Results 1,141-1,160 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2007)

Shane Ross: Leinster lawn was once a lovely park, a green space, which was temporarily made into a car park some years ago. We are all at fault because we all drive and the car park is chock a block every single day. We could give an example to the public if we were to put restrictions on ourselves and on the staff of this House. We look after the internal fabric of Leinster House magnificently. The...

Seanad: Government's Irish Aid Strategy: Statements (13 Nov 2007)

Shane Ross: I wish to speak fairly favourably about the Government's overseas development aid programme. I pay tribute to various people who contributed so strongly towards it. While I welcome the Minister of State's arrival to this House, it is only appropriate to pay tribute to his predecessor who did so much and committed so much of his time and idealism towards the goal of Irish aid increasing...

Seanad: Pension Provision: Motion (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Shane Ross: I welcome this very timely debate. It is a bit of an old chestnut which comes up from time to time but nothing ever seems to happen. We debate pensions every few years but there does not seem to be any dramatic movement. We seem to say the same things and be somewhat impatient. I welcome the Minister's speech because he has an understanding of, and perhaps even a sense of urgency about,...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Shane Ross: I want to respond to something Senator Regan said yesterday. He raised a serious issue in the context of remarks about the Taoiseach which were not relevant. Perhaps it would be appropriate for the House could discuss the new EU treaty at an early stage. It has nothing to do with the Taoiseach's suitability. Senator Regan's comments yesterday were based on the assumption that all parties...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: I was struck by an issue raised by Senators Alex White and Hannigan. It is a serious issue not because of the detail but because of the principle. I refer to what is happening on the M50 today. Senator Alex White pointed out that the National Roads Authority is holding some kind of hearing and that an appeal is going through. I thought that battle had been won and that the State had...

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: I move: That Seanad Éireann deplores the failure of the Government to ensure broadband access in every home and business in Ireland. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Tony Killeen, for being here. This is very serious issue and I raise it for the second time in 13 months, which most unusual. Broadband is one of the ignored issues of the Oireachtas. I am absolutely staggered by the...

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: There is a mindset in this House and among the Government and Civil Service that broadband somehow can be put on the back burner. I wish the Minister of State would give us a commitment tonight that within a very short period of time, he will not blame Eircom for not unbundling the loop, because that is disgraceful, but make it unbundle it. He should not blame someone else. The buck stops...

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: We tabled an identical one a year ago and nothing has happened.

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: The Deputy did not vote for that either.

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: On a matter of interest, we moved an identical motion a year ago. What the Deputy said is extraordinary.

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: The Deputy said this motion has been introduced a year too late but we tabled one a year ago. Was the Deputy not here?

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: I understand the Minister would like to speak. He is welcome to use some of the time available to me to respond to the points Senators have raised.

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: I thank the Minister for putting in a pretty unorthodox performance. I have never known two Ministers to address the House on any issue of Private Members' Business but he is welcome to do so. I am not happy with the response. The overwhelming flavour of the response was one of complacency. What I find so extraordinary, not about the terms of the amendment because Governments do those...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: If I may, I would like to say something about the lunch.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: Senator Harris's memory is accurate, but it is highly selective.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: He was speaking about the issue of talent in the Seanad. That was the only issue at lunch about which there was any consensus. I am very grateful to him for painting such a selective picture of what actually happened. His introduction of Christmas cheer was as premature as was his own exit from that lunch yesterday. As Members can imagine, there was agreement among the selected diners...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: I offer seasonal greetings to everybody, which I gather is traditional at this time. I thank all those Senators who sent me Christmas cards——

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2007)

Shane Ross: ——whom I have not yet met.