Results 16,621-16,640 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: In fact, there would have been a saving to the Exchequer, which is the case across the transport spectrum. It is amazing. The transport sector appears to be the home of quangos - CIE, Dublin Bus and the National Roads Authority which is similar to the others in that it is being run by the Government which puts in its own people. It shows great disrespect for the transport sector which is...

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: I cannot hear the Minister of State. Will you ask him to speak up when he is interrupting me, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle?

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: That has nothing to do with me. The Sunday Independent has an editor.

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: I am sure if the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, had great talents in that aspect, he would be welcome to write for it too.

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: They have not spotted the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, yet, but they will do so.

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: There is no doubt that they will spot the Minister of State, Deputy Ring's talents one of these days, but he is still the champion heckler in this House. As long as he can retain that title, no doubt that will be enough for him. I wish to ask the Minister one or two questions about driver testing. This issue has disturbed me all my life which is getting more disturbing as I get older. Why...

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Shane Ross: She was very perceptive because when I learned to drive, roundabouts were not as common as they are now. I have to admit that when some people travel in the car with me around a roundabout, they do not feel particularly comfortable. One of them is my wife and when I woke up on the date of my birthday in July last year, I had a present of roundabout lessons in order to familiarise myself...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (1 May 2012)

Shane Ross: Question 236: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether or not HETAC is or will be taking new applications before the merger of HETAC, FETAC into the new National Qualifications Authority of Ireland; when this merger is expected to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21454/12]

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 May 2012)

Shane Ross: Question 237: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will revise the decision to delay extension works on a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21455/12]

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 May 2012)

Shane Ross: Question 301: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the original budget for the Patents Office Ptolemy computer system upon its purchase; the amount it has cost to date, including and excluding new feature requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21453/12]

Leaders' Questions (1 May 2012)

Shane Ross: Yesterday, the Government parties launched their fiscal treaty referendum campaign. There appears to be a problem of timing. Parallel to the Government's launch of its campaign, throughout Europe there is a growing clamour for economic growth. Nowhere is this more apparent than in France, where Monsieur Francois Hollande is leading the campaign for growth and has stated, ominously for...

Leaders' Questions (1 May 2012)

Shane Ross: The point I make is that it is not in the treaty and Mr. Hollande wants it to be. The Government is now campaigning for a treaty which may not be relevant in a few weeks time if Mr. Hollande and other leaders get their way. Does the Taoiseach realise that it might be better to defer the referendum, as other nations are deferring ratification in anticipation of or as a precaution against...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2012)

Shane Ross: I would like to raise an issue which emerged at the weekend about disturbing activities in the Department of Finance. I refer to a story written by Daniel McConnell and Tom Lyons in the Sunday Independent-----

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2012)

Shane Ross: -----about activities that happened in the 2005 to 2007 period.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2012)

Shane Ross: Even if this matter does not come under the auspices of the Department of the Taoiseach, I would like an assurance that such activities are not still going on. The Taoiseach may be familiar with the matter but for the benefit of the House I will explain it briefly. An assistant principal officer in the Department, who is also an economist, continually expressed warnings and reservations...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2012)

Shane Ross: This is not something I blame the Taoiseach for, but I would like to ask him this. In his view, is that conformist culture still in operation in the Department of Finance? In his own experience of a year in office has he found that there is still no room for dissent in the Department, which obviously could be to the detriment of the nation?

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2012)

Shane Ross: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. Can he give me a personal assurance that in future the woman in question will not be, as she describes herself at the moment, sidelined, ostracised or alienated in her job? She apparently feels so at the moment because of the pressures from above. I am concerned about the fact, and I would be interested in the Taoiseach's views on this, that the...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2012)

Shane Ross: I hope the Taoiseach will reassure me that this is not happening and that the Department of Finance is subject to strict scrutiny. In future, this particular woman should be assured of protection not when the whistleblowers Bill goes through, but today and from now on.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2012)

Shane Ross: As the Taoiseach was about Deputy Michael Lowry.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2012)

Shane Ross: I will read it out for the Taoiseach if he wishes.