Results 4,361-4,380 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I have attended as an observer two Sinn Féin Ard-Fheiseanna.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Mansergh: The Northern peace process is of some value.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I support Senator Finucane in wanting to focus on the cancer strategy. Early treatment is absolutely vital. I have seen things during the years about which I am not happy.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Although it is not relevant to this Bill, I envy the Minister of State the magnificent road which goes through his constituency from Sligo. I wish a similar road would materialise some day between Tipperary and Carrick-on-Suir. I welcome the Bill, despite the fact that I will be adversely affected by it. It will provide a 16% increase in own resources for local government. Better funded local...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Second Stage. (27 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials. The decision on the regulatory authority was one of the most difficult and important made by the previous Government, and today's debate partly reflects the one which took place over two or three years. It was a very important decision and held up for some time until the Government clarified the direction in which it wanted to go. As an...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Lest it be thought that everyone disapproves of this new cover for the Order Paper, I find it very neat.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I think neatness and tidiness have their place in our proceedings.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Members of this House, regardless of how long they have been here, have the same rights as long-standing Members. I have exercised as much responsibility over the years as Senator Norris, and I do not believe histrionics on a daily basis have anything to contribute to debate.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Senator McDowell has acknowledged that there is no difference in objective in terms of removing those on the minimum wage from the tax net. It is a priority in the new partnership agreement. The only question is how quickly it can be done. Tax levels on those on low incomes compare favourably with those pertaining in other European Union countries, although that is not an argument for not...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: As someone who, as the Minister said, worked in another capacity in Fianna Fáil, I enjoyed the visit down memory lane. It is one of the progressive measures in which I share a collective pride. I remember that during the general election campaign in 1997 the then Labour leader, Mr. Dick Spring, was dubious about the proposition, as the Labour Party was about social partnership ten years...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Not in one year.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: On a point of information, there was not a commitment in the manifesto to do it. There were few commitments as to what would be done in the first year. Any manifesto is a five year manifesto, particularly when one is coming into more difficult economic conditions. I am certain that no one gave the impression or said that it would be done in the December budget. If Senator Higgins can provide...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I largely agree with Senator McDowell. Some people are in a position, with regard to housing and other products, to manipulate markets and to withhold or increase supply. Unfortunately, the fact that people are able to do this is something a Minister must take into account when making his decisions.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I am on common ground with Senator McDowell. Indexation is a bad principle. I cannot believe that any Fine Gael Minister for Finance over the past 20 years would have accepted it or would accept it now. It removes some of the essential flexibility that a Minister needs in formulating a budget. In really good years one can exceed the requirements of indexation, which the Minister did over a...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I am not convinced. Will the principle of tax indexation be included in the next Fine Gael manifesto? Even so, would it be in the programme for Government?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: If it were included in the programme for Government, would it actually be implemented by any Minister for Finance one would care to name? I just think—

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Other things being equal, of course it is desirable to index tax allowances and bands. For most of the last five years, this has been done. In fact, more than this has been done but there are other circumstances where one is in the downward part of the cycle where it is not easy to do so. There is a lot of talk about stealth taxes. It is perfectly transparent as far as the public is concerned...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I am not so sure.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Very true.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I fully agree that Fine Gael deserves much credit for the Tallaght strategy. In the period in question, the high growth rate of between 8% and 10% and surpluses of up to £4 billion put great strain on infrastructure. The Government had leeway and people from all quarters were pressing us to spend money. The Minister for Finance maintained a substantial surplus for most of the five years in...