Results 16,941-16,960 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: I worry about this Bill while understanding why the Government feels the need to introduce it because its back is to the wall. I agree with much of what was said by Deputy Broughan and Deputy Boyd Barrett. This is not the first time such a situation has occurred. I worry about the compensation culture which compensates businesses which run into trouble and are bailed out by the Government...

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: I do not support the motion, mainly because it "believes that commercial semi-State companies should not be privatised in part or in whole". Zealots on both sides of this argument are wrong. In particular in the situation in which the Government finds itself, one has to adopt a pragmatic attitude to the sale of State assets. In an ideal world, we would not be selling anything at all....

European Financial Stability Facility and Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: I take Deputy Donohoe's point about those who oppose this Bill having an obligation to state from where the necessary money will come, which is a fair debating point. It does not mean one cannot be critical either of what has been going on or of the bones of this Bill. However, perhaps the Opposition, like all Oppositions, should make suitable suggestions - not a popular thing to do - about...

Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: Is the Taoiseach happy to be an impotent spectator in the European solution to this problem, while others in similar positions are posing as the leaders of Europe? Is he happy to allow these individuals to speak for him?

Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: The Taoiseach who has just made a rousing rallying cry on the economy will no doubt be aware of the IMF report issued last night. It is devastating in its findings, not just with regard to the global economy but also and more particularly in respect of Europe. The chief economist of the IMF has stated it is time for Europe to get its act together. These are pretty strong words from an...

Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: The IMF has suggested - this runs counter to much of what the Taoiseach has just said - that all European countries will be obliged to surrender a great deal of their economic sovereignty if the current problem is to be solved. The Taoiseach has stated - I applaud him for it - that is that our ambition is to get ourselves out of the grasp of the IMF-EU-ECB troika and re-establish our...

Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: Perhaps the Taoiseach might answer the question I posed on sovereignty when dealing with the supplementary question I am about to ask. Will he indicate whether he is prepared, as required by the IMF, to give up our sovereignty? Is the Taoiseach satisfied that President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel should be meeting and posing as the spokespersons for Europe on a continual basis? The...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (20 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: Question 85: To ask the Taoiseach the amount of money that was spent on taxis by his Department in the past year; the amount of money that has been provided for in the next year for taxi services for his Department; the times that taxis can be used by staff members; the terms under which staff members can use taxis; the amount that was used by staff members; the amount that was used by...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (20 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: Question 98: To ask the Taoiseach the amount his Department has spent on taxis for staff and for others in each of the past four years. [23304/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: Question 86: To ask the Taoiseach the sum of any public funds and their purpose which have been awarded by his Department either directly or indirectly to the Irish Business and Employers Confederation in the past decade. [22270/11]

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (20 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: Question 87: To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide details of all appointments made by him since he came to office and include internal departmental and appointments to semi-States. [22330/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: Question 88: To ask the Taoiseach the amount of money he has paid out individually to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and if he will provide details of the tasks performed. [22331/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: Question 89: To ask the Taoiseach the amount of money that has been paid directly or indirectly from him to the ICTU and individual trades unions in the past decade; the reasons for the payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22332/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: Question 95: To ask the Taoiseach the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trader union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22619/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: Question 99: To ask the Taoiseach the details of spending, using Departmental credit cards held by Department staff over the past four years; the numbers of persons in his Department who hold credit cards; the credit limits of said cards; and the amount that was specifically spent by his Department on entertainment provided using said credit card. [23319/11]

An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011 — An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011 — Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: I find myself agreeing with many of Deputy Murphy's comments. The more I think about this Bill and the potential change to the Constitution, the more critical I am of it. In principle it is a good idea that Oireachtas committees should have powers and teeth, with the ability to uncover facts. Many of us have suffered from the fact that Oireachtas committees have tended to be theatre...

Leaders' Question (15 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: The Government did something right in regard to the ESB when it restricted the pay of its chief executive officer by way of the introduction last session of a cap on pay in semi-State bodies. People with private pensions are up in arms about the plundering of their funds through the Government's levy. Nowhere was this more evident than last week when salt was poured into the wounds of these...

Leaders' Question (15 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: I believe there is at least one more. I want an assurance that this will never happen again and that the Government will take steps to ensure those types of bonuses and pay offs are taxed at the same rate as were bankers' bonuses, and rightly so, by way of an emergency measure introduced by the previous Minister for Finance.

Leaders' Question (15 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: I accept that the Government will try to address this in the future. I suggest, however, that it will not do enough. Perhaps the Tánaiste will answer the following two supplementary questions. Should he not, in light of what has happened, abolish lump sum payments to top civil servants? Can the Tánaiste give us an assurance that no further lump sum payments will be made? The capping of...

Leaders' Question (15 Sep 2011)

Shane Ross: Will the Tánaiste ask Mr. McCarthy to give back the money?