Results 4,181-4,200 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I notice the social welfare Estimate will be discussed this evening but a characteristic of it is that most of the main social welfare announcements are made in the budget. Therefore, one is looking at only one part of the picture. It seems people want to deny any Minister for Social and Family Affairs the right to make readjustments in existing schemes, but one will not be able to judge the...

Seanad: Report of Tourism Policy Review Group: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State, who had responsibility for tourism in the previous Government, during which time it did very well. This is an important report and tourism is an important sector especially for employment and regional development. If the report had gone back to 1987 it would have shown that tourism numbers doubled between 1987 and 1990. They have doubled again from 1990 to the...

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I would like to share two minutes of my time with Senator Ormonde, with the agreement of the House.

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Are there many other speakers?

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I will share with Senator Ormonde and then perhaps Senator Brennan will follow me after that.

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I will share with Senators Ormonde and Brennan.

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: This is a difficult and complex issue. When I work out the pros and cons I will come to a position at the end. I must declare an interest in that I have a daughter who is engaged in stem cell research, or has been, albeit of the animal variety. It is wrong to think that there are no ethical problems involved with that. My daughter is at the University of Wales at present and, if anything, the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I would like to ask the Leader if she could arrange a debate, if at all possible, on the Book of Estimates next week, so that we can discuss all the issues involved. I support and echo the calls made by other Senators about the need for an informed and balanced debate on all the issues involved in stem cell research and in particular the comments made by Senators Dardis, Ó Murchú and Henry....

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Inaction.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: It is a Government decision, not a decision of the Progressive Democrats.

Seanad: Direct Payments Decoupling: Statements. (11 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister to the House. I welcome the successful model execution of a reform, namely, that one studies the question carefully with experts, but one also brings in the interest groups and tries to reach a maximum consensus on the solution. As far as I can judge, most farmers and other interests are either happy with the decision or at least accept it. There are other ways to bring...

Seanad: National Development Plan Mid-Term Evaluation: Statements. (5 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, and his officials, one of whom is a former colleague of mine. The report of the Economic and Social Research Institute is of considerable value. I am an admirer of the institute which provides independent analysis from which we can learn whether we agree with every recommendation it makes. Even if we do not agree...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Nov 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State to the House, particularly as I have enjoyed the hospitality of his constituency in the recent past. I warmly welcome this Bill and the strong and vigorous defence of public service broadcasting contained in the Minister of State's speech. One or two points that he made deserve to be re-emphasised. He says decisions on scheduling are complex and are best left...

Seanad: European Convention/Intergovernmental Conference: Statements. (22 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I am very glad to contribute to this debate. This is an excellent document and has the merit of being readable, comprehensible and simple in a way that the old treaties never were. A major step has been taken along the path of making the EU more accessible for people, without creating the impression that one needs to be a bureaucrat. Having been a bureaucrat, I know that bureaucrats find many...

Seanad: Order of Business. - OECD Education Report: Statements. (16 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: This is, broadly, a very encouraging report. As most of the statistical aspects have already been addressed in the debate, I will confine myself to a few points. As a parent of five children going through the national school system, I regard our public primary education service as excellent. In my belief and experience, the vast majority of teachers are hard-working and committed, believing...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I thank Senators from my side, and also Senator O'Toole, for their understanding and supportive comments. I would like to make three general observations. Everything that Fr. Alex Reid or myself and others did from the months following the Enniskillen bomb to the months following the Omagh bomb had one purpose only, to establish a lasting peace in Ireland that would be an alternative to...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. - Local Radio Licensing: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, the Minister of State, Deputy McDaid, and the fact that there is a debate on this issue which is very important for many communities. I warmly congratulate Senator O'Meara on her report, which I broadly support and which appears to touch many of the main issues. While I am not a member of the joint committee, I sat in on the session a week or two...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: In welcoming the Minister of State to the House, I point out that he is a regular user of public transport in the Dublin area, including the DART and the train to Balbriggan. That is very much to his credit.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I am proud to support a Government, including this Government and its predecessor from 1997, which, on a sustained basis, is putting so much investment into transport, including public transport. That was not the case in the past. Senator Browne referred to lack of foresight. In the 19 point programme put forward by Fine Gael and the Labour Party at the start of the 1997 election, one will...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: We will be very proud of it and so will the Senator.