Results 2,441-2,460 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2006: Statements (13 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Unlike the last speaker, in my encounters with the people I have found they recognise that fantastic progress has been made and that the country was never better. Equally, a number of unsatisfactory problems require a lot of further attention. I welcome the Minister of State and his officials. He highlighted in his speech some of the benefits of increased expenditure in, for example, social...

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2006: Statements (13 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I concur with Senator O'Toole on the need for play spaces, sports halls and so on in national and other schools. The line from the Department is that the INTO, of which the Senator is a former president, insists that all available resources are spent on classrooms.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: A debate could help clarify this and other issues.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: If it is rubbish, I would like to be informed. Let us have a debate on the issue. On a second point, if we are to move Dublin Port I wonder why we spent hundreds of millions of euro on the port tunnel. I look forward to the debate on the Appropriation Act 2006 as it will allow the House to have a proper discussion of tax, spending and budgetary policies. I welcome convergence on taxation...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: May I finish without interruption?

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The Government has won praise for having the most favourable taxation policy for low income earners. It is a distraction to talk about a little unfinished business from the previous Government in terms of the top tax rate. It would not even compensate the wealthy for the curtailment of various tax reliefs.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The spirit of W.B. Yeats.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I wish to share seven minutes of my time with Senator Lydon.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Bill which is a fascinating exercise. I compliment the team involved in it. We are very much in their hands as they have the opportunity of studying the legislation and seeing what might or might not be relevant. Most of the legislation served a purpose in its time although there were some dead letters then as now. Among the Acts to be repealed is the Freedom of Movement of...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Of course not.

Seanad: National Development Plan: Motion (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: In many respects little distinguishes the public and private sectors. They have different roles. I entirely agree with Senator White. Partition has been an impediment to economic development in the North. Significant improvements were made in Northern Ireland railway rolling stock which I welcome. The lack of a motorway from Belfast to Derry would not have happened if the country was...

Seanad: National Development Plan: Motion (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: If one had any doubt about a vision, it was certainly——

Seanad: National Development Plan: Motion (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: In many ways, the plan is a grand synthesis. It is good to pull these matters together. The prosperity of this country 50 years ago was based on the first programme of economic expansion. Of course it was not a plan in the Stalinist sense of the word. It was a programme such as others which have served us very well, as has the participation of the social partners, a fact which has been...

Seanad: National Development Plan: Motion (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The answer to the question of whether this is just a pre-election programme is that every bit of the plan will stand the test of time after the election.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform would not like them.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: We still have some medieval roads.

Seanad: National Development Plan: Motion (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: It was an excellent speech.

Seanad: National Development Plan: Motion (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: That is not true.

Seanad: National Development Plan: Motion (7 Feb 2007)

Martin Mansergh: Quite right too.