach or a Minister as a Deputy, his or her ministerial allowance and so forth combined will undergo a total reduction of 20%. It...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Yes.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Or more than 2%.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I do not accept there is any ambiguity whatsoever. When people talk about the Taoiseach's salary, they do not mean his salary for the office of Taoiseach, but his salary including that as a Deputy. In almost all contexts, the Taoiseach's total salary is discussed. There is no ambiguity in the application either.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The term used in table 1 is "remuneration". Remuneration is defined in the Bill as taxable income and the remuneration of officeholders is all taxable. I will provide a concrete example using my own salary as Minister of State. The cut in my salary as a Deputy of 8% will reduce it to €92,672. The allowance for being a Minister of State will be cut by 14.5% to €46,594. The total...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I do not accept the argument and believe Senator White is misreading this. If he still disagrees with it, he is at liberty to vote against it.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I disagree with the Senator. Remuneration means emoluments. It is defined on page 5, line 33.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The remuneration which is being cut by 20% is made up of a Deputy's salary and the Taoiseach's allowance. The latter will be cut by an additional amount. The bottom line, as far as members of the public are concerned, is whether the deductions, as set out in the table, will be applied and whether it is the law that they will be applied. I can give an absolute guarantee and assurance that...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Does the Senator believe we would engage in such trickery?