Results 2,901-2,920 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I am sympathetic to the objective of a greater habit of philanthropic donations but beyond a certain point they do not necessarily have to come from individuals, because almost all wealthy individuals are connected to companies and institutions where perhaps the same restrictions would not apply. I accept the argument the Minister gave yesterday that it is difficult to make exceptions in a...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Perhaps we need to encourage a different corporate ethic such as exists in the United States.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Many are offshore.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: This section relates to the termination of the stallion tax exemption, which by the time it ends on 31 July 2008 will have been in force for almost 40 years and is probably one of the most successful tax incentives ever introduced here, as the Cheltenham Festival showed where we not merely won the Gold Cup but places one, two and three plus nine other races. Our equestrian industry is at its...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: We should not rage at success. Coolmore Stud is the largest in the world. Should we not take pride in that instead of raging against it?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Alas.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I thought at first that Senator John Paul Phelan was making the argument that a commitment should take precedence over equity.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I accept that. What he was saying was that the Minister did not have to make choices. That completely ignores the macro-economic context. The Minister has increased expenditure in the Revised Book of Estimates to the order of approximately 13%, and tax concessions of €900 million were provided. If we put more than a certain amount into the economy, we run a significantly higher risk of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: That is the effect it would have. If we put too much money into the economy we find that a year or two later we must cut back. We want steady progress rather than jerky, stop-go policies, particularly of the kind related to elections. Many economists, having regard to economic cycles, argue that the Government should be running more of a surplus than it runs currently. Senator John Paul...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I agree with the remarks made by my colleague, Senator Jim Walsh. It may be puritanical to state that the 25% lump sum may not be withdrawn. People are entitled to a little financial flexibility and to make choices when they retire. A good point was made on the difference between public and private sector pensions, which counters the argument that the figures are too high. The Minister...

Seanad: Shot at Dawn Campaign: Statements. (28 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I fully support and commend Mr. Peter Mulvany and the Shot at Dawn Campaign. I also commend the Minister and the Department of Foreign Affairs for their work on this report. My colleagues Senators Mooney and Brian Hayes have led the way on this issue. The executions were an awful episode in an awful war. The Irish were volunteers and this was dreadful recompense for often intrinsically minor...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (28 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister and his officials. I allowed myself a little smile when I heard reference to competitiveness. While a decline in exports would be something to be concerned about, we have a €30 billion trade surplus, which is significantly more than 15 years ago. I was also intrigued to find an article in Le Monde a few weeks ago, which, without a hint of criticism, described Ireland...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (28 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: There I disagree with the Senator.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (28 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I endorse Senator O'Toole's comments on social partnership and would be very glad to debate it at any time. If one governs by decree and does not go before Parliament, one cannot be surprised if national strikes and industrial chaos ensue. The question of driver-testers has been lamentably a long-standing problem that did not arise just last year. I am not a fan of the outsourcing of road,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: There were no apologies for terrorism. We are pleased it is over.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: The IRA——

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: That is an aspersion.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: We have plenty of ten-year plans.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: One of the best measures of competitiveness is high sustained growth and, in that respect, we have been top of the list for approximately the past 15 years. I would like to express my deep satisfaction at the permanent ETA ceasefire, which is clearly in part at least based on the model of the Irish peace process. The Government should congratulate Mr. Zapatero, the Prime Minister of Spain...