Results 661-680 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: National Monuments (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I will accept the correction. The monument consists of a denuded round cairn approximately 20 m in diameter that incorporates the remains of two passage tombs. The west tomb is relatively simple in plan, with a passage widening into a terminal chamber, the overall structure measuring approximately 4.5 m from entrance to backstone. The east tomb has a more complex, quasi-cruciform plan and...

Seanad: Garda Stations (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I am glad to be able to give Senator Donohoe the absolute assurance he is seeking. I would like to thank him for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Fitzgibbon Street station has a long and proud record of service to the people of north inner-city Dublin. It is to be refurbished to allow it maintain that record into the...

Seanad: Garda Stations (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Before concluding, having been in this House practically every week since we resumed in September and sometimes several times a week, I take this opportunity to thank the Cathaoirleach and all Members for their courtesy and co-operation, and all members of staff for their support. I wish everyone a happy Christmas and a successful new year.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Section 6 provides a limited power to the Minister for Finance to exempt or vary the reduction in pay rates provided for in the Bill in respect of a public servant or group or class of public servants where exceptional circumstances exist relating to a condition or aspect of employment and a substantial inequity would arise as a consequence or because of an arbitration award the Government...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Public service pay rates and allowances normally are set out in departmental circulars. This constitutes a normal second part of notifying pay rates and will be done as part of the implementation of this Bill.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: To answer the last question first, its status is that it is a nationalised bank. It is not a public service body under section 1(g) or 1(h). It does not have a public service pension scheme. It does not need to be included for clarity's sake. Its employees are clearly not public servants and there are all sorts of reasons - I do not wish to repeat what I stated on Committee Stage -...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Kiely's is in Tipperary.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Many points have been made. Senator Twomey may have many good reasons, from his point of view, for opposing the section but I do not think the disallowance of an amendment which would be unconstitutional because the Seanad does not have the power to increase Government expenditure is one. He may have many other reasons for opposing it. Senator Burke, no doubt tongue in cheek, raised the...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: My apologies, amendment No. 9 is water under the bridge. However, I still want to deal with the point. It is intended that the total remuneration of the office holders in table 1 would attract the reduction specified for them. For example, the salary of the Taoiseach or a Minister as a Deputy, his or her ministerial allowance and so forth combined will undergo a total reduction of 20%. It...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Yes.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Or more than 2%.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I do not accept there is any ambiguity whatsoever. When people talk about the Taoiseach's salary, they do not mean his salary for the office of Taoiseach, but his salary including that as a Deputy. In almost all contexts, the Taoiseach's total salary is discussed. There is no ambiguity in the application either.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The term used in table 1 is "remuneration". Remuneration is defined in the Bill as taxable income and the remuneration of officeholders is all taxable. I will provide a concrete example using my own salary as Minister of State. The cut in my salary as a Deputy of 8% will reduce it to €92,672. The allowance for being a Minister of State will be cut by 14.5% to €46,594. The total...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I do not accept the argument and believe Senator White is misreading this. If he still disagrees with it, he is at liberty to vote against it.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I disagree with the Senator. Remuneration means emoluments. It is defined on page 5, line 33.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The remuneration which is being cut by 20% is made up of a Deputy's salary and the Taoiseach's allowance. The latter will be cut by an additional amount. The bottom line, as far as members of the public are concerned, is whether the deductions, as set out in the table, will be applied and whether it is the law that they will be applied. I can give an absolute guarantee and assurance that...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Does the Senator believe we would engage in such trickery?

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: No.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I wish to respond to three points. Senator Alex White is simply misreading the Bill. The Chief Parliamentary Counsel has been extraordinarily careful to use different terms in each of the tables in order to achieve the effect sought by the Government. Table No. 1 refers to officeholders such as Taoisigh, the Cathaoirleach, Secretaries General etc and remuneration refers to the way...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I simply ask the Senator to refer to the budget tables.