Results 861-880 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I understood all the amendments were being taken together.

Seanad: Flood Relief (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I thank Senator Buttimer for giving me the opportunity to discuss the serious flooding that occurred in Cork in recent weeks and the damage to the quay walls which resulted. I share his view of the importance of the matter. The unprecedented flooding in recent few weeks has severely impacted on Cork city. While the prolonged heavy rain in the Cork area was a major factor in the flooding,...

Adjournment Debate (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: While I am replying on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,-----

Adjournment Debate (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: -----I also have responsibilities in this regard. To answer immediately, the directive will be transposed before the end of the year. It probably would have been transposed before the end of November had much of the country not been hit by the flooding crisis, which required everyone's concentration. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government's role where there is...

Job Protection. (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I will reply on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The matter is of some interest in west Tipperary, where a number of Dell employees live. I am advised that IDA Ireland is aware of recent developments at the Dell plant in Poland. IDA Ireland has been in constant contact with Dell at...

Schools Building Projects. (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank the Deputies for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to outline the current position with regard to the future plans for the schools in...

Written Answers — Flood Damage: Flood Damage (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The scale and magnitude of the flooding that has occurred over the past two weeks have not been seen before in living memory. They have resulted in widespread misery and devastation. People have been forced from their homes, farms have been overrun by water and businesses have had to cease operations. Every sector of the economy has been adversely affected. All efforts at present are...

Written Answers — Inland Waterways: Inland Waterways (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Maintenance of Shannon Waterway is not the responsibility of the Office of Public Works (OPW). OPW operates a maintenance programme on all schemes where it has undertaken works. Effective maintenance of river courses and channels can contribute to the moderation of the impact of flood events. However, expert engineering opinion is that maintenance of channels alone is not sufficient to...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: In accordance with national flood policy, and in compliance with the EU Floods Directive, the Office of Public Works is undertaking a Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study for each catchment in the country, including the Shannon and Suck catchment. This Study will identify the areas in the catchment where there is significant flood risk, and will produce a plan of prioritised measures to...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works placed a contract for the Design and Build of the Department of Defence new headquarters at Station Road, Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Work on site is well advanced and was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009. However, due to certain delays experienced by the Contractor, the building is not expected to be ready for handover to the Department until the end of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. As indicated in the reply to the Deputy's Question on 24 September, the OPW will, in 2010, commence a Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study that will identify areas in the Shannon catchment that are at significant risk from flooding, and will produce a prioritised list of measures for addressing the risk in those areas....

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: To facilitate planning for the management of future flood risk, OPW has embarked on a programme of Catchment Flood Risk Assessments, since being assigned lead agency responsibilities in 2004, following the Review of Flood Policy. These studies, which are required by the National Flood Policy and the EU Floods Directive, are designed to identify the areas at risk from flood events for a range...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 113 and 114 together. Since 2003, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has completed major flood relief schemes in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, Kilkenny City, River Tolka in Counties Dublin and Meath, Leixlip, Co. Kildare and the first phase of the River Dodder works in Dublin City. There have been no reports of any flooding taking place in these areas...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 119 together. The OPW completed a flood relief scheme for the Shinkeen Stream, Hazelhatch, Co Kildare in 2002. The Commissioners of Public Works also obtained sanction from the Department of Finance to provide funding to Kildare County Council for a programme of minor flood alleviation works on the Lyreen and Meadowbrook Rivers in Maynooth and on the...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works has created a Flood Hazard Maps website, www.floodmaps.ie, which carries valuable historical data on flood events, mainly from local archives, and this should be used as an interim measure by Planners and the General Public, in seeking to avoid unsustainable development. In relation to the current flood events, the Commissioners of Public Works have commissioned...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: This motion deals with a resolution to approve the draft statutory instrument entitled the Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009. The statutory instrument sets out the new bank guarantee scheme entitled the eligible liabilities guarantee, ELG, scheme. Members will recall that the enabling primary legislation was passed by the Oireachtas in June this year and that...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I thank Senators for contributing to this debate and dealing with it fairly expeditiously. It is important to emphasise that the ELG scheme will be a somewhat more targeted an approach than the CIFS scheme and that it is not a blanket extension of the guarantee. It will allow for greater and longer-term debt issuance under the guarantee, moving it towards the European model and consistent...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: When we have the banks on a firm footing they will be in a better position to lend, but they will also be in a better position to lend when underlying conditions in the economy improve. It is no function of this Government or any Government of which the Senator would be a part to put the boot into the banks-----

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: That is a totally irresponsible approach.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Senator is putting the boot into financial institutions. I am very surprised to hear a finance spokesperson of any party using a phrase like-----