Results 3,121-3,140 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (16 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: In regard to the point raised by Senator Burke, if one goes back to the financing of the DART in the 1980s and 1990s, CIE was forced by various Governments to borrow and the Department of Transport through the Department of Finance helped with the interest payments. The enormous contrast between those days and today is that CIE got no capital moneys from the Government until 1997, although it...

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (16 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I have sympathy with the spirit, although not necessarily with the letter, of the amendment. There is not only the safety consideration but there is also the delay involved where there are many manned level crossings. There is a particular section of line, which is the initial part of the famous western rail corridor between Limerick and Ennis, on which there is a large number of manned level...

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (16 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: This is a serious matter, given the increase in lorry heights and the rise in the number of lorries generally. Far too often, one hears reports of lorries striking parapets or bridges. The legislation should convey a clear message that people who cause such damage carelessly or wantonly will face serious financial consequences. The prosecuting authorities need to be rigorous in this regard....

Seanad: Ferns Report: Statements (Resumed). (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I wish to share time with Senator Maurice Hayes.

Seanad: Ferns Report: Statements (Resumed). (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I commend the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, on his contribution and all he has said and done in this area which is in the best traditions of this republic, this party and his family. The report sets out in an objective way the background to and detail of the inquiry and the recommendations. I have heard very little criticism...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: We have noticed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: No.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: This matter was raised and discussed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I support the proposal by Senator Brian Hayes regarding the Shot at Dawn Campaign. Even in the context of that time the sentences were shameful. I have a personal interest in this matter as a distant relative of the Mansergh family was involved in one such tribunal. Such a fact only redoubles my support for the campaign. We often criticise newspapers and the media in general in this House but...

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Second Stage. (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: It is clear from the Bill's Title that it dates back to 2001, when the Leader was Minister for Public Enterprise. Her initiative on the rail safety programme was a major turning point in the history of the rail network in Ireland because, until that time, it was pretty much scrimp and save and care and maintenance.

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Second Stage. (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: The safety record, partly thanks to the grace of God, has been good on our railways but a number of high profile accidents across the water underline the fact that many casualties can result from such incidents. This issue deserves the priority it has been given but it serves a dual purpose. At the same time the railway is made safe, its capacity to carry traffic at higher speeds is...

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Second Stage. (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I use Ryanair from time to time but if there were not a rail link from Stansted I would not do so. The Government is investing in a facility from which Ryanair will benefit to a considerable extent and in this context the remarks are outrageous.

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Second Stage. (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I resent the attitude that if one is sufficiently wealthy and successful one can be arrogant and rude and can attack the Taoiseach in terms the Opposition would hesitate to use.

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Second Stage. (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: A degree of respect for the country from which one has launched a hugely successful enterprise across Europe would not be out of order. If one can afford to buy a taxi licence, which is a complete abuse, and one lives in Gigginstown House, one does not have the same problems in getting to Dublin Airport as ordinary people.

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Second Stage. (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Ordinary people coming through Dublin or from Dublin at rush hour must spend much time travelling. Regarding waste, let us consider the waste of tarmac as we seek to accommodate more and more cars and the waste of energy as people wait in traffic for hours while travelling to the airport. The access to Dublin Airport is grossly inefficient under any economic criteria and that must be considered.

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Second Stage. (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: The price of car parking is outrageous and the reason Mr. O'Leary is objecting is because he hoped to build his private terminal and charge customers. This is transparent and the chairman of Aer Rianta, in evidence to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, stated that many operators in Dublin Airport were totally opposed to the metro. I wrote to him on this matter and now they have...

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Second Stage. (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: He may be very progressive on air travel but in terms of surface travel this is 1960s discredited transport economics.

Seanad: Railway Safety Bill 2001: Second Stage. (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: In what year will that happen?

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (2 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I warmly welcome the Minister and his officials. I agree with Senator McDowell that it is important to get the history right. Of course I welcome the motion under discussion and I am glad that keeping the public finances in a healthy condition is put first. In 1987 there was some argument as to whether one should cut taxes first in the hope that the public finances would return to a state of...

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (2 Nov 2005)

Martin Mansergh: ——rocketing up the price of transport and motoring. It is still advocating this despite the fact that oil prices have increased enormously. Confidence in who will keep tax rates low will very definitely be an issue in the next election. I agree we are generating sufficient revenue to do what we need and want to do. Yesterday's Transport 21 investment plan is a clear illustration of this...