Results 2,541-2,560 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2012)

Shane Ross: I will read it out for the Taoiseach if he wishes.

Leaders' Questions (1 May 2012)

Shane Ross: Yesterday, the Government parties launched their fiscal treaty referendum campaign. There appears to be a problem of timing. Parallel to the Government's launch of its campaign, throughout Europe there is a growing clamour for economic growth. Nowhere is this more apparent than in France, where Monsieur Francois Hollande is leading the campaign for growth and has stated, ominously for...

Leaders' Questions (1 May 2012)

Shane Ross: The point I make is that it is not in the treaty and Mr. Hollande wants it to be. The Government is now campaigning for a treaty which may not be relevant in a few weeks time if Mr. Hollande and other leaders get their way. Does the Taoiseach realise that it might be better to defer the referendum, as other nations are deferring ratification in anticipation of or as a precaution against...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (1 May 2012)

Shane Ross: Question 236: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether or not HETAC is or will be taking new applications before the merger of HETAC, FETAC into the new National Qualifications Authority of Ireland; when this merger is expected to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21454/12]

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 May 2012)

Shane Ross: Question 237: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will revise the decision to delay extension works on a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21455/12]

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 May 2012)

Shane Ross: Question 301: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the original budget for the Patents Office Ptolemy computer system upon its purchase; the amount it has cost to date, including and excluding new feature requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21453/12]

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: I welcome the motivation behind the Bill. I believe there is all-party support for this genuine attempt to bring down the number of deaths on the roads. No one could quarrel with the idea that we should more stringently and strictly test commercial vehicles, which are responsible for so many of the fatalities and accidents on our roads. Having welcomed the Bill, however, I question the...

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: It talks about him having a degree in civil engineering and being in Macra na Feirme, but it does not mention his great qualification-----

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: -----which is that he is regional organiser for Fine Gael. Why does it not say that? It is the most interesting thing about him. The annual report says the other appointee is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, something that is of dubious repute but which he regards as enormously important. He works as a financial controller. Again, the report does not say...

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: I am reading from the annual report, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. There cannot be anything wrong with that. They wrote it themselves. I am not blaming the Minister especially for this because his predecessors did it too. The people before him appointed party people as well. Members of the Government cannot resist the temptation, despite their commitment to ensuring cronyism would go from...

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: In fact, there would have been a saving to the Exchequer, which is the case across the transport spectrum. It is amazing. The transport sector appears to be the home of quangos - CIE, Dublin Bus and the National Roads Authority which is similar to the others in that it is being run by the Government which puts in its own people. It shows great disrespect for the transport sector which is...

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: I cannot hear the Minister of State. Will you ask him to speak up when he is interrupting me, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle?

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: That has nothing to do with me. The Sunday Independent has an editor.

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: I am sure if the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, had great talents in that aspect, he would be welcome to write for it too.

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: They have not spotted the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, yet, but they will do so.

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: There is no doubt that they will spot the Minister of State, Deputy Ring's talents one of these days, but he is still the champion heckler in this House. As long as he can retain that title, no doubt that will be enough for him. I wish to ask the Minister one or two questions about driver testing. This issue has disturbed me all my life which is getting more disturbing as I get older. Why...

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: She was very perceptive because when I learned to drive, roundabouts were not as common as they are now. I have to admit that when some people travel in the car with me around a roundabout, they do not feel particularly comfortable. One of them is my wife and when I woke up on the date of my birthday in July last year, I had a present of roundabout lessons in order to familiarise myself...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: Question 121: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 596 the action he intends to take to prevent increased instances of identity theft, in view of a case involving the identities of deceased Irish children being used by fraudsters to make illegal insurance claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22256/12]

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 May 2012)

Shane Ross: I welcome the Bill. The key question in respect of it was asked by Deputy White, who inquired as to why the Dormant Accounts Board was established in the first instance. The Deputy was too polite to answer that question or even to make a political point in respect of it. However, he pointed us in the direction of realising that this particular body was unnecessary. There was an...

Leaders' Questions (9 May 2012)

Shane Ross: The European financial and political establishment has been rocked by the events of the past few days. The euro is again under attack this morning and is down below €1.30 to the dollar and the banks in Spain are in meltdown. However, it is on the political front that there has been a major game-changer, namely, what the establishment will regard as an inconvenient outbreak of democracy in...