Results 1,781-1,800 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Shane Ross: I was interested in the last paragraph of what the Minister had to say because he appeared to touch on a change in attitude which is the first encouraging thing I have heard in his speeches. He admitted two things. He drew attention to the power of Europe and the markets. In both cases he tipped a forelock to those two powerful elements. That is realistic and a reflection of what has been...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Shane Ross: I wish to point out, as most Members are aware, a very large march on Leinster House will take place today with perhaps 20,000 or 25,000 students. I know all politicians are coming under pressure about special pleading at present, particularly on education, hospitals and every particular area. There is a tendency when we talk about expenditure on education to look on it as current...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Shane Ross: We should note one thing, and it is not necessarily palatable to Members of the House, but much of what we have left in this economy - the engine of this economy - is down to multinationals. The energy in this economy at present is down to multinationals as is much of the hope in the economy. They will seek two things: the retention or reduction of the rate of corporate tax and an educated...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Shane Ross: I endorse what Senator O'Toole said and congratulate him on tabling this motion. I do not agree with every detail in it but the thrust of what was said about the need for Seanad reform and dramatic change is indisputable. I will not go over old arguments but the Seanad is in serious danger of extinction. That is because the main Opposition party has said that if it gets into Government, it...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2010)

Shane Ross: The frustration felt by Members about the Croke Park agreement is alarming. I agree with everything Senators Walsh, MacSharry, O'Toole and others said. Although what Mr. Kieran Mulvey said this morning on RTE was a departure for a senior member of the LRC, it was a little too gentle. He said that if nothing was done within six months, the situation would be serious, but that showed a...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Shane Ross: I was struck by the attitudes of some Members of the Opposition. It is time they started behaving like a Government because they will be in government in a short period. It is time that everyone present considered the extraordinary dangers of defeating the budget. Today is not the right time to discuss blame. There will be and there has been plenty of time for that. If the budget is...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Shane Ross: They will be changing sides in a few weeks. Responsibility has been transferred from that side to this side.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Shane Ross: This side should be discussing how to get a budget through, not how to defeat a budget or to impose a vote of confidence. We know what the result of the election will be, so it is important we do this and not damage the national interests.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Shane Ross: I plead with Opposition Members to take this stance, particularly given that Ireland is in the eye of the storm. Our nation is being looked at as the one that can stop the collapse of the entire European monetary system. We have a responsibility that goes far beyond the type of play-acting that exists in this House. I ask those on this side of the House to behave as though they are the...

Seanad: National Recovery Plan 2011-2014: Statements (24 Nov 2010)

Shane Ross: At times such as this, we all must try to play a constructive, not a destructive, role and try not to be overly critical of what is happening and what has happened. In a serious crisis, it is not helpful to come in and kick at an open goal, at a Government or Department of Finance which are both a kind of beaten docket at this stage anyway. I will try not in any way to play the blame game...

Seanad: National Recovery Plan 2011-2014: Statements (24 Nov 2010)

Shane Ross: Of course, but it is irrelevant if we do not have the biggest figure for what we will be paying annually to someone else. That will be far more important than these other cuts. The difference between 4% and 7% is enormous. The Minister of State should not shake his head. It is enormous in this context.

Seanad: National Recovery Plan 2011-2014: Statements (24 Nov 2010)

Shane Ross: I could not agree more, but sovereign debt and bank debt are the same thing, as the Minister of State knows perfectly well. If the Government is servicing the bank debt, it will come out of the taxpayers' pockets. It is the same thing in the end. The Minister of State is just playing semantics and talking technical nonsense. At the end of the day, it will come out of our pockets and will...

Seanad: National Recovery Plan 2011-2014: Statements (24 Nov 2010)

Shane Ross: It could be made up in many other places. The Minister of State knows where it has been done. He will have time to answer the question which is a fair one. Why, in the name of God, does the plan not have a programme for a sale of State assets? If we are in such an appalling situation economically and given that the ESB is worth €8 billion and Aer Rianta, €1 billion, why did the...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2010)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2010)

Shane Ross: To some extent, I endorse what Senator Donohoe and others have said about the Central Bank report. However, I am amazed that they are amazed about it. It is somewhat difficult to believe they are shocked or surprised because that is the way bankers behave. The Central Bank report was relatively mild because the bank pulls its punches when it raises these issues. In effect, the report...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2010)

Shane Ross: We should not be because it was obvious they were going to do this all along.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2010)

Shane Ross: The fault lies with the Government which now owns the banks and makes the appointments. It has full control of all the banks, including Bank of Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2010)

Shane Ross: Let us attack the culture. We should not be surprised that the banks are regrouping because that is in their nature.

Seanad: EU-IMF Programme for Ireland: Statements (2 Dec 2010)

Shane Ross: It is difficult to approach this subject. From an Independent's point of view it is even harder than it is from the Government's in some ways because the wish is that any package of this sort should be successful. Indeed, there is a reluctance on the part of Opposition Members even to oppose it in its entirety or to criticise it because it appears that one may be in danger - I do not...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2011: Statements (8 Dec 2010)

Shane Ross: As a veteran of many budget debates in this House, I am reasonably used to the pattern of such debates, namely, the Government spokespersons speak about the parts of the budget of which they approve and the Opposition spokespersons speak about the parts of it about which they can be critical and which hurt individual sectors. While this is not a difficult game to play, it is much more...