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

European Financial Stability Facility Bill: Second Stage (24 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: I was about to deal with that question.

European Financial Stability Facility Bill: Second Stage (24 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: I will come to that within two minutes. The Deputy is raising the matter of the cost of funds to Ireland if the guarantee is called. The framework agreement provides within its structure of fees and expenses for a margin to be charged to borrowers to remunerate guarantors. It is envisaged that in the event that Ireland or any other member state faced a relatively larger cost of funds to...

European Financial Stability Facility Bill: Second Stage (24 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: Several of the budgets introduced by Alan Dukes during the 1980s may have had a contingency fund provided for.

European Financial Stability Facility Bill: Second Stage (24 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: It is an interesting suggestion and an option for any Minister for Finance at any given time. I will come back on the question of the stimulus later. The Deputy also raised the question with regard to the EU2020 strategy and whether Ireland will be putting forward targets. Under existing arrangements, Ireland and other member states publish and submit national reform programmes to the EU....

European Financial Stability Facility Bill: Second Stage (24 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: However, I note the Deputy's support for the Bill. Having given that general caveat, I will comment on some of her remarks. I am rather tempted to refer to the Battersea power station rather than the Chelsea power station. While reserving the position of the Minister for Finance on the matter, I would be amazed if we were to become involved as a partner in projects of that type abroad in...

European Financial Stability Facility Bill: Second Stage (24 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: ----about a property tax. In some ways, the silly season has started early. Only a few days ago, there was a story about people on Deputy O'Donnell's benches and on mine wanting to establish a new party. The facts of the case may be that there is a lion, shall we say, outside this House who figured prominently in recent television programmes who might be interested in establishing a...

European Financial Stability Facility Bill: Second Stage (24 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: I do not believe in naming people outside this House if it can be avoided. On the property tax, I understand as well as Deputy O'Donnell that we have a very high level of home ownership. Many people, including one of my children, are in negative equity and face all the pressures that creates. The last thing they want to hear about is a property tax. If one was in any doubt about that,...

European Financial Stability Facility Bill: Second Stage (24 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: It is not easy to withdraw incentives from the market because transactions are in mid-flow and people must also judge what will be the effect and impact on the market. I am not certain that the decisions the Minister faces are as straightforward as has been presented. There was a consensus, which included the ESRI, that Ireland was facing a soft landing based on the argument that it had...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (24 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works has no responsibility in relation to maintenance of the weir on the River Suir at Ardfinnan, and this would be a matter for the owners of the weir. My engineering staff advise me that the breach in the weir does not increase the risk / worsen the flooding in the area and therefore it does not pose any threat to the village of Ardfinnan. I should also point out that...

Written Answers — River Management: River Management (29 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: The Owenogarney River in Sixmilebridge is scheduled for routine maintenance by the Office of Public Works this year.

Written Answers — Visitor Numbers: Visitor Numbers (29 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: It is difficult to make direct comparisons between seasonal sites as many open at Easter which is a variable date. An overall drop in visitor numbers has however been experienced in the current economic climate compounded by inclement weather in 2009 and the volcanic ash cloud in 2010 which led to the cancellation of booking by foreign visitors. The table provides a breakdown of numbers at...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (29 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works currently leases the property in Mayo to the Western Regional Tourism Authority Limited, which is now part of Fáilte Ireland. Any queries regarding accommodation issues in the premises should be addressed to Fáilte Ireland for consideration in the first instance.

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (29 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: An independent arbitrator was appointed to determine the rent payable for office accommodation at Dockgate, Galway City. In this regard, the Office of Public Works (OPW) maintained in their submissions to the arbitrator that no rent increase was justified while the landlord maintained his position that an increase was merited. The Arbitrator's determination, which is legally binding on the...

Flood Relief (30 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: I thank Deputies Coonan and Connaughton for raising this matter and for the exceptional brevity of their contributions. I will not be brief in return but will try to give full replies to each issue. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this evening the matters tabled by Deputies Coonan and Connaughton in regard to the flooding problems at Templemore, County Tipperary, and along the Dunkellin...

Flood Relief (30 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: It is firmly on track but as with all ambitious scheme it had to go through a full process of exhibition, observation, planning and so on. All of this is proceeding smoothly and the scheme should be commenced early next year.

Flood Relief (30 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: These schemes rely on close co-operation between the local community and, in particular, the local authorities and Office of Public Works. Progress is often delayed, as happened in Clonmel, when disagreement arises. I have no sense that those sort of problems will arise in Templemore. Many parts of County Galway suffered severe damage and hardship during the extreme weather event of...

Flood Relief (30 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: Yes. I am pleased to say the sorts of resources that have been deployed this year will be continued in the 2011 and 2012 outline budgets for flood relief and maintenance.

Flood Relief (30 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: They will be available on the website. I said in my response that some works may commence in advance of the scheme-----

Flood Relief (30 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: -----if there are no significant local objections. This report will be available on the website early next week. It takes a little time to put complicated maps on the Internet.

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (30 Jun 2010)

Martin Mansergh: To date, a total of €1,567,470 in funding has been allocated directly to Galway County Council under the ongoing scheme which I commenced in 2009 to provide funding to local authorities to carry out minor mitigation works to address localised flooding problems. In addition, €300,000 has been assigned for works at Oranmore, which will be jointly undertaken by the OPW and the Council, while...