Results 3,301-3,320 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion. (18 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: It is because I am not a businessman.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion. (18 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: We must treat surveys with some caution. The Minister of State made the point that this American Express survey is very unscientific. The World Economic Forum global competitiveness report must also be taken with a pinch of salt. We have low unemployment, an excellent financial situation and great strengths in our economy. If one goes back less than 20 years, we had fewer than 2 million...

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome all our MEPs to the House. This debate is a manifestation of one of the most worthwhile aspects of Seanad reform on which I would like to compliment both the Leader and her colleagues. I wish to consider the constitutional treaty from a republican perspective. A united Ireland, like a united Germany, will only happen in a united Europe. A former French socialist Foreign Minister...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I am astounded to hear Senators from the Labour Party suggest that the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children should have no part in making major strategicdecisions.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I am being shouted down.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: This issue should be properly debated because we either have an accountable democracy or we do not.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I am being shouted down.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Would the Leader agree that a Minister should take the major strategic decisions for the development of the health services because he or she is accountable? I accept that the operational day-to-day matters are the preserve of the Health Service Executive——

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: People like Senator O'Meara attended demonstrations in Tipperary——

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Many Members of the House, including the Leas-Chathaoirleach, attended the western rail corridor conference in Castlebar on Friday, 13 May. The report received a very positive response from two Ministers. The issue concerns the national spatial strategy and regional interconnections which has relevance for the south east and the west. It also addresses issues such as depopulation, as do the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: ——rather than the people they try to put in jail for not paying such exorbitant debts.

Seanad: Pension Provisions: Statements. (11 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: We should do that soon.

Seanad: Pension Provisions: Statements. (11 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister and his officials and I also welcome the debate. Notwithstanding the statistics that have been cited, we can be quite proud of what we have done in Government over the past 20 or 30 years to improve pensions. In the late 1970s and early 1980s there were significant disproportionate increases in pensions and since 1997 there has again been a policy of detaching pensions...

Seanad: Pension Provisions: Statements. (11 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I would be cautious about going down the ESRI route. People have statistical arguments regarding equity and suggest, for example, that Germany is a more equal society than Ireland. They would like to return to 11% unemployment to have more equality. One must think about the macro-economic effects, which translate into human consequences. We are fortunate to have a very buoyant economy in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: That is correct.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: It is the European city of culture.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Today is the 260th anniversary of the Battle of Fontenoy.

Seanad: Sea Pollution (Hazardous Substances) (Compensation) Bill 2000: Second Stage. (10 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for the marine and his officials. I was one of those who was most concerned that the marine portfolio should be retained as part of this Ministry in 2002 because that was one of the most enlightened innovations introduced by Fianna Fáil when it went back into Government in 1987. It was an initiative of the then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I join Senator Brian Hayes in congratulating Tony Blair, whose presence is important to complete the peace process. I also pay tribute to the outgoing Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Murphy, both for what he did over the past two years and for the crucial role he played as Minister of State during the negotiations on the Good Friday Agreement. In congratulating all those who...

Seanad: British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second and Subsequent Stages. (5 May 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister to the House. I also welcome this Bill. In some ways it is reasonably remarkable that a Bill of this type has being brought forward in the current political circumstances. Despite all the difficulties it is a source of satisfaction that the North-South implementation bodies continue to operate, albeit on a care and maintenance basis. That is not entirely satisfactory in...