Results 4,021-4,040 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: We are talking about a criminal trial.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the positive note on which this debate is ending. I believe thatpractically all the Opposition Senators are infavour of the principle and want to see thepractice of decentralisation. Senator O'Meara was not here when I made my speech but her leader was exceptionally negative about decentralisation.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I hope that she and Senator McCarthy will influence him to take a more positive approach.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Those of us who believe in decentralisation want to see it happen and carried through regardless of changes in Government in the future. We must redistribute growth and wealth in this country. The latest income-GDP figures show Dublin at 117%, the midlands at 86% and the south east at 88%. It does not exactly coincide with the BMW region.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The pressures on Dublin are becoming intolerable and we must do something about the lopsided growth. The point was made that we were not paying enough attention to regional distribution. We have done much more on that point. I looked at the figures for the rainbow coalition when it was in Government. Almost all the industrial investment between 1995 and 1997 went to the greater Dublin area....

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: ——by Senator MacSharry's father as a cost-cutting measure. In other words, it would reduce the cost of running the public service rather than increasing it so I would not be overly worried about that point.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Senator Ulick Burke mentioned that there was no planning or consultation. There were hundreds of submissions from almost every town in Ireland and if that is not consultation——

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The Minister said he received 680 proposals. That is plenty of consultation. People are only too eager to be consulted. In social partnership terms, the principle of decentralisation has been broadly agreed and I have no doubt the social partnership mechanisms will find ways of implementing it.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The problem is the same as that which came up in the debate about electronic voting earlier: people are afraid of change. They are rather conservative. This is one of the most radical measures undertaken in this country.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Bill, which is important and enlightened legislation. In the future it will certainly help ordinary citizens who will no longer have to seek out, for certain bureaucratic purposes, birth certificates that have been hidden in drawers or other places. It is a big advance that child benefit will follow automatically on the registration of births. Senator Brian Hayes asked whether...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Did the Senator say the 12th century?

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Also, whether to include the parents.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Rubbish.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Is that what multi-annual budgets are about?

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: What about the Central Statistics Office in Cork?

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The Senator certainly did not persuade them.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: They will probably come from other regional headquarters.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The Senator should study it more closely.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: And in other towns.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I do not believe it.