Results 1,601-1,620 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: It is absolutely extraordinary that this proposal could be indulged. Moreover, the lack of opposition and the manner in which it is being reported obviously reveal a situation where the Government is surrendering again. It did so with Bank of Ireland and Anglo Irish Bank and is now doing so with AIB. I appeal to the Minister not to present this as a compromise, as it is not. Were this...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: He is on that side of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: Why?

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: Just the stocks.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I wish to share time with Senator Harris.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I welcome the Minister. NAMA has been a very hard sell. This should be as non-political a debate as possible. Although I believe NAMA is wrong, the Government has approached it in a fairly non-political manner. It is genuine about the NAMA project and has not been as conscious of the political implications of its approach as it has been in other areas. This is welcome to those of us in...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I am sorry. I gave Senator Harris only so much time.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: There is a real pricing problem. The figures are simple - the pricing mechanism has benefited the banks, while the taxpayer has suffered. We all know that the taxpayer is subsidising the banks, but this would not necessarily be the case had the banks been nationalised. There would not have been a pricing problem because the assets would have belonged to the State. As I have only one minute...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I have only one other major point to make. There is a real problem with the NAMA industry. I was staggered when I saw the figures for what the State will pay out to all of the agencies involved over ten years. Will it be €2.4 billion?

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: That is in fees. The money could be spent this year instead of throwing it away to the people concerned. The Minister mentioned experts and expertise. I was a stockbroker for a long time and never came across anyone in that world who knew much about which stocks and shares to buy. This is the expertise in question. I have never come across anyone in the auctioneering world who knows how...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: This may not be unrelated to the fact that many gigs are being offered in the NAMA business. Brokers will be looking for them.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: That is corect, in which case they are guaranteed to get the work. It is the Government's line. Auctioneers will do the same. They will give NAMA the valuations it wants in return for fees. We do not need such a NAMA industry because no one will be independent, yet they will receive significant sums from the taxpayer. This activity would not be required were nationalisation involved. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I do not think anybody in the House is in favour of capital punishment. I find it extremely offensive that one of our closest allies, the United States of America, last night once again in a high profile case barbarically executed yet another person for a crime which he undoubtedly, or probably, committed, although that is irrelevant. I heard on radio this morning that some 400 people had...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I endorse much of what has been said about the appointment in AIB, news of which has leaked out in the past ten days. As Senator Alex White noted, this issue concerns authority and who makes the decisions in this country. More than six months ago the Minister for Finance and the Government made it clear that the appointment would be external. This was announced in the wake of the stunt the...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Shane Ross: I congratulate the three members of Fianna Fáil - Deputies Mulcahy, Mattie McGrath and Chris Andrews - who stated on "Morning Ireland" that they were sick and tired of the trade unions dictating both how the country should be run and how the budget should be framed. There is a message in this for everyone. The House is once again in the dark about what is happening and what will be...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Shane Ross: I am sick and tired of people in this House paying tribute to the trade union movement, particularly at a time when the latter is bringing the country to the verge of bankruptcy. In view of the fact that next week's budget is vital, it is depressing to see the Government once again jumping to the tune called by the trade unions. Decisions relating to the budget should be made by those who...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2009)

Shane Ross: Yesterday, I raised an issue which will be dear to the Leader's heart, namely, the courage of the backbenchers in his party in raising the issues which were going on in the talks up the road. I would like his response to what I regard as a very serious remark by a leader of a public service trades union yesterday, when one of them - I believe I am not meant to mention his name - went on...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2009)

Shane Ross: If the Senator and the others want to dissociate themselves from him, let us hear them say so.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2009)

Shane Ross: It tells us a lot because a public service trade unionist has told Members of the Oireachtas to shut up on issues of national importance and to leave it to him and the others. That is a serious matter. Yesterday Moody's carried out a new credit rating review of Ireland. It stated it was looking at the Irish budget next week with a view to downgrading our credit rating again. I hope to God...