Results 1,041-1,060 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2003: Committee Stage (22 Jun 2004)

Martin Mansergh: On Thursday, 24 June 2004.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2003: Committee Stage (22 Jun 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I support Senator O'Toole's request for a mid-term debate on the wage agreement element of the social partnership. He is right that, despite a great deal of scepticism, the last agreement has succeeded in bringing to below 2% an inflation rate that had touched7%. That is a great tribute to all concerned. We are now facing new inflationary pressures so we need to watch the position carefully....

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2004)

Martin Mansergh: There needs to be some consistency.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Minister of State for bringing the Bill through the House. That its passage has been fairly expeditious should not disguise the fact it is important legislation from a consumer point of view and is vital to the health of financial services, international and domestic, in terms of high standards being maintained. We have a great interest in that both as consumers and as a country...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I would welcome an economic debate, including one on the report of the ESRI. We were told last year that benchmarking would be the ruination of the nation and the public finances. It was nothing of the kind. We have 5,000 vacancies for nurses. We have a very high turnover in certain sectors of the public service.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The alternative to benchmarking is special pay claims.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Let me remind the House that less than 12 months ago the IMF said: "A more extensive use of market-based instruments such as contracting out, vouchers, internal contracts and benchmarking should help generate higher efficiency and better delivery of publicly funded services." It is quite clear that this is the modern way of doing it. We do not want to go back 20 years when economists,...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (30 Jun 2004)

Martin Mansergh: We also paid tribute to the staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (30 Jun 2004)

Martin Mansergh: This is important legislation and important public service reform. It is clear that it has been thoroughly discussed and considered within the Department of Finance but also in consultation with the social partners. What we are being presented with is well thought out and considered legislation which has broad consensus. I fully agree with the emphasis on retaining the achievements of...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (30 Jun 2004)

Martin Mansergh: There is a fine quality of life to be had in many parts of the country. The Senator should not call them God awful places.

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Jul 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I wish to share time with Senator Ó Murchú. Perhaps the Chair would let me know when five minutes have elapsed. There has been a certain hand-wringing quality to this debate. I intend to be brisk in more senses than one. I compliment the Minister on his speech which gives a detailed explanation not alone of the legislation, but of the background. I also compliment Senator Bannon on his...

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Jul 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I am quite sceptical about the Carrickmines debate. The castle itself has not been found and identified. There is suspicion about where it is, but it will not be touched. What we are talking about is certain types of outworks. We have hundreds if not thousands of castles in this country in various states of repair. If we have millions of euro to spend on castles, let us spend it on something...

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Jul 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I appeal to the Chair for protection.

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Jul 2004)

Martin Mansergh: It must be made clear that if this Bill does not pass, a section of the M50 cannot be completed for an indefinite period of time.

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Jul 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Let us hear what the Minister has to say on that subject in reply. He can tell me whether it is spin.

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Jul 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I was making the same point Senator Brian Hayes is making now.

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Jul 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The National Roads Authority is the responsibility of the Minister for Transport.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2004)

Martin Mansergh: On the issue of roads, while I fully support Senator Quinn's proposal, we should bear in mind that we have only had substantial lengths of motorway in the country for 12 months. It is clearly the next logical step to be taken. I agree with Senator O'Toole on the issue of electronic voting. We have a verification trail in the House and, therefore, it is an entirely different situation from...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The rolling out of this legislation will be done at the request of Departments and agencies. The Department of Finance will not decide it. The Minister of State's reply was reasonable. Once a principle has been established in legislation and passed, every single application of that principle does not need to be debated. If something special arises, there is a procedure for annulling by a...