Results 741-760 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: The former Minister, Martin O'Donoghue, was actually responsible.
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: The CSO's figures are more accurate.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: Come on.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: We need a bit of objectivity from the Opposition.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: It is public voting, not a secret ballot.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: I support the calls from Senators Ryan, Ormonde and Fitzgerald for a debate on higher education. The public has a right to expect the House to discuss the issue of electronic voting with a degree of objectivity and in a less crude, less partisan spirit. As regards the point made by Senator Bradford, before we get too deeply into a discussion on a truth and reconciliation commission, I would...
- Seanad: Industrial Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (25 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: I welcome the legislation. It has resulted from, and is a vindication of, social partnership. Over a 60 year period we have developed a sophisticated labour relations machinery and culture which was well described earlier by the Minister of State. There are persistent problems and a degree of reluctance with regard to recognition of trade unions and this legislation is a means of dealing with...
- Seanad: Industrial Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (25 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: A Fianna Fáil-Labour coalition was the ideal solution.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: The area has the Irish Film Centre.
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: Senator McDowell referred to the definition of the term "public servant". On Second Stage, I said I was pleased that, for the purposes of this Act, I have been a public servant for over 25 years and, as a Senator, I continue to be one. One might ask why the President and members of the Judiciary are not public servants because if Oireachtas Members are they are too. I assume the Senator is...
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: Part of the dimension of the Bill is what one might call economic confidence. We are dealing well in advance with pensions that will create considerable liabilities for the public finances in 20 or 30 years' time. I accept the Senator's point that in practice many matters will be negotiated with the social partners.
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: I agree. There is much sense in this amendment. If there is any flaw it is perhaps that it refers to an almost unlimited break, which raises the question of whether that is desirable. If the break is a relatively short one of a year or up to four years, there is much prima facie sense in the amendment. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: That is a bit hard.
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: At this point, it may be time to hear from somebody who resigned from the public service about 23 years ago.
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: In one sense it was final. Having entered by way of competition, I could not re-enter in the same way. However, some months later I was appointed as a political adviser, which was somewhat different. I am not sure whether that is constituted as a new entrant under the terms of the legislation. Another case bothers me somewhat. People, who did not resign voluntarily but were forced to resign...
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: The Minister's reply on the matter of the marriage bar raises an interesting, if largely theoretical, question. A person who comes back into the public service through a special scheme and resumes employment after 30 years will, unlike his or her contemporaries, have the right to go on serving past the age of 65. We might have a small early crop, not in 40 years but in five or ten years, of...
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: That could be something for the next social partnership negotiations.
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: That is a good idea.
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: We must be clear in passing this legislation that we are adopting, in some instances, a highly artificial definition of a new entrant into the public service. I will give a specific example and feel the person concerned would not mind because it is objective fact. This person served in the Department of the Environment for 30 or 40 years and became Secretary General of that Department. The...
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
Martin Mansergh: It is an artificial definition.