Results 1,601-1,620 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (16 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: For this amended clause to become effective, the relevant people, particularly in the haulage industry, will have to be properly notified of their duty in this regard, and this clause could be integrated into various road safety literature and instructions.

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (16 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the amendment and I fully share the Minister of State's appreciation of its importance. It is one illustration that the Government is serious about the Transport 21 programme which will require a large amount of investment. As a straw in the wind I saw an advertisement in a newspaper yesterday to do with a public consultation on the extension of the Luas line at Cherrywood. Within a...

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (16 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: In regard to the point raised by Senator Burke, if one goes back to the financing of the DART in the 1980s and 1990s, CIE was forced by various Governments to borrow and the Department of Transport through the Department of Finance helped with the interest payments. The enormous contrast between those days and today is that CIE got no capital moneys from the Government until 1997, although it...

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (16 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I have sympathy with the spirit, although not necessarily with the letter, of the amendment. There is not only the safety consideration but there is also the delay involved where there are many manned level crossings. There is a particular section of line, which is the initial part of the famous western rail corridor between Limerick and Ennis, on which there is a large number of manned level...

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (16 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: This is a serious matter, given the increase in lorry heights and the rise in the number of lorries generally. Far too often, one hears reports of lorries striking parapets or bridges. The legislation should convey a clear message that people who cause such damage carelessly or wantonly will face serious financial consequences. The prosecuting authorities need to be rigorous in this regard....

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I join in supporting Senators Ó Murchú and Jim Walsh in their concern about further revelations connected with the conduct of the war on terrorism and Iraq. While all of us support, as does the UN since its resolution of June 2004, the establishment of democracy in Iraq and the withdrawal of the multinational force, the continued revelations of abuses of power, breaches of international law...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I strongly endorse what Senators O'Toole and Tuffy said about league tables. Newspapers publish ropy tables and say it is the duty of the Government to publish accurate tables in their place. In Tipperary yesterday, the Minister for Education and Science strongly refuted the idea that the Government should provide any sanction to that proposal. We should debate this as much for the benefit of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Today's debate on the Book of Estimates may, among other things, provide an opportunity to discuss the public service. We are fortunate to have an impartial public service with integrity. As a one-time former public servant, I believe public servants should not be pressurised and harassed to cross what they perceive as a political line——

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: ——even if there might be doubt or argument about the issue, such as when the venue is neutral and the people invited represent political parties. An important issue of principle is involved. I admire the stand on principle taken. I hope the Ministers involved will be expeditious in finding an alternative post for the person concerned.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: The Leader cannot be sure.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: They are being provided.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I warmly welcome the Minister and his officials. It may well be the case that Germany and France need new economic departures. What is required in Ireland is a steady hand on the tiller, which the Minister is providing, allowing us to continue the country's fantastic progress in recent years. The debt to GDP ratio continues to decline. The Minister mentioned employment having increased since...

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Frankly, it is of no import if it happens in September 2007 rather than June 2007. The reality is that it——

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: ——will be completed only slightly later than planned.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: It is not a broken promise.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: It is not a lie. At least the number of gardaí was not reduced, as happened under the rainbow coalition in the mid 1990s.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: The question of courthouses was mentioned. Some very fine work has been carried out on them in such places as Clonmel and Ennis. The Minister will correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that Tullamore was also included.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Exactly. Another point made is that people can see there is a great deal of extra spending but that the money is being wasted or not producing any results. Health is always picked on as an example. I do not know whether Senators listened to what I thought was a very interesting contribution by the vice-president of the IMO the day after the Estimates. I admit that she was highly critical of...

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: ——constructive suggestions for consideration by the Government on foot of all the advice available to it. In a general sense, the Dáil can accept or reject the budget. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has a point on strengthening the labour inspectorate but I imagine this will be addressed in social partnership negotiations. I am glad the Fine Gael spokesperson did not overemphasise...