Results 4,061-4,080 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Proposed Stadium at Lansdowne Road: Statements. (5 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: These matters should be thought through properly and the right decision reached, even if it takes a little time to do it. I would not apologise for it. In the case of facilities in Dublin, and I am not only talking about sports, there is a live debate as to whether they should be located on the periphery, accessible to the ring road or in the city centre. There is something to be said on both...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I join with other Senators in paying tribute to John Hume who for 35 years was at the centre of practically every creative initiative to bring peace to Northern Ireland. We need to give him and his colleagues credit for averting or at least mitigating disaster. While on the subject of the peace process, there are at least a couple of people in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law...

Seanad: Third Interim Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements. (4 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The subject matter of this debate is a painful and harrowing aspect of our past. The Government and the Taoiseach deserve great credit for facing up squarely to this issue with all its painful aspects. It is never easy for a State or a Government to apologise or to accept that grievous wrong happened in the past for which it is accepting some degree of responsibility. I regret the degree of...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: On a grammatical point, I am not sure that the phrase "not fewer" is correct. Perhaps it should be "no fewer". That point could be considered as well.

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I wish to reinforce what Senator Dardis said. We are talking about the principal Act, which is the An Bord Bia Act 1994. To seek to delete the food industry, which is the core of Bord Bia, is totally absurd. I take the point that the interests of horticulture are adequately protected in this legislation.

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Section 14 of the principal Act.

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I also would be keen on the subject of equality, but this amendment goes beyond the guidelines of successive Governments which have suggested that 40% of board members be of either gender. That is a good rule that provides flexibility. Unfortunately, it has not been uniformly observed by any manner of means, but 50:50 goes beyond established policy under successive Governments. That goes too...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: While endorsing what Senator White said, I do not follow the logic of Senator Hayes's contribution which is that because Government has so far failed to clear the bar, it is right to raise the bar higher. That does not make sense. What makes sense is that there is proper and conscientious implementation of the existing guideline. That provides for the proper degree of flexibility.

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The logic of that position would be to put 40% in the legislation, not 50%.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: There are elections this year.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Feb 2004)

Martin Mansergh: What about Deputy Jim O'Keeffe? Let us not be partisan.

Seanad: Immigration Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Jan 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I accept the principle that legislation is needed because of the High Court judgement and because it is important to maintain confidence in the fairness of our immigration regime. That is important for the cohesion and stability of our society as we do not want to have tensions which all of us would regard as undesirable. Ireland is changing rapidly and becoming more multicultural, with...

Seanad: Immigration Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Jan 2004)

Martin Mansergh: The decision has been taken in that regard but when these matters come up in the future, Ministers should pay more attention to proper process and to the fact that this affects the public's confidence in legislation. If the public sees legislation being rushed through the Houses, particularly legislation on important and sensitive areas, it can undermine confidence. I do not in the least...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome this subject being put down for discussion because community employment schemes are of great value. On Monday, the last day I was in Tipperary, two people raised this issue with me, one being a man over the age of 50 who drives a bus for disabled people. He got an extension of a further six months to his position after three years, but was concerned about still having a job next...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (28 Jan 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister and wish him extremely well during the Presidency of the EU. At this stage, he is a Minister with vast experience. Apart from a two year interval, he has been at Agriculture House for the past 17 years. While there have been little ups and downs with farm organisations now and again, I am glad there is harmony once again. I compliment the Minister on the establishment...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (28 Jan 2004)

Martin Mansergh: It is far from clear what the added value is for Labour. Obviously, I can see the added value from the point of view of the people from Democratic Left who carried out the reverse take-over, but not for the organisation as a whole. The separate interests of agriculture are adequately taken care of by the provision of two members of the board and the maintenance of a separate identity in the...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (28 Jan 2004)

Martin Mansergh: Not mandatory.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jan 2004)

Martin Mansergh: I also welcome the satisfactory resolution of the sports stadium issue. Like many important decisions that cost a great deal of money, one needs to examine the different options to get the right mix. Sometimes those projects proceed, like the Luas, by trial and error. We should not make any apology——

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jan 2004)

Martin Mansergh: ——for that. We have the most sports-friendly Government ever. The amount of money being spent——

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jan 2004)

Martin Mansergh: ——on the sports capital programme is appreciated around the country.