Results 261-280 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: The Senator will not be getting that for a long time, not even from the NUJ. When we talk about the role of the unions in the airports, we must remember that it was they who closed them down when Ryanair was embroiled in controversy. The unions did not show loyalty and sacrifice when it was needed and did a huge amount of damage to the image of Ireland abroad when they closed down the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: Rubbish.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: At the end of all that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: I seem to be the only person who has not had a letter from anyone in Dingle this week, and I never heard much sense come out of Dingle yet.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: Perhaps I might follow the spokesman for SIPTU, Commissioner O'Toole.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: I endorse what most sensible people in the House have said today, namely, that there is a real danger of a political strike next week. I ask that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, come to the House at an early stage, presumably today or tomorrow, to explain the situation to us and what stance he is taking under the threat, which is very serious. It is a political strike whose...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: SIPTU is well represented in this House.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: It is well represented.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: Perhaps I might finish without interruption, a Chathaoirligh. I ask that the Minister——

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: ——come into this House, be given a fair hearing by the representatives of SIPTU and the rest of the Senators and explain what Government policy is and that we will not yield to such threats.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: Not really.

Seanad: Appointments to Semi-State Bodies: Motion. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: I move: That Seanad Éireann calls on the Government to reform the practice of making political appointments to semi-State bodies. This motion addresses the issue of political appointments to semi-State bodies. The Minister has had responsibility for certain such bodies in the past and will know they are very peculiar creatures. For the purposes of this debate, they have two relevant...

Seanad: Appointments to Semi-State Bodies: Motion. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: The Minister can claim or disclaim him as he chooses, but he was to be seen at Fianna Fáil fundraisers to beat the band, and the Minister knows that as well as me.

Seanad: Appointments to Semi-State Bodies: Motion. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: That is true, and Fianna Fáil likes to appoint such people in response; that is what they did. I am sorry, but there were others.

Seanad: Appointments to Semi-State Bodies: Motion. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: I will come to that.

Seanad: Appointments to Semi-State Bodies: Motion. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: I am not doing so at all.

Seanad: Appointments to Semi-State Bodies: Motion. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: Anyone watching the recent "Prime Time" programme on television will have seen, to his great credit, Mr. Hugh Byrne, an ex-Minister for Fianna Fáil in the last Government. He turned up as chairmen of Bord Iascaigh Mhara on a very nice salary and with very nice perks. It was quite obviously a consolation prize for loss of office. However, Mr. Byrne let the cat out of the bag. He let it be...

Seanad: Appointments to Semi-State Bodies: Motion. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: Senator Mansergh will no doubt also get such a position when he loses his seat. He should not worry, for he will be well looked after. The Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, has looked after lesser people than the Senator. He would even secure such an appointment on the basis of some talent.

Seanad: Appointments to Semi-State Bodies: Motion. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: All parties have engaged in this practice.

Seanad: Appointments to Semi-State Bodies: Motion. (10 Mar 2004)

Shane Ross: One need only look at VHI. One could hardly wander down its corridors without bumping into a Fine Gael trustee, because they were on the board. The system is abused by Labour, the Progressive Democrats and everyone, but it is time it ended because semi-State bodies and the political process suffer. There is deep public cynicism about the practice, and that is proper. Under the last coalition...