Results 5,401-5,420 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies Data (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: While the number of bodies I would create is less than half a dozen, I would abolish 500. The Minister is absolutely correct and, of course, I do not suggest there is no need for State bodies. I simply make the point that they duplicate one another in various ways. Will the Minister tell Members about his plans for new directors - an issue which is part of the sickness of new bodies - in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies Data (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: Will it be this month?

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Measures (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: 76. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the meaning of his statement in the budget speech that Departments and agencies will now be able to manage their own staffing levels; if this means that they may employ staff at any level they require; that promotions will be on merit, that Departments will be able to create new posts without supervision or approval; and if he will...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: Out of 229?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: Does that mean all the others are behind?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: This is completely unsatisfactory, is it not? We are just living with it. It has been going on for a long time, some bodies are a year behind and they do not give two hoots because they are indulged. Last week I came across another case concerning the National Transport Authority.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: It is late as well. Bodies in the private sector and publically quoted companies have to have them within three months. That is it, or they are struck off.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: Deputy O'Donnell is absolutely right. If they were publically quoted they would lose their quotation for behaving like this. They would not be allowed to have a quotation on the market. These State agencies produce statements late, willy-nilly, and everybody indulges them. It does not matter. We get them every week and sometimes they are a year late.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: They should all be in by six months and available for the public to see. We are, as a result, quite often examining accounts which are 18 months out of date. It is ridiculous, to be quite honest. It is utterly and totally absurd. It is useless information. Deputy O'Donnell is correct. We should require that these particular stipulations of corporate governance are complied with and the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: I know.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: Is this because there has been a mushrooming of quangos? Has the workload of Mr. McCarthy's office increased because of that? This situation is getting worse, is it not? It is not getting better, this build up of semi-State agencies-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: I note that the graph to which Mr. McCarthy referred starts at 2008. Is there any way he could give us the figures for a period before 2008? I ask because I suspect, although I may be wrong, that the number of bodies to be audited increased enormously during that period and if one goes back further, the number was much smaller.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: Just a few rough figures will suffice. I do not want Mr. McCarthy to ---

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: Does Mr. McCarthy think that penalties should be introduced for those who are late?

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (18 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: 209. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to regulate the sale of gift vouchers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43739/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (18 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: 295. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the children and family relationships Bill; when it is expected to come before Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44106/14]

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: I am staggered by the tone, nature and exchanges in this debate. The unreality of what is going on here is something which I do not believe will be lost on people outside this House. I wonder why so may people marched in the first and second marches and why they will march again on 10 December. Has the Government for one moment confronted the reality that those who marched were not the...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: I am, and I am living in this bubble which the Government is creating.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: What is happening here is that we have a Minister, who has come to this House and who has only been in the House for a few weeks, talking about his legacy, which is a disaster of monumental proportions. Let us get on with talking about the people and not about him or his legacy.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Shane Ross: Let us live in the world of the people. Nowhere is it more evident than in what the Minister said.