Results 581-600 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Public Service Remuneration: Motion (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: As someone who entered the public service in 1974 and who worked alongside civil servants up until 2002, I have strong reservations about the whole concept and applicability of performance related pay as applied to the senior Civil Service to date and the concept of tracking the private sector. It proved difficult to distinguish exceptional performance and the 10% became embedded in pay....

Public Service Remuneration: Motion (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: I would not dream of obstructing him in any way whatsoever.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: Scarcely a day passes without favourable reference in the international press to the decisive budgetary action taken by Ireland to deal with the severe budgetary imbalances common to many countries at the present time, in the wake of the international financial and banking crisis. The fundamental issue over the past 18 months has been, whether we wish, within the supportive framework that...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: Leaving aside the automatic stabilisers, such as higher welfare payments in a recession, which mean that, despite cutbacks, overall Government expenditure is flat rather than actually declining, the most stimulating action Government can take is to succeed in stabilising, then rectifying, the public finances. While, of course, this cannot be achieved or attempted to be achieved in one full...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: Movements in the euro-sterling exchange rate have also begun to help exporting firms. The reduction in excise duty on a wide range of alcohol diminishes somewhat the incentive to cross the Border to bring back large quantities of drink. From a constituency point of view, I am always pleased to see a reduction in the excise duty on cider. Mortgage interest relief has been extended, primarily...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: What about the communication between Deputy Bruton and former Deputy Lee?

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: I wish to share my time with Deputy Peter Kelly.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (9 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: All buildings offered for rent or lease from 1 January 2009 require a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate. In addition to this requirement, all large Public Service buildings require a BER certificate in a prescribed form, so called Display Energy Certificate (DEC). For a building being offered for rent or lease it is the responsibility of the Landlord or his Agent to provide the BER...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (9 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works as part of an ongoing programme of improvement works at Kilkenny Castle, plans to carry out major safety upgrading works to the electrical systems in the castle. These are necessary to enable the venue to be used for suitable public events. Kilkenny Castle is recognised as a very important National Historic Property and the Office of Public Works remains committed...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (9 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: Section 6 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act, 2009 provides that, in certain limited circumstances, the Minister for Finance may by direction exempt or vary the application of the pay reductions provided for in the Act to public servants, or groups of public servants. The Minister has directed that an exemption from the pay reductions in the legislation...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (9 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: A number of agencies, including the ESB, Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, relevant local authorities and Waterways Ireland have a specific statutory function or a responsibility in relation to aspects of the control and management of the Shannon basin and its water levels. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government also has a role...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (9 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: In 2009 the Office of Public Works (OPW) introduced two new initiatives relating to the provision of minor flood alleviation works for rivers and for coastal protection and under this initiative, provided funding to Kildare County Council to complete a programme of flood relief works for the River Toni in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. These works were completed in 2009 and as a result Celbridge...

Seanad: Flood Relief (9 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: I am grateful to the Senator for raising this matter and bringing it to the attention of the Seanad. I made a similar statement in this respect in the Dáil last week. I am delighted to have an opportunity to highlight further the substance of this important matter. The Lee catchment flood risk assessment and management study was launched on 1 February as a public consultation document....

Northern Ireland: Statements (9 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: The successful negotiation of what should prove the final chapter in the peace process is a cause of great satisfaction. I warmly congratulate the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Irish officials on their leadership role in bringing this about as joint guarantor with the British Government of the Good Friday and St. Andrews agreements. As the Taoiseach has observed, the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: Under the Government's Decentralisation Programme it was originally intended to relocate the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to Knock, Co. Mayo and, accordingly, a site was purchased at Knock Airport. When planning permission was refused for the proposed development at Knock Airport, the Government decided that Charlestown should be the new location for the Department....

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (4 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: At a meeting of the Office of Public Works and Dublin City Council on 29 July 2009, the Council presented an interim report by consultants on the River Tolka, the Wad River sub-catchment and the Donnycarney, Dublin 5 area. This report analysed the flooding events of early July 2009, hydraulically modelled the Wad River catchment, and reported on suggestions for alleviating flooding from...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (4 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works and Dublin City Council have been in discussions in relation to the flood relief aspects of the North City Arterial Water Main Works to be undertaken by the City Council. The City Council has completed a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) of the flood defence aspects of their scheme, and have supplied a copy of this to the OPW. In light of the CBA, further discussions...

Flood Relief Works (3 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: I am grateful to Deputy Clune for raising this matter and for her assistance in raising the profile of the draft Lee catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, study, which I launched as a public consultation document in City Hall two days ago, which is a point worth emphasising. The plan remains in draft form at this time. For instance, the plan for the Lee catchment was...

Flood Relief Works (3 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: Am I allowed to finish?

Flood Relief Works (3 Feb 2010)

Martin Mansergh: During the six years to 2009, the OPW has invested €130 million in capital flood relief projects alone with a further €112 million being spent on drainage maintenance and hydrometric programmes. Major flood relief schemes involve complex engineering and construction operations and invariably have lengthy lead-in times. Variations in the timelines and associated expenditures on such major...