Results 2,281-2,300 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I also wish to express solidarity with Senators Cox and Kitt on the water supply in Galway. This is becoming a wider problem. Obviously there is an acute problem with water quality in Galway but the issue of security of supply also arises in other parts of the country. It ought not to be a problem in a country with as much water, rain and lakes as we have, but, nonetheless, it will need...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: A Chathaoirligh——

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The Ennis bypass is a fantastic improvement. We read only yesterday about the opposition to the western rail corridor on the basis that it would make a loss but, nonetheless, the Government is committed to going ahead with that project. That is positive discrimination in favour of the west. The two privatisations that rankle with me are, first, the sale of Irish Steel for £1 to Mr. Mittal...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The second was the sale of the second mobile telephone licence for a song. There are some privatisations of which the Members opposite should feel thoroughly ashamed.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: One pound.

Seanad: Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Unfortunately, due to the accident on the M7-M9, I was not present for the Order of Business. I wish to make a few remarks about the general context into which this legislation falls, given that it deals with one of the bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. Notwithstanding the fact that it was long overdue, there must be great satisfaction at yesterday's agreement. At last,...

Seanad: Asset Covered Securities (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister and the Bill which is quite a technical and complex one. Like the previous speaker, I believe we must, to a large extent, trust the work done by experts. It is very clear this Bill is based on very detailed, expert discussions between the officials and interests in the industry and that it is designed to maintain the balance between reasonably light regulation while,...

Seanad: Asset Covered Securities (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Perhaps the spending commitments made by Fine Gael and the Labour Party, in particular, are not to be taken seriously. However, if they do not involve a ramping up of expenditure, I am unsure what is involved. It may be that they propose some hidden countervailing cuts. I have stated at local level that the decentralisation programme which comes under a barrage of attack at national level...

Seanad: Asset Covered Securities (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Senator Phelan mentioned inflationary tendencies in the property market. One good consequence of the discussion on stamp duty is that it has contributed to a cooling-off in the housing market. I refer to the discussion rather than the action. This is thoroughly positive because housing has reached the limits of affordability.

Seanad: Asset Covered Securities (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: In many parts of Ireland the stamp duty debate is utterly irrelevant. I visited a leading estate agent in my home town of Tipperary yesterday where the average price of good three bedroom houses is approximately €220,000. Obviously, this is far below the threshold and any changes in stamp duty policy would relate in the main to the greater Dublin area, as well as to one or two other city...

Seanad: Asset Covered Securities (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: As a representative of the auctioneers noted, the person who pays stamp duty is often the seller rather than the buyer. I fear the Sunday Independent represents some very well-heeled people. Property price inflation means that, on paper, many of us who have owned houses for 20 years have become enormously wealthy, were we to move out. Some wish to keep such inflation going and attacking...

Seanad: Asset Covered Securities (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I do not believe that to be their motive. I have been told by an independent financial journalist who does not work for the Sunday Independent that it is well-to-do property owners who wish to keep the carousel going. Members should be under no illusion as to the origins of this campaign. I have stated previously that I am not against moderate and well considered reform of stamp duty....

Seanad: Asset Covered Securities (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Minister of State for taking this Bill. Despite its relatively expeditious consideration in this House, it is an important piece of legislation underpinning both a flourishing and very important part of our commerce and industry, which generates important revenues. I thank the Minister of State for helping us expedite the Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The ruinous situation in Zimbabwe is very sad but, unfortunately, the root cause of the problem was the failure of the British Government at the time of independence to establish and fund a land commission. The State must be more than a legal entity. I find it very difficult to stand over or defend in any way threatening legal action against people who suffered child abuse to deter them...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: No self-respecting country should decide to neglect or ignore, perhaps for commercial, cost-benefit or utilitarian considerations, the roots of its civilisation. Does that perhaps lead to situations which have caused grief for people who are not anti-road or anti-progress in any sense? In the case of the M3, souterrains were destroyed. Why were they not uncovered during preliminary...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The Minister is talking to one or two ex-columnists.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I agree with some of the sentiments expressed by Senator Norris. I have a high regard for Fintan O'Toole who wrote a splendid biography of Sheridan. That is not to say I do not strongly disagree with his views on occasion. When I was a columnist with The Irish Times, I recall entering its headquarters in the company of two other journalists early in my career and one of them welcomed me to...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: And one or two in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I accept the substance of the Minister's argument but wish to make a brief comment on what could be called his ideological digression. I agree with much of what he said but would not go all the way. For the past 20 years, whenever a prominent Deputy on the Opposition benches in the other House has used the words "private profit", he has spit them out as if they have represented some sort of...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Martin Mansergh: No, he or she would not.