Results 4,641-4,660 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: No, the Office of the Taoiseach.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: I worked with the Department of Finance, not in it.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: Which body would make the decision? The national pensions reserve fund or the National Finance Development Agency?

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: No one said we cannot do that.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: The Minister of State hit the nail on the head in his reply. There is a conflict of interest between the functions of the two agencies. It is important to stress that we all support pensions fund money going into infrastructure where it will get a good return for the pensions fund. The trustees must make that decision and must not have the decision made for them by the NDFA. There is a...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: I am glad to hear the Minister of State say that the guidelines will be available because transparency is important. However, the amendment represents an encroachment on Government by the Legislature. Every ministerial act should not be immediately subject to debate and revocation. When Governments are elected, they must be allowed a certain discretion to act. Of course they must be...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: I am concerned that this amendment might lead to precisely what Senators opposite have been complaining about in relation to a different section, namely, another layer of bureaucracy. To fulfil these requirements, cover all hypothetical situations, provide quarterly cost benefit analysis, etc., will require many hours of work. The purpose of the Bill is to enable us to proceed with projects....

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: It would be fairly extraordinary to pick out one member of a board and give that person special functions. Given that this is such an important agency, I have no doubt that the people appointed will be highly qualified and will have a wide range of expertise. I do not see how one can choose one member to have relevant experience in public policy development and an appropriate role in pricing....

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: This is not a piece of criminal law legislation. There are clear laws on corruption and on public ethics and it would be inappropriate to insert clauses which imply that but for this clause chief executives might well engage in the type of behaviour suggested. It is not particularly appropriate.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Motion for Earlier Signature. (17 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Minister of State and the Minister for Finance for taking us through the debate on this important legislation, which will prove significant in the years ahead. I reciprocate the Minister of State's seasonal wishes.

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (12 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am sorry in many ways that we have to discuss this amendment at all. In the Minister's previous office the Equal Status Bill was landmark legislation for which he will be honourably remembered. Many golf clubs throughout the country have acted in conformity with its provisions. When the Taoiseach opened a new clubhouse in Tipperary, for example, the club...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (12 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: The book is Warrenpoint Golf Club, A History 1893-1993 by Tom McAteer. Golf is a fine sport and Ireland is an ideal country for it. It has become a major part of our tourism industry. It is most regrettable that the Golfing Union of Ireland has been so backward in terms of gender equality and that there are still one or two clubs, unfortunately the most prestigious clubs, exercising what can...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (12 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: There is a balance to be struck here. I am not sure I really agree with either extreme. A board chairman appointed by a previous Government could start to adopt a very political role in opposing the Government policy, which would be undesirable. However, there should be reasonable freedom as shown, for example, by the chairman of the IDA during the debate on the Nice Treaty. He clearly had...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill, 2002 [Certified Money Bill]: Second and Subsequent Stages. (12 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the opportunity to debate vigorously with Senator Higgins the state of the public finance. The Appropriation Bill is formal legislation which provides legal authority for spending during the year, not only the original Estimates but also the Supplementary Estimates. Referring to a Supplementary Estimate of €500 million, the Minister of State said this is a gross rather than a net...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill, 2002 [Certified Money Bill]: Second and Subsequent Stages. (12 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Minister for a good and expeditious debate. Question put and declared carried.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: One of the areas in which the Government has had most success in recent years has been increasing housing supply. Perhaps the Minister will comment on a medium-term problem. The housing projects for which he is extending planning permission predate the 2000 Act. They are not, therefore, subject to the Part V provisions or the proposed levy. There is perhaps a danger that the building industry...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: Will the levy apply only to those houses or will it also apply to houses built in the future?

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption by Young People: Statements. (11 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: We had a debate at lunch as to whether one glass of wine would disable us for the debate. I welcome the open nature of this debate, which is a sort of brain-storming session.

Seanad: Primary Education: Motion. (11 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan. I also welcome the Opposition motion in that it gives us the opportunity to discuss a very important issue, to which I attach the highest priority in terms of expenditure and investment decisions. The motion refers to broken promises, although the Government is only six months into a five year term. One will only be able to judge if the...

Seanad: Primary Education: Motion. (11 Dec 2002)

Martin Mansergh: No untruths were told in County Tipperary.