Results 1,241-1,260 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2004 [Certified Money Bill]: Second and Subsequent Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State and this Bill to the House. It enables us to go into Christmas and the new year with good cheer from a financial and economic point of view. The public finances are in excellent order, as is the economy, with strong growth, employment rising and inflation below 3%. I also pay due tribute to social partnership as well as the Government for achieving this. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Like Senator Brian Hayes and Senator O'Toole, I would welcome the introduction of a new system by the Revenue Commissioners to refund people tax they have overpaid, even though in some instances information will have to be supplied to the Revenue Commissioners to give them the full facts to enable this to be done. Like Senator O'Meara, I am a little disconcerted that legislation that was...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Bill and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the House. The Bill is entitled the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002 and was debated in the Dáil in 2003. I am sure there are good reasons and explanations as to why it has taken so long to come to the Seanad. As they have not been stated, I am sure the Minister will outline them in his reply. The...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2005)

Martin Mansergh: However, I hope he will not follow the example of the recently retired David Blunkett and some of the illiberal policies being pursued across the water. Historically, it is true Ireland had limited internment for certain periods, but it did not involve torture. Recently, I again watched Robert Bolt's film of Sir Thomas More, A Man for All Seasons. More is asked by one of his acolytes if it...

Seanad: Sugar Beet Industry: Motion (Resumed). (26 Jan 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Fine Gael Party for tabling this motion which is well worth debating. I congratulate the Minister on a very lucid speech which sets out all the considerations. I also compliment our spokesperson on a very judicious speech. I am afraid the most I have had to do with sugar beet is helping with the harvest in eastern Austria near the Iron Curtain 40 years ago, which was quite hard...

Seanad: Sugar Beet Industry: Motion (Resumed). (26 Jan 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Carlow is a town which I greatly admire. It is a fine progressive town. I do not believe that the closure will hit it as hard in qualitative terms as Thurles, partly because the overall economic conditions are quite different. I am sure that fairly generous redundancy terms can be negotiated and that State agencies will try to assist in filling an economic gap, which will be easier than, was...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: There is an increased level of gender equality in the highest reaches of the public service as a result of a number of recent merited appointments, the latest to the position of Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science. We should all welcome that, even though it has taken the best part of the 30 years, since the abolition of the marriage ban, to come to pass. Everybody...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: If employers are unable or unwilling to abide by those laws, we should consider withholding future employment permits in addition to financial penalties. It does absolutely no credit to us and we are all a little ashamed of it. More fundamental reforms may also be required.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: It happens to the best of us.

Seanad: Tsunami Disaster: Statements. (2 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I warmly welcome the Minister of State on his first visit to the House on development matters. This time of year in this part of the world is never all that cheerful but a pall has been cast over the beginning of this new year by probably the worst instant natural disaster that has occurred in our lifetime. The Minister of State has cited the latest figure of an estimated 300,000 people...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Motion. (2 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: As he did all the years he has been Taoiseach.

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Motion. (2 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: So why the reference to a process of appeasement?

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Motion. (2 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Progressive Democrats for proposing this motion. I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his speech, which states the many ways in which democracy has been enhanced, particularly since the Good Friday Agreement, in terms of policing reform, North-South institutions, the reform of criminal justice, etc. It is incorrect to say democracy has been debased, that there has...

Seanad: Future Development of An Post: Statements. (3 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State and the comments he made during his speech. I am glad we are having this debate which is not before time, having been called for some months ago. The situation in An Post is not a happy one. I do not propose to take one side or the other. However, I should declare an interest in that I have a relationship with An Post as a member of the philatelic advisory...

Seanad: Future Development of An Post: Statements. (3 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I will pass on the Senator's point to the committee.

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2004: Statements. (8 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: If people are saved from flooding, it will have done what it said on the tin.

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2004: Statements. (8 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I wonder if this debate will go down in the annals of the Seanad as the "six fish debate". This is a technical Bill which we passed before Christmas. I welcome the Minister of State and his officials, and I welcome his contribution which gives an illustration of some of the worthwhile achievements that have been attained with the increases in public expenditure over the past few years. A...

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2004: Statements. (8 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: ——on Saturday on my way to address a conference in west Kerry. I travelled by train from Tipperary to Killarney because I did not want to drive the entire way to the conference and hired a car on my arrival. Travelling from Killarney to the conference and back, I drove around most of the Ring of Kerry.

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2004: Statements. (8 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: The cost of the car hire was €108, which was quite steep.

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2004: Statements. (8 Feb 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Yes but ordinary punters and visitors do not have the benefit of special advice from Senator Coghlan. On returning home, I developed a puncture in one of the wheels on my own car.