Results 2,781-2,800 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

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

Martin Mansergh: It is important that annual reports are made because a persistent, if small, body of opinion argues at every meeting of the National Forum on Europe that we have sold out our neutrality and are becoming part of the US-led NATO complex, if not a member of the coalition of the willing. A sober appraisal of the facts demonstrates the clear desirability of participation in various international...

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

Martin Mansergh: I will explain it to the Senator if he so wishes.

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

Martin Mansergh: I warmly welcome the Minister to the House and I welcome the legislation. In the earlier part of his contribution the Minister rightly reminded us of some of our recent international achievements in various fields. I know the Minister in other contexts would not forget this but I would put an emphasis also on our outstanding racing and international horse breeding industry. As an act of...

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

Martin Mansergh: The Taoiseach, with the very able participation and support of the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, knows the amount of pleasure it brings clubs when their applications are successful and the difference it makes when one goes back a year or two later and they are able to outline all they have done with both the Government money and the money they have raised themselves. A valid point was made...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I would welcome a comprehensive debate on the health service, rather than on a statistical report, outlining the progress, the achievements, the difficulties and problems, as well as the hopes and promises that have not been fulfilled and why that is the case. There is a more recent statistic on health which should be taken into account as it is the bottom line, namely, the substantial...