Results 2,981-3,000 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I did not initially intend to speak in this debate. I defer to the far greater knowledge of those who have handled fisheries policy or live in constituencies where fisheries are a major issue. I decided to contribute because it seemed, in the course of the debate, that the Minister, who is now represented by the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, needed more political support than he was...

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: That decision was implemented by his successor. Today's edition of the The Times of London informs us that France has been fined £40 million "for years of ignoring the club rules". This relates to the punishment applied to that country for its continual disobedience of EU laws against catching undersize fish. Much of the debate on this legislation seems almost to take place in a vacuum, as...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I agree with the cogent points made by Senator Henry. Whether they are dealt with in this legislation or otherwise they are well worthy of the Minister's attention. I welcome the Minister to the House. I also welcome the legislation before us. I am not a great expert in the fields of justice and security but I wish to express my political support for the importance of the fight against crime,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: That is true.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Mar 2006)

Martin Mansergh: That is rubbish.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Third Level Education: Statements (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State. I am immediately reminded of the important contribution his father made when Minister for Education in the late 1960s, not merely in implementing free second level education as announced by Donogh O'Malley but also in setting up the institutes of technology and the NIHEs. A very important factor in our economic success has been the expansion of both second and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: While the House does not have a Green Party Senator, I express my abhorrence at the fire-bombing of the home of a public representative for expressing opposition to dumping and legitimate views about anti-social and anti-environmental behaviour. Public representatives represent many citizens and are entitled to be inviolate and protected. I am sure members of the Garda, on further reflection,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: We had direct tax cuts in the last two budgets.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: It is Senator Bannon's judgment.

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I wish to share my time with Deputies Kitt and Henry.

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister and thank her for staying for the entire debate. In three and a half years in this House I have never seen a Minister speak entirely extempore and with such authority. I hope she will take full advantage of the social partnership talks and helpful pressures from the trade unions to get the best possible deal for education, because there is no more worthwhile area of...

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: The Minister made a good point. As someone involved for the best part of 20 years in one form or another in helping to draft programmes for Government, I can say that they naturally cover only a certain amount of what the Government will do, and other priorities will come forward. Unfortunately, Governments do not tend to get credit for all the things they have done which they did not promise...

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: He was the INTO's general secretary in times gone by. The excellent leadership of that organisation over the decades has helped to ensure high morale in the profession. I agree with the Minister that teachers are not overpaid. They have an important and responsible task and deserve every euro they get.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: June or July.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Two days ago we had a worthwhile debate on social partnership. As a strong supporter of that process I wish there were more signs of getting down to serious business and fewer signs of grandstanding.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Of course the farming organisations have serious concerns about the nitrates directive and an approach has been indicated that might deal with that issue. They might at least await the outcome because the farming organisations have benefited more than anyone from social partnership.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: When talking about the Great Southern Hotels group, for which we all have such affection, especially Senator Coghlan, we are hardly talking about the commanding heights of the tourism economy. It is fortunate to have been retained in State ownership for 20 years but it is difficult to argue that the interests of the entire workforce of the country hang on the sale of the group.

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: Social partnership was conceived of as an alternative to Thatcherism, neoliberalism and the concept that there was no such thing as society. Well-developed models existed in Austria, Germany and Sweden. Although we are often accused of being close to the Anglo-American model in this case we adopted and in some respects led the European model. Of course, no one should pretend social...

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Mansergh: In 1994, Fine Gael voted against the then social partnership agreement. However, I have never seen a political leader execute a faster U-turn on coming into office than former Deputy John Bruton did on that occasion.