Results 2,761-2,780 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)

Martin Mansergh: What height was Napoleon?

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Bill and welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House. The Minister, who was in the Chamber earlier, is someone who finds himself in the wars quite frequently. However, regardless of what one's views of his wider political role may be, we are fortunate to have an effective, capable and energetic Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I have full...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: 40 A.D.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I, too, welcome the gradual re-establishment of respect for the rule of international law both in the United States and Britain through the agency of the courts. I also welcome yesterday's meeting between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Blair. The choice is clear. It is between either working Northern Ireland as a political entity or reinforced joint stewardship and partnership between the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Apart from well-worn debates on the Order of Business about the proper name of a certain Kerry town——

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: ——we have relatively few opportunities to debate our cultural heritage. It is notable that there have been Europa Nostra Awards for two projects. The OPW was involved in one for the fine restoration of the curvilinear glasshouse project at the National Botanic Gardens, in which the Taoiseach was interested and promoted. The work of the Irish Georgian Society over 40 or 50 years was also...

Seanad: A Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland: Statements. (28 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State and I welcome the debate. Most of us have had relatives, friends or people who worked closely with us who had cancer and, in many cases, died of it. This area deserves a very high priority because in many cases life can be prolonged considerably with appropriate early treatment but there is a need for appropriate care in terminal cases. In that regard, someone...

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.

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

Martin Mansergh: We substituted another one.

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

Martin Mansergh: I recommend Senator Brian Hayes reads De Valera's speech to the Dáil in 1946 on membership of the United Nations. He did not just articulate the traditional policy of neutrality. He mainly articulated Ireland's obligation to take part in international collective security, which could have involved the use of force on certain occasions. People should have no bones about that. When Lemass...

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

Martin Mansergh: When the Government parties looked at it, they decided——

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

Martin Mansergh: —— that there was not any legal or constitutional need for a referendum. Before joining Partnership for Peace——

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

Martin Mansergh: Can the Senators allow me to conclude?

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

Martin Mansergh: Due to the change in our position on Partnership for Peace, it was necessary to obtain an electoral mandate and it was put into the manifesto for the European Parliament elections. There were people who were anxious to see a majority of MEPs elected who would be opposed to Partnership for Peace. As it happens, we did fairly well in that election. The Fine Gael Party and even the Labour Party...

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

Martin Mansergh: And ladyships.

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

Martin Mansergh: Only when the process is complete.