Results 3,761-3,780 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: It is the original motion that is agreed rather than the amended one.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Yes, okay.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: On a point of order, it is the original motion tabled by the Government, not the motion as amended, that is agreed to.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: No.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: We assumed the Cathaoirleach would be putting it to a vote.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: What about the spirit of the motion?

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Is it next Tuesday at 2.30 p.m.? I do not know.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Can it be altered to 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday?

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Next Wednesday at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: That was a complete exaggeration and misreading of the situation. The public finances were far stronger than anticipated and benchmarking is not causing a major problem. Revenue is needed for improved public services. It is a source of immense satisfaction that since 1996, the last year of the rainbow Government, revenue has been doubled from €16 billion to approximately €33 billion. That...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: ——how the Government has been running the finances.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The public knows that revenue is needed for public services and understands the issues involved, especially since it is now clear that the economy is still doing well. The way employment has remained stable through the downturn over the last two or three years is fantastic. The number of unemployed, which is not measured by the live register, is still under 100,000 or less than 5%. The...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The figures are not a measure of unemployment. There has also been positive growth in incomes of approximately 4% to 5%, ahead of inflation, which is now down to between 1% and 2%. It is true that redundancies have increased. However, in the main people have been able to find replacement jobs relatively quickly and employment is still rising. It has never ceased to rise throughout this...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: That has been stabilised. When the Opposition talks about impending large cuts in community employment schemes, that is last year's issue. The national development plan is progressing well. Thanks to, among others, our good Leader, we saw the Luas on the streets last night and it will be in operation within a few months.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: What about the having a word with your new partners about the Monasterevin bypass?

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I get distracted by the Opposition. Our Fine Gael friends might like to have a chat with our Green friends, who on 8 August 2003 said there was no demand for new roads.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I do not know. We are now in tenth position in competitiveness, ahead of——

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The Fine Gael amendment mentions us being behind most countries, which is not true.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Finland and Luxembourg are the only EU countries ahead of us in competitiveness. Absolute poverty has been reduced and we had a social welfare package of €630 million in the budget. There were increases of 6% to 8% whereas the policy a few years ago under the rainbow coalition was to barely index. We are well on the way to a pension of €200. In 1997 the pension was the equivalent of...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Martin Mansergh: They will be part of your new Government, with whom you will have to negotiate.