Results 17,421-17,440 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: If we achieve success in protesting about the Iran case, we must also do it to our traditional friends and allies.

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Banking Sector) Order 2010: Motion (8 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to explain this. I welcome the fact the commission is being set up. It is obviously required after the two earlier reports. There is a danger that we will have five reports in the same area fairly shortly, including the Honohan report and the Regling-Watson report. The Minister of State can correct me if I am wrong but there will be...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Banking Sector) Order 2010: Motion (8 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: I apologise. I did not realise I was taking other Senators' time. If the inquiry is restricted to that period of time, it will tend to restrict itself to the fallen personalities rather than the present ones, and personalities are important. One of the values of the report will be that the commission will be in a position to criticise those people who are exercising power in the banks at...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Banking Sector) Order 2010: Motion (8 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: No.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: I do not know whether Senator Quinn seconded Senator Mullen's motion.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: I support it. I have no hesitation in saying I will be voting in favour of the civil partnership Bill and have no problems with it. However, like Senators Quinn and Mullen I cannot understand why there should be a whip on this Bill. Particularly in this House it is important that we show respect for people on the other side of the argument and recognise the very strong feelings in all...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: I am staggered by what Senator MacSharry said. I do not know whether he ever heard of the Drumcondra mafia. It was not possible to be a member of the Drumcondra mafia without being a member of a State board. Perhaps it just happens that they were all incredibly qualified to sit on the boards to which they were appointed. However, it is fair enough to point out that this is an abuse that...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: There was at least one member of that group on the board-----

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: -----of the Central Bank, so Senator MacSharry should be careful.

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: Correct. I was making exactly that point. One only needs to look at the performance of the coterie that surrounded the last Taoiseach to know that every single one of them was slotted in to a position on one of the semi-State boards for which, in many cases, they were blatantly unsuited and under-qualified. It is absurd to maintain that that sort of thing was not going on. It was going on...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: No one is suggesting that.

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: The Minister has given them enough already.

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: This is a fine Bill in many ways but section 18CA of Schedule 1, which deals with the membership of the Central Bank commission, badly damages its credibility. We addressed this issue on Second Stage. The most important part of this Bill is the commission and the Central Bank will be judged by its performance and personnel. If a Government ever had an opportunity to act in a new way, this...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: I agree Fine Gael does the same thing, as does the Labour Party. It just happens that Fianna Fáil does it more often because it has been in power longer. The entire State apparatus is in its hands as a result.

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: Ten out of ten for performing in Fianna Fáil's own interest.

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: I agree that nobody should be excluded simply on the basis of membership of a political party but dozens of people who are qualified to sit on the Central Bank commission have no association with political parties. The suspicion that those who are closely associated with political parties can be relied on to do what their party demands rather than serve the interest of the State will be held...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: Having stuck rigidly to the issue, I plead with the Minister to think again on the Schedule and establish a system which separates the party in power from these appointments by at least one remove. I do not mind how he achieves this but the issue is of the utmost importance. I assume the appointments will be made in the next week or thereabouts. I ask the Minister to give some assurance...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: I came into the House with my mind made up about how to vote on this Bill and I am now undecided. It is rare for people to say that in this House. I have listened to the Minister and Senators Donohoe and MacSharry. There are two ways of considering this Bill and I am now considering it both ways. One is to say it is the first of three extremely constructive and very important measures...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: That is my point; he is a former Senator from the Fianna Fáil Party. He has a loyalty to a party which we could do without while occupying a crucial position. That is why the appointments were bad. Thousands of people were available and capable, but we had to come up with the ultimate insider in the banking system and an insider in Fianna Fáil. That is why I have problems with the Bill....

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 Jul 2010)

Shane Ross: What percentage of the vote did the Green Party achieve? It is putting its own people in CIE, as well as here, there and everywhere. The people concerned are identifiably loyal to the party. This is a pity and a flaw in the system. The Bill offered us an opportunity to part company with that principle. The Minister outlined the protection given by the Joint Committee on Finance and the...