Results 4,561-4,580 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: We must try to do the difficult thing. I accept the argument that, in many respects, our services are deficient. Infrastructural investment is well under way. I do not accept Senator Higgins's assertion that we have an appalling public transport system. I am grateful for the public transport system, which I use on a regular basis. I accept that it requires further improvement, but to use the...

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: —which stated that one had to increase the money raised from banks, corporations and wealthy individuals. I still know the figures because I recall researching them. In 1986 we raised approximately £34 million from capital taxes and £247 million from corporation tax. That has been magnified. Corporation tax has increased by well over 1,000%. This was not done by raising the tax level and...

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: It is a realistic viewpoint.

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I did not say it was appalling. I criticised the people who keep saying it is appalling.

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I agree.

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Not without qualification.

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages. (13 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Minister of State and officials of the Department of Finance for carrying through this legislation, which is important from the point of view of consumers and the community at large. I hope the proceeds of the dormant accounts will be used for worthwhile projects, some of which we discussed yesterday. Question put and agreed to.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Hardly.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: That is a misrepresentation.

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I support and welcome the Bill which is based on the good experience we have had with the dormant bank accounts legislation. That scheme has raised €400 million, a substantial sum. Obviously, it is impossible to estimate what will be raised under this legislation but presumably it will be a useful amount. My experience of the dormant accounts legislation has been good. I had two accounts,...

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: It is not the IFA. The Senator should inquire how much it cost to re-purchase the Harcourt Street line in Dublin – it cost millions for a few hundred metres. That is where the major problem is.

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I would like to see a focus on this issue to have it properly debated. One of the newspapers recently reported that the metro to the airport was to cost €4 billion. I cannot stand over that figure – it may be wrong – but it is appalling that over half that sum will be spent on land compensation. There may be a case for having some form of bond scheme. Although it was not satisfactory in...

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Minister of State for taking us through the debate and for his very comprehensive reply to the points raised. Question put and agreed to. Committee Stage ordered for today at 4 p.m. Sitting suspended at 12.35 p.m. and resumed at 2p.m.

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: Do not damage the furniture.

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I agree very much with Senator O'Toole's comments on the importance of the farming community being in social partnership. It concerns not just the particular matters that might be written into the programme but also the ongoing dialogue on problems arising in farming. I disagree with the Senator's statement about productivity and production. I believe the agricultural statistics show that...

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: If one enters into an argument—

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I make the general point that if one makes controversial arguments, one might also listen to the counter arguments, whoever one is.

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: The CAP is a fundamental part of the whole construction of the European Union. It costs very little in overall terms of GNP. It is vital as a security. My reservation about decoupling is that over time it will de-legitimise support for the CAP. There will be people who will abuse the ease and facility of the system and the media will get in and use it to discredit support for farming. It is...

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: On a point of order, we were sharing time.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Feb 2003)

Martin Mansergh: I reinforce the request made yesterday through the Leader to the Minister for Finance to make a statement on the state of the public finances and the economy. Examining the Exchequer returns I discovered that tax revenue rose by 10% in the first month of this year. This is very healthy, even compared with good years, and something one would never have discovered from the purveyors of gloom...