Results 4,201-4,220 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

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

Martin Mansergh: That is wrong.

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

Martin Mansergh: Ridiculous.

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

Martin Mansergh: Is it, therefore, an overstatement?

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

Martin Mansergh: I am not.

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

Martin Mansergh: It is easy when one is laying track across a desert.

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

Martin Mansergh: The line has been greatly improved.

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

Martin Mansergh: The Senator ought to remember the Building on Reality report which recommended no more investment in railways.

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

Martin Mansergh: They will not be.

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

Martin Mansergh: The Ennis line is being upgraded.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: That cannot be allowed.

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (Resumed). (8 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: We are discussing a difficult and painful issue, but we should at least give ourselves credit that we have the courage to address such an issue openly without fear or favour. In Northern Ireland, the Kincora scandal was a sort of hugger-mugger security investigation that was never properly aired. Admittedly, that was 20 years ago. Other types of residential institutions, catering more perhaps...

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann," and substitute the following: "notes that: (a) the benchmarking exercise under the PPF was an important initiative in developing a better system of pay determination in the public service; (b) payment of the second and third phases of the increases recommended by the public service benchmarking body and of the general round...

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Benchmarking has been agreed, is being implemented and is an integral part of the social partnership arrangements which have transformed the economy over the past 16 or 17 years. Needless to say, it will not be up-ended. Benchmarking is an alternative to traditional relativities which were not satisfactory from the perspective of industrial relations. It is, according to the PPF, a "coherent...

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: In 2002 some 21,000 days were lost through industrial action which was the lowest figure in the past 32 years. The claim that the public is getting nothing in return for the benchmarking deal is not true. Verification groups have been set up and agreements relating to each sector have been made, for example, the standardisation of the school year has been agreed and the Revenue Commissioners...

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: The OECD was complimentary about the benchmarking process and urged wider use of it. It stated that the use of other market type instruments such as benchmarking and other choice schemes within the public sector is generally limited in Ireland. It also noted that benchmarking of Government agencies, which tend to be exempt from the pressures to perform more efficiently and effectively can be...

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: The Fine Gael Party position is to suspend the deal, which goes well beyond the recent IBEC statement. Deputy Richard Bruton has complained about the absence of background studies. The correct decision was taken on this issue. If all the background studies and Labour Court determinations were published, it could lead to endless nit-picking and rival consultants— (Interruptions).

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: The proof of the pudding is that the public sector has accepted the deal and we have industrial peace as a result. The Fine Gael Party, which regards itself as an alternative Government, should be aware that maintaining public commitments is the most important issue for any Government.

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I recall that in 1994, the then leader of the Fine Gael Party, Deputy John Bruton, opposed the Programme for Competitiveness and Work only to reverse his position the moment he came into Government. We look forward to hearing the views of the Labour Party on the issue of benchmarking as they are not compatible with those of the Fine Gael Party.

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Even if that were not the case, the fundamental question is whether Governments should keep their commitments. I am a little shocked that the Fine Gael Party is proposing not to pay the benchmarking award. It betrays an ongoing ambivalence towards social partnership with which the party was not happy in the past. The biggest mistake the Fine Gael and Labour parties made in the mid-1980s was...