Results 181-200 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross
- Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (6 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: The Minister of State does not get the hint.
- Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: Perhaps I am wrong but I thought we had agreed to finish at 1 p.m
- Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Antarctic Treaty. (6 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: This matter, which relates to the need for Ireland to accede to the Antarctic treaty, is familiar to the Minister. When I started exploring this subject, I was amazed that we had not acceded to a treaty now 44 years old. Perhaps the Minister will enlighten me but I could discover no reasons we should not have acceded to a treaty obviously drawn up for the good of mankind. I hope the...
- Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Antarctic Treaty. (6 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, for his full reply and for not sticking too slavishly to his script. There is one point that I do not understand. Government policy appears to be that the Antarctic should be considered as what he calls "the common heritage of mankind" and, therefore, would be treated in a manner analogous to outer space. Is the Government pursuing that policy in...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: The Senator always was.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: If the Cathaoirleach wants to continue I will not interrupt him. I support the call by Senator Ryan for a debate on Aer Rianta as it is important to hold one at this time. I travelled through Dublin Airport on Monday. It is a complete shambles. While Senator Ryan and I might not agree about the direction Aer Rianta and airports should take, the consumer is suffering as a result of the...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: I seek the guidance of the Chair on whether it is in order for me to agree with the suggestion of Senator Norris that the Minister for Defence, Deputy Michael Smith, should resign.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: I will not say it then. This brings me to the health issue raised by Senator O'Toole. It is a serious issue, which should be debated in this House. I fundamentally disagree with the Senator about taking issues such as this away from this House or from democratic institutions. It may be a matter of regret when Ministers want to go on solo runs. The idea that vital policy issues should not be...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: We are not going to, Cathaoirleach, because mine is the last speech. It is nearly 11 o'clock. It is a vast sum of money, which could be used for all sorts of other priorities which do not involve a cheap gibe from the Labour benches, or remarks of that sort. We should be able to say courageously, as Senator Brian Hayes and his party has said, that public servants are a privileged group and...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: Not all of us.
- Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: Who wrote the script for the Senator?
- Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: Did they read the script?
- Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: The Labour Party has done us a service in tabling this motion, which I support. My immediate reaction was this was probably another motion in support of high spending without provision for accountability or costing. However, I am convinced by the arguments that it supports low or targeted spending on vulnerable people, with which Senators on this side of the House agree. This is not a...
- Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: They are fighting about tax free money from one stallion.
- Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: This is the unacceptable face of capitalism since I guess that sum could pay for all these cuts. It is patently unjust. They can afford to go to court about money which they do not need by employing extremely expensive lawyers while people are suffering serious hardship. This points to the fact that such perfectly legal tax loopholes are socially unacceptable. As long as people with...
- Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: The editor is employed by those people and can be moved or removed. The people taking these vast amounts of money, more than â¬300,000 per annum, are the same people who were entrusted as the guardians of the high ethics of this trust. The guardians of these high ethics are the guardians of the vulnerable. Politicians should point out these sorts of things and I thank the Labour Party for...
- Seanad: Book of Estimates 2004: Statements. (26 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: I wish to share my time with Senator Norris.
- Seanad: Book of Estimates 2004: Statements. (26 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: I should begin by responding to Senator Mansergh's comments. While I agree with much of what he said, I wish to put on the record that I found it very unconvincing when he said that the Minister and the Government decided to take the stance they did on the issue of the Stability and Growth Pact because it was a pragmatic decision. I am always suspicious of people who talk about pragmatic...
- Seanad: Book of Estimates 2004: Statements. (26 Nov 2003)
Shane Ross: The Senator is correct in that it was a pragmatic decision, but I believe it was the wrong one. It appears very straightforward. These countries were in breach of the pact. One cannot just tear it up if it does not suit at any stage in one's political programme. There were two reasons for this. The first is probably that Ireland will soon assume the European Presidency and the Minister, for...