Results 401-420 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: I understand a Senator may not introduce a Bill to amend the Constitution.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: That is correct.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: Will the Leader decode that statement for those of us who are a little simple?

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: I am sorry to welcome the Minister to the House in these circumstances. I regret the situation in which she finds herself, which is probably very difficult for her. Good, real and raw politics is being played in this House today. The Minister finds herself locked into and having to back up a decision taken by her predecessor and of which she probably does not approve. As the college is in her...

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: Mr. MacSharry was mentioned in the briefing in a semi-complimentary way.

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: The lesson here is that the former Minister, Mr. Ray MacSharry, continues to have enormous influence and can pull a stroke for Sligo. It is quite obvious to anybody looking at the evidence that this decision was made on purely political grounds. The previous Minister wrote a letter confirming the decision on his last day in office to ensure it could not be reversed by Deputy Hanafin. Somebody...

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: I did not interrupt other speakers.

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: I am aware I am wandering into injury time. I ask the Minister to think of the good of the students. This places an enormous imposition on students, most of whom come from Leinster and Munster, who will have to pay the maintenance and travel costs associated with living away from home. They are the hidden costs which are not considered when political strokes of this nature are pulled. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: I will take the Order of Business on behalf of the Independents in the absence of most of my colleagues.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: I ask the Leader to arrange an urgent and early debate on Aer Lingus, a topic which has risen to the fore in the past few days. I hope it will not expose a difference between the Progressive Democrats and Fianna Fáil but there is such a danger. The debate needs to take place immediately because Willie Walsh, the chief executive of Aer Lingus, appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: That is rubbish.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: That is his master's voice.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: I raise an issue which has been causing me an enormous amount of concern in recent times. It is that despite the setting up of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority to examine the activities of the banks, this body appears to be failing to police them properly. The House may or may not be aware that, although IFSRA is doing a particularly conscientious job, it is failing to detect...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: I ask the Leader to invite the relevant Minister here to review, not necessarily by way of a motion but by way of questions or statements, the progress of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority and to suggest remedies for the continuing scandals, including the one involving this charity, which continue to hit the financial services sector.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (20 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Kidnapping of Irish Citizen: Motion. (21 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: I add my voice to the unanimity behind this motion. It is difficult for anybody to say much in this situation. I am doubtful of the value of having a debate not because of any wrongful intent, but because, by making public statements, we may add to the appetite of the kidnappers when they find they are having an effect around the world. I feel slightly ambivalent about this entire business...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (21 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: Some years ago the former Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Ken Whitaker, stood for election to the educational panel of the Seanad and he got what was considered to be a derisory vote. He had been a distinguished Member in 1981 having been appointed by the then Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald. He was not re-appointed but he felt later that he would still like to serve in the House. He stood for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: I welcome the fact that the European Parliament is centre stage. While it is a wonderful day that events in Europe have caused controversy in the House and aroused strong feelings, we are discussing them in something of a vacuum. I ask the Leader, who I know has made some efforts in this regard, to ensure the House has available to it an information channel which allows Senators to find out...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

Shane Ross: Yes, that is the reason we could have him back here. I do not know if the Taoiseach would welcome that, but the Leader could relate to him the expressions of some Members of this House that, given that Deputy McCreevy will be unemployed for the next month, he could play a role here which could be of benefit to the Government, the Taoiseach and all those who promoted him so enthusiastically...