Results 2,821-2,840 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Like many Members, I recently attended Professor Brendan Drumm's briefing on improving the public health service but I did not detect a single note about privatising it as alleged by Senator Ryan.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I share Senator Finucane's concern about the housing crisis and many remedies need to be discussed. The €100,000 difference in prices between houses in the Dublin area and those elsewhere underlines the importance of proceeding with the decentralisation programme. We need to gain proper political support for it across the spectrum and have one or two of the public sector unions co-operate a...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: It is an interesting point worth discussing. In the past, we have had the National Economic and Social Council and the National Economic and Social Forum which have comprised civil servants and nominees. In practice, the likelihood of an agreed report emerging which is totally objectionable to the Government is very slight. If it is creative, it may go beyond Government policy. It may be...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Surely "disclose" means publicly disclose? Confidential information is discussed all the time between members of bodies and with taoisigh, Ministers and so on. "Disclose" must be clearly understood as publish.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Is "dissolve" the same as "abolish"? When one dissolves the Dáil, one does not abolish it, one simply sets in motion a procedure viz., a general election to provide one with a new Dáil. Does "dissolve" mean to dissolve the existing membership in order to put in a new membership?

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I presume the purpose of a Long Title is to enable persons consulting a volume of legislation to see at a glance the purpose of a particular Bill.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: As King Lear said, "reason not the need". The point is that the Short Title on the front page of the Bill is paramount; the Long Title is merely a subsidiary title. That much should be said in defence of the Minister of State.

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006: Second Stage. (20 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: There is certainly an implication that there will be a time saving. Less clearly spelled out is whether there will be a saving of money. It is important that purchasers, in particular, are satisfied and that there is no doubt about previous ownership. I do not dispute that involves some searches but as we know, with modern technology, searches should be rapid, inexpensive and should take...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006: Second Stage. (20 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I assure Senator Tuffy that many modern legal documents contain an extraordinary amount of archaic language. One does not have to go into the Registry of Deeds to find archaic language. I welcome the Minister of State and the legislation. It is another legislative incursion into medieval history and the extraordinarily complex accretion of different types of land law and tenure through the...

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: That was a great impression of Dr. Garret FitzGerald.

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials. I welcome this Bill and the fact that public opinion, as reflected in the Oireachtas, is still overwhelmingly positive, despite some of the fears expressed by the previous speaker. I am sure that fact is intimately connected with the success of our economy, which means we do not have too many grounds to be fearful. This Bill which deals with...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Who is the Senator quoting? What is his source?

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Which person?

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: The IFA stayed out by its own choice.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I join in warmly congratulating the Government and social partners on having practically concluded an agreement with the exception of the farmers who I hope will also come on board. This agreement is important for maintaining confidence in the economy and, as Senator O'Toole has illustrated, the alternative is loss of confidence and industrial and possibly social unrest. I would welcome a...

Seanad: Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy. (13 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I extend my deepest sympathies to Charles Haughey's wife Maureen and his children. They have much to be proud of as well as to be sad about today. He was a great parliamentarian who had an extraordinary political career. Taken in the round, despite the sadness and difficulties of the past few years, he was lucky rather than unlucky. His many acts of charity and assistance will long be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: The conduct of foreign policy and our relations with other countries often involves striking difficult balances, taking into account both our values and our interests. Striking that balance wrongly can have serious long-term consequences. With all due respect to the distinguished rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, not to mention certain editorial writers, those...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State and the Bill, which seems to set up a model administrative system for the repayments. Undoubtedly there are some uncanny echoes in this episode, now going back a couple of years, of what happened last week, where the constitutionality of a provision that has been there for a long time was called into question. In politics, one cannot often be responsible for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Quite true.