Results 1,341-1,360 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Infrastructure Stimulus Package: Motion (28 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: There is talk of a stimulus but what is unclear is the level of additionality.

Infrastructure Stimulus Package: Motion (28 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Deputy Coveney referred to a return to rapid growth, but given the experience of recent years it is more important to achieve a recovery to sustainable growth. Much of the policy document seems to be based on the distinction between the Exchequer borrowing requirement and the public sector borrowing requirement and I am unsure if there is any validity in that. With regard to Deputy Coveney's...

Leaders' Questions (28 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Some of us catch the bus.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (23 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: In August 2007, following several years of negotiations, a contract was entered into for the purchase of the majority of land-holding interest on the Island from the owners, Blascaod Mór Teoranta. The final arrangements for the purchase were completed in February this year. The purchase included the lands and associated rights, including ferry rights. Subject to the availability of...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (23 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: In November 2008, the Office of Public Works responded to a general enquiry in relation to the process for seeking OPW's consent for works to the bridge in question under Section 50 of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. A formal application for consent, together with supporting documentation, was submitted to the OPW on 23 February 2009 and it is currently being examined. A decision on the...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (23 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works, which is under my responsibility as Minister of State, is not responsible for the maintenance of roads.

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I wish to share time with the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews.

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: A Social Welfare Bill is usually for the purpose of resetting rates post budget and there is an element of that in this Bill. However, in broad terms, the purpose of the Bill is to underpin the social welfare system, which it is very important to do, through sustainable public finances. The fact is that in the supplementary budget the rates enjoyed by the vast majority of social welfare...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: -----about it being heartless, savage and hitting the poorest of the poor. It was done, defended and voted on, even by as passionate a person as Deputy Michael D. Higgins, during the mid-1980s. Sometimes the rhetoric we use in this House is overblown and not particularly consistent with what was done by parties in government. As we know, the public finances are very stretched at the moment....

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Officials at the Office of Public Works met with Kildare County Council on 13 March 2009 as part of the Steering Group overseeing this project. It was agreed, in the light of the outcome of the preliminary investigations that had been undertaken, that OPW and Kildare County Council would continue to work together towards completing a detailed design for the proposed works. The Local...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The vendor of the site acquired for the new Garda Station provided the connection to the public foul sewer as required under the conditions of the Contract for Sale. Completion of the necessary licensing requirements is in train. The site is available for construction to begin, subject to the availability of necessary funding and prioritisation by the Garda Authorities.

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I thank all Senators who have contributed to this debate. Tuesday's supplementary budget was produced against an extremely serious international and domestic background. It was designed to address a set of unique, complex and difficult problems in our public finances, banking system and labour market as well as to restore our competitiveness, economic confidence and international...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: It might surprise the Senator but he did not actually mention Ministers. I am sure Senator Twomey would have done so.

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Senator Norris suggested doubling betting tax while Senator Quinn pointed out that when the tax was reduced in earlier years, the tax yield increased. In an era of Internet betting, an increase in the tax on betting would not necessarily provide an increased yield and might well be counterproductive. Senator Norris asked why we would not raise income tax rates in the middle of the year....

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I will have to examine the point made by Senator Twomey. I no longer remember the argument he made. The past seven months were a period of great financial and economic crisis. I have come to the House on many occasions. I appreciate that Senators would have preferred if the Minister for Finance could have come to the House. I thank Senators for their courtesy.

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed). (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The coming together of financial, banking and economic crises, part-global, part-domestic confronts this State with one of the biggest challenges to its independence that it has ever faced. In its suddenness and scale of overall impact it came upon us completely unexpectedly, even if a few people had anticipated individual elements such as the housing crash. The supplementary budget...

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed). (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: While capital investment is important, the severity of the deterioration in the public finances inevitably means there will be a significant delay in the delivery and completion of the national development plan. When we had the resources over the last ten years, it enabled us to go full speed ahead on improving many deficient aspects of our infrastructure. The completion of the national...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: This budget has been prepared against a background of very weak international economic and financial conditions and deterioration in domestic demand and the public finances. It sets out the Government's plan for the renewal of our economy over the next five years which can be built on to secure sustainable economic progress for the long term. Arising from the deterioration in global...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Yes, I presume copies are coming.

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Mansergh: We must protect the jobs we have and invest in retraining; support and stimulate economic confidence as much as we can within the resources available; and restore our reputation abroad. Foremost in our minds has been the achievement of fairness in taking the measures in this budget. We have been guided by the principle that everyone should contribute according to their means. For instance,...