Results 1,161-1,180 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Book of Estimates 2005: Statements. (24 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: A ministerial statement said that to put the scale of activity in the housing market in perspective, almost one third of the country's housing stock will have been built in the ten year period 1997 to 2004. My only criticism of that statement is that 1997 to 2004 is not ten years but local authority housing is up by 10%. I am strongly committed to overseas development aid funding, as no doubt...

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I approach this subject with caution. I will first deal with the transport issues. The N3 is congested and a road to Navan, built to at least motorway standard, is needed, although a legitimate question has been raised, which can also be raised about all motorways, which is what happens when one reaches the M50. We all know that one spends at least three quarters of an hour getting to one's...

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: That is how the Maynooth line was opened by the late Brian Lenihan and Albert Reynolds. They decided that with an investment of a few hundred thousand pounds, the line could be re-opened. Let us make maximum use of the existing infrastructure. However, I am realistic enough to know rail will not solve the problem. I refer to the archaeological issues. We have an awful tendency to examine...

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Whichever Minister is responsible, it is ultimately the Government that makes the decision which could have serious ramifications. I urge care and caution in coming to the right decision.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Some three weeks ago the offices of the Private Security Authority were opened in Tipperary. Senator Coonan might not be aware of that advanced decentralisation.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I have made inquiries and have received assurances from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform that its decentralisation to Tipperary is going ahead. There will be a report next March.

Seanad: Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004: Second Stage. (25 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I welcome the Bill. The Council of Europe is probably the oldest post-Second World War European institution, along with the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation. Ireland has been a member of the council since the beginning, unlike the European Union, which we joined somewhat later. Although the European Union has expanded and...

Seanad: Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I refute in the strongest possible terms any notion of cronyism. This is very much a public service function. As the Minister of State said, there is no question of any lobbying for anybody and there is no salary attached. It is something performed in the course of public service duties. We should not over-glamourise and over-romanticise the function.

Seanad: Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Ireland is represented by public servants every day on all sorts of boards, committees and organisations. Whether it is appropriate to appoint a politician or public servant depends in part on the nature of the body in question, how political it is and the approach taken by other countries. If other countries are, without exception, putting forward as their representatives officials of their...

Seanad: Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Minister of State for steering the Bill through the House. Following our interesting debate this morning, Senators will agree that this is important legislation which pushes out the boat with regard to our involvement and solidarity with countries in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: That is correct.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: No, it has not.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Deputy Richard Bruton, for example.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: It has been looked after, to the tune of 20 jobs.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I hope that the remainder of this debate will be at a slightly higher level than it has been. I welcome the Minister of State, the progress being made and the fact that decentralisation is on the road. Obviously we must start somewhere. If one adds in the 700 jobs mentioned as priorities to the 3,600 jobs already noted, one is talking of more than 4,000 jobs. That represents a good start...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I notice that despite what has been said, the majority of the headquarters — one of the issues in the debate — are in the first phase. The Department of Agriculture and Food headquarters will move to Portlaoise, those of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism to Killarney, and those of the Department of Defence to Newbridge. The Minister of State has proved over the past year that the...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: He has been translating decentralisation into practice.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: In order for decentralisation to be put into effect, partnership consultation is very important. This is a social partnership Government, as its predecessors have been. Assurances are required. There is, particularly in the Civil Service, a very good level of volunteers for a lot of the locations. I would like to turn to Tipperary since it was mentioned.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: If I have one criticism of the Minister and the list he published, it is that he ignored the Private Security Authority which was opened by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on 28 October last. Incidentally, in his speech——

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Martin Mansergh: It was something extra which is splendid. People in Tipperary are delighted to see the old Garda barracks, the Department of Agriculture and Food offices and former Royal Irish Constabulary barracks refurbished to a high standard to accommodate the new Private Security Authority. Advertisements have been placed for a chief executive who is likely to be recruited in January. A Department of...