Results 2,241-2,260 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (4 Apr 2007)

Martin Mansergh: It has served many useful purposes since. There have been people, mostly outside these Houses, who from time to time expressed great fears about democracy being subverted, but I never had any doubts about the strength of Irish democracy or that Irish democracy, if challenged by violent forces, would win out, even with difficulty. As has been pointed out, the rejectionists from various sides...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (4 Apr 2007)

Martin Mansergh: We are deeply privileged to have him, not just in the House but in the public life of our country. The British dimension was referred to. One can see the issue in many different ways and there are British dimensions all over the State. For example, the restored pavilion at Dún Laoghaire has Queen Victoria, albeit in green, which was re-fashioned to commemorate her visit in 1900. I would...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (4 Apr 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I accept there are a few who feel differently. One of the important acts in 1922 was a meeting in April of that year between the Protestant church leaders, Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins. In that they effectively transferred loyalty from Britain to Ireland, and this loyalty has deepened over the years. We are all of mixed background. When I attended the enthronement of Archbishop...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (4 Apr 2007)

Martin Mansergh: By the course of natural evolution, I hope we reach the point at which we can contemplate a new state in Ireland.

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (4 Apr 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The Senator is correct.

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (4 Apr 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Not entirely.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I have spoken on many occasions in the House to defend social partnership and benchmarking against their various critics. I do so again today. While most of the public have great sympathy with the nurses, including psychiatric nurses, they would also like such claims to be dealt with through the ample machinery in place. Many instances occur of people supervising others who are paid less...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Members of this House are paid at the level of assistant principals in the Civil Service and we call to scrutiny people who are paid many times what we are. I do not criticise this or make claims it should be otherwise. On another point, it amazes me that when, for the first time in years, Exchequer returns come in broadly on target but still a bit over, it is tantamount to a financial crisis.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I have never seen anything more ridiculous in my life than some of the commentary and po-faced editorials which one can read in one newspaper this morning. Many people and communities throughout the country in Gaeltacht areas and on the islands will be eternally grateful to the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, for the excellent work he does.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2007 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Interest rate rises are almost entirely outside the control of the Government and are decided by the European Central Bank in response to pan-EU conditions. The measures introduced by the Minister effectively cushioned buyers from the effects of some of the interest rate rises. If he had not introduced these measures, house buyers would have been much worse off after the budget rather than...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2007 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Minister for bringing the Bill expeditiously through the Seanad and giving us the benefit of his thoughts, not least this morning on the stamp duty debate. Perhaps if the proposals were not pressed in the House, this would be a benefit. I congratulate the Minister and his officials on the Bill, which will help to underpin future economic progress.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2007 [Certified Money Bill]: Motion for Earlier Signature (29 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I move: That pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the Commission constituted as provided in section 2 of Article 14 of the Constitution to sign the Finance Bill 2007 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to it.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2007 [Certified Money Bill]: Motion for Earlier Signature (29 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: At 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday, 3 April 2007.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2007 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I have every sympathy for the first-time buyer involved but he was very badly advised by his estate agent if he was not made aware this would be the consequence. Given that the parties were so close, it should have been a matter of negotiation to keep the price below the €317,500 threshold. While I am sure Senator Hayes is doing the public a service by warning people of the consequences,...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: As my party's spokesperson on finance, it gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to note that the list of tax defaulters for the final quarter of 2006 does not feature any names and addresses of persons from three county council areas, namely, Leitrim, Longford and south Tipperary.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Tipperary abú. Senator Bannon should have been in the House at this hour.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Yes they do, south Tipperary is quite a prosperous place.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: South Tipperary has a lot more than farmers.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: And ideals.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I would belong to the school of ethical realism. Foreign policy is about promoting the interests and ideals of the state. One should promote the ideals of the state with least damage to one's interests and promote the interests of the state with least damage to one's ideals.