Results 1,761-1,780 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: The Deputy has our sympathies.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

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

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: The backdrop to the budget is the serious financial situation at home and the turmoil on the global markets. Even after the budget measures are implemented the projected general Government debt is €12 billion or 6.5% of GDP. If nothing had been done the deficit would have been 8%. That has necessitated serious expenditure reductions but also €2 billion in tax increases. It will take...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: Fine Gael wants a lower borrowing requirement, no tax increases and no reductions in capital expenditure.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: It seems the entire burden is to fall on reform of the public sector, which is not capable of producing results as quickly as Fine Gael suggests.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: I well remember in 1994 the Fine Gael Party opposed the then partnership agreement and when, unexpectedly, it came into office the following year it executed very smartly a complete U-turn on the subject and supported the agreement. The reality is that the Fine Gael position——

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: ——has no support from the Labour Party benches and would not be followed through if Fine Gael were to find itself in coalition government.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: I wish to address the broad principle of the issue of the day, the withdrawal of automatic entitlement to medical cards——

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: ——for people over 70 years. Even with this measure the cost of medical cards will rise by 14% next year. I favoured its introduction, mainly on grounds of the reassurance it would give to people whose medical problems, on average, increase with age. Going back to the 1940s and the 1950s the medical profession mostly opposed, with success, the introduction of a universal health care...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: To be fair——

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: ——it obtained it. That does not mean it was the right decision.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: It was a bridge too far——

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: I am trying to argue this rationally——

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: ——as, arguably, was free university fees even for higher income brackets. In hindsight, I believe it was a mistake.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: It is not simply a question of the €100 million which will be saved this year, but the prospect of escalating costs in future years. It is important that those who left VHI schemes should be able to return without delay and with minimum difficulty.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: People comfortably situated, owning their own home with no child dependants and an income well above the State pension, can continue as previously with insurance and the various schemes that limit, reimburse or give credit for higher levels of medical expenses. I accept in individual cases financial difficulty, worry and sacrifice may be involved.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: Ultimately, it is a question of what level of social services we can provide with the sort of finances available. I regret that some people of a certain age group were given expectations which it is now not possible for us to fulfil, and this is a warning to those on all sides of the House——

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: ——that when one is in Government, one should not introduce measures which may gain considerable kudos at the time, but which prove to be unsustainable.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: Another controversial issue is the 1% levy. This was introduced albeit with a threshold both in 1983 by the Fine Gael and Labour coalition and in 1993 by the Fianna Fáil and Labour coalition.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Martin Mansergh: I remember the 1% levy in the first budget of the Fianna Fáil and Labour coalition was the centrepiece——