Results 3,341-3,360 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Apr 2005)

Martin Mansergh: No, it was Asquith.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Apr 2005)

Martin Mansergh: It was abolished.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Apr 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I will explain.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Apr 2005)

Martin Mansergh: There was also the Boston Tea Party two years before the Act was introduced.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Apr 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Tom Kitt, and his officials. Senator Norris took us back to his favourite period, Edwardian Dublin. Dr. James Deeney also deserves credit for the eradication of TB, which he wrote about in his memoirs. The Bill has a practical purpose, a clearing out of the attic. However, that type of exercise is carried out...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Apr 2005)

Martin Mansergh: My attention was particularly caught by the Burning of Bricks (Dublin) Act 1770. It is a wonderful description. I am tempted to use it in my column next week in The Irish Times as evocative of an activity that is both damaging and unproductive. One wonders if the Adulteration of Tea Act 1776 has anything to do with the Boston Tea Party. I also note the Tolls (Ireland) Act 1817.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Apr 2005)

Martin Mansergh: We should recollect in our newfound enthusiasm for tolls that laissez faire, laissez passer, which was the philosophy of economic liberalism, was about getting rid of tolls and other barriers. We should be careful how and where we put them in place. I note that the title of another Act, the Inferior Courts Officers (Ireland) Act 1858, would not be used in legislation today because it would...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Apr 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Presumably. The National School Teachers Residences (Ireland) Act also caught my attention. My great great grandfather founded a national school and the first people employed were a husband and wife. The wife was to be a seamstress for the girls. I presume they lived at the school. The Chaff-Cutting Machines (Accidents) Act sounds funny but is probably about something sad, the accidents...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Apr 2005)

Martin Mansergh: An Act which has not yet been mentioned has considerable significance given the time of the year and the fact that many Members will go to Arbour Hill shortly. It is the Dublin Reconstruction (Emergency Provisions) Act 1916. The historical connection must be quite clear. While the rationale for this Bill is obvious, many of us might have a little of Edmund Burke lurking inside as we wonder if...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Apr 2005)

Martin Mansergh: There are many positive developments on the employment front for us to welcome. Unemployment now stands at 4.3%. The year 2004 saw the lowest number of days lost in strike action, a tribute to social partnership. This morning the House will debate the rights of migrant workers and we welcome the appointment of inspectors. We must debate the proposals for a fundamental revamp of immigration...

Seanad: Expressions of Sympathy on the Death of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II: Motion. (12 Apr 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I wish to express my deep sympathy and sorrow, not just to the Dean of the College of Cardinals but to members of the Catholic Church in Ireland and elsewhere. Pope John Paul II was a great Christian leader but also a great world religious leader. It is a paradox that in an age which is generally regarded as much more secular than preceding ages, this Pope had more impact on the world than...

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion. (24 Mar 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister and support the motion. Despite the present difficulties in the peace process, it is good to see the Irish Government carrying out one of its obligations under the Weston Park agreement. I was present at Weston Park as a member of the Irish delegation and remember being present at many of the discussions. I think a concern for balance was at issue. It was felt that the...

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion. (24 Mar 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Perhaps in the past we were not always sufficiently rigorous in that regard. As Senator Jim Walsh observed, Judge Cory, who carried out some excellent work, has expressed total dissatisfaction with the arrangements being made for the Finucane inquiry. Unfortunately, a pattern may be discerned. We have found it with the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1972 and 1974 and the Finucane and Nelson...

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion. (24 Mar 2005)

Martin Mansergh: It is at least as bad and one could argue that it is worse, in that it constitutes a betrayal of trust. I have great admiration for Balthasar Garzón, a Spanish judge. Admittedly, he operates under a system of law that the Minister does not wholly admire.

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion. (24 Mar 2005)

Martin Mansergh: As a result of their involvement in a dirty war, he put several Ministers of the Spanish Government behind bars. No one disputes that ETA is a terrorist organisation that murdered and committed horrific acts. This is not the issue and there is no ambivalence about it, but some people who engaged in or authorised a dirty war ended up behind bars. Subsequently, the judge banned the political...

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion. (24 Mar 2005)

Martin Mansergh: How would the Senator defend it?

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion. (24 Mar 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Senator Cummins should tell the House whether he agrees with the AGSI's attitude.

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion. (24 Mar 2005)

Martin Mansergh: The arms were not brought in.

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Martin Mansergh: May I share one minute with Senator White?

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Martin Mansergh: An extensive programme of road and rail infrastructural improvement is taking place. We are still waiting for the completion of the M50 and the situation may be worse during periods of congestion, but this is not true of off-peak times when the situation is much better. Urban tolls in the sense of physical barriers are not desirable in general. It was not for nothing that people rid...