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

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: As we can see from continental countries, if we do not handle this issue correctly, pensions will be a crippling overhang on the economy and the public finances. I was in Germany as a diplomat in the mid-1970s when it was already concerned about the effect pensions would have on the economy and public finances. That was at the stage of Model-Deutschland and the model German economy. Since the...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Another point concerns where we project the ratio of working population to dependants being 1:2. It has been clear to me from watching economic developments over the past 20 to 25 years that the real joker in the pack is migration. We can estimate births, deaths etc. but I am a little sceptical as to whether the scenario painted for 2056 will, in fact, happen.

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I suspect the dependency ratio, from the point of view of the State to society, will be a lot more favourable. It would not surprise me if we had a much higher population then than we think we will have. It is always in the back of my mind that 150 or 160 years ago we had a population of 8 million. When we debate issues such as one-off housing and the beauty of barren peninsulas now, we...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Yes.

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I realise I am treading on eggshells on the question of teachers. We all know teachers who are deeply upset to have to retire at 65. Equally, there are other cases where it would be of benefit both to the individuals concerned and their schools if they could call it a day at a certain point. The Minister of State referred to the possibility of optional early retirement. Teachers are well...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: To successfully complete the transition referred to by Senator Maurice Hayes, we need to win recognition that human rights are indivisible. I support the call for a debate. Apropos of Senator O'Toole and the price of beef in France, in Wolfe Tone's memoirs there is a discussion about what to feed the soldiers when they landed in France. Carnot replied: "They have very good beef in Ireland....

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Omission is a subclass of error.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: It may be contrary but the Minister's reply appears to indicate that affirmation is a sub-class of oath, at least for the purposes of the legislation.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The Minister stated earlier that the Act was superseded.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Whatever about its merits, the amendment is too strong. It uses the term "shall on request" which removes any discretion. It seems that if somebody makes a request, the registrar should have the right to look at it critically and decide whether to initiate an inquiry.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I have some sympathy with this amendment. While everything the Minister has said is absolutely accurate, genealogical family research constitutes another side of this albeit a secondary one. If the information could be recorded where available without overloading the system, it would be helpful to genealogists. It is difficult to think of instances in which the information might not be...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: There is considerable force in this amendment for the reasons stated by Senator Hayes. It can be argued that the place of birth allows one to make the connection, but to do so imposes more work on the researcher. In the case of certain very common names, such as "John Ryan" in Tipperary, for example, this could lend itself to confusions of identity. I urge the Minister to look sympathetically...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: We are only talking about the father and mother of the deceased, not the grandparents of the deceased.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: If I may make one other point, there may be a good deal of validity in what the Minister says about electronic researching but these things are used for many purposes, including family purposes. We do not have a fully electronic society. There is a good deal of validity in what the Minister said about the register but it is a mistake to think that 60 year old Australians or 70 year old...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: What the Minister says makes perfect bureaucratic sense but our Civil Service and public service agencies should think commercially as well as bureaucratically. The answer makes a lot more bureaucratic sense than commercial sense.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Minister and her officials for finding a resolution to the problem. It was threatening to create difficulty and a bit of embarrassment for one or more religious bodies. I congratulate the Minister on finding a satisfactory solution for all concerned.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The English language is being misinterpreted because I read this section, as would any court of law, as "may" meaning "has a right to" or "shall be entitled to". I accept that "may" has two meanings but it is clear in this context that "may" means "has a right to" and I cannot conceive of any court interpreting it any other way.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Any library, archive or office where one consults material, has rules and conditions governing the use of it. Otherwise one might, in theory, have a right to consult such records at midnight or at 3 a.m. When people are consulting records of this kind they normally agree to abide by whatever conditions are in place. Such conditions will not obstruct them from getting access to the record...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: It is a great credit to Albert Reynolds.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: To clarify a point raised by Senator Brian Hayes, there are obviously certain circumstances in which historians or researchers will want or need to consult the original. I remember a debate 20 years ago about whether the reputed grandfather of President Ronald Reagan was listed as "John Regan" or "John Ryan" in the parish register at Kilbehenny, I believe. Obviously, one needed to look at the...