Results 1,921-1,940 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: The Minister will not be accused by anybody of neglecting south Kerry except The Kerryman which, if he does not provide 105% of what is asked for, will bitterly attack him over the missing 5%. That happened to him last year, if I remember rightly, as I happened to be in Kerry at the time. International competitions in what are called elite sports are important because they encourage interest...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Two years ago there was lively debate on the legislation to establish the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. It is gratifying to see that the average cost of motor insurance has declined substantially for the second year running. Despite doubts it has proved to be a successful initiative. Since we were discussing statistics yesterday, did any of us believe 20 years ago that we would have the...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I was somewhat surprised that this amendment was tabled because in the context of social partnership, it is a well-established practice that one does not change post facto people's terms and conditions of employment. Hence, the Minister's position is correct.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the opportunity to debate this matter because I fundamentally disagree with the Fine Gael argument on the triple lock. Fine Gael would have a hard job persuading putative partners in a rainbow coalition, the Labour Party and the Green Party, of that argument.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I will let Senator Ryan speak for himself but I am entitled to make that comment.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I made a perfectly legitimate political point——

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: ——and I am interested to hear what Senator Ryan has to say on the subject.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I will not be told what I should say. I am free to speak, as is Senator Ryan. He makes political points and I am entitled to make a political point. To return to the triple lock argument, I heard Javier Solana speak on this matter at the Forum on Europe. I also heard a leading United States expert on foreign policy speaking on it. I cannot remember his name, he may a Congressman. Javier...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: We have as many principles as those parties. The Senator should not be super-moralistic.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: No, our principles are as good as those of the Senator and he should not pretend he is superior and on some kind of moral high ground because he is not.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: That is untrue and irrelevant to this debate. I was present with Fergus Finlay drafting the programme.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: They did not report back to the Senator very accurately.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: For a start, the financial framework constituted a principle. If the Labour Party wanted to go beyond——

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: The Senator should not introduce extraneous matters in that case.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: We were talking about a different matter.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I essentially agree with the substance of what was said by the two previous speakers. I support the triple lock mechanism but if a case arose where there was an arbitrary veto and it was clear nonetheless that there was overwhelming public support for the operation to go ahead, it would always be open to the Government to introduce emergency or fast-track legislation to suspend it in that...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: ——Deputy Gay Mitchell wanted us to join the Western European Union and sign up to Article 5, which would have involved a significant——

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: With due respect, that is a macho statement. The result of the next election will reflect the will of the people and it is legitimate to discuss all possible scenarios.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: They had the opportunity to consider it in the European Parliament elections in 1999. It was in the manifesto then.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I did not lecture the Senator.