Results 17,461-17,480 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Report Stage (3 Jun 2010)

Shane Ross: Yes, it has been a long road. The process started in this House six or seven years ago when Senator O'Toole and I said something had to be done about auctioneers. We progressed to a special commission to examine auctioneers, followed by recommendations. Whereas there are many inadequacies in the Bill, the situation is far better than it was. Not to put too fine a tooth in it, prior to...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jun 2010)

Shane Ross: I am always delighted to see the Deputy Leader of the House taking the Order of Business because he has such sympathy with the views expressed on this side of the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jun 2010)

Shane Ross: I wish to address the issue of quangos, which I know is dear to his heart. I would be grateful for his response. Indeed, Senator Boyle introduced a Bill on quangos in the other House, but voted against it in this House. That is a fair achievement in terms of acrobatics, but it is certainly something with which we can sympathise. I am seeking a debate on Anglo Irish Bank. That bank is now...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jun 2010)

Shane Ross: It seems these appointments were absolutely disgraceful. One, Mr. Aidan Eames, was a Fianna Fáil fund-raiser who was the election agent for a parliamentary candidate here on two occasions. He was also the national youth officer for Fianna Fáil in his day. The other was an insider from the banks themselves, Mr. Gary Kennedy.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jun 2010)

Shane Ross: It is all in the public arena. These are State appointments and if I cannot identify the issues, where will accountability lie? That is exactly the point I am trying to make.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jun 2010)

Shane Ross: It is absurd if I cannot identify the people who were named by the Government. If the appointment of Mr. Kennedy, who is an insider - he was with AIB at the time that the frenzy of property development was getting out of hand - cannot be examined by this House, who can examine it? If the appointment of Mr. Eames, who was appointed to this House by Mr. Haughey in years gone by, cannot be...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jun 2010)

Shane Ross: Anglo Irish Bank is now in State ownership. The appointments to the bank's board must be examined by this House.

Seanad: Whistleblowing in the Financial Sector: Statements (2 Jun 2010)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Whistleblowing in the Financial Sector: Statements (2 Jun 2010)

Shane Ross: I wish to share my time with Senator Quinn.

Seanad: Whistleblowing in the Financial Sector: Statements (2 Jun 2010)

Shane Ross: I share Senator MacSharry's last sentiments but little else of what he said. This promise of legislation is deeply disappointing. As the House knows, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. James Hamilton, made a statement on the need for whistleblower legislation on "The Week in Politics" programme. Suddenly, a week later, the Minister for Justice and Law Reform announced he would...

Seanad: Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (20 May 2010)

Shane Ross: I must admit I was staggered when I first heard the news that we were volunteering to produce in one way or another, or certainly to put ourselves on the line for €1.3 billion. I really thought there was a certain degree of unreality about Ireland which, as Senator Twomey stated, has the largest deficit in Europe and is certainly the nation which has fallen the furthest in recent times,...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2010)

Shane Ross: Yesterday I raised the issue of CIE on the Order of Business and I am grateful for the support I received from several Members of the House. However, I do not think much will happen, unless we act on the matter. I ask the Leader to consider introducing a Bill to make semi-State bodies subject to the Freedom of Information Act. It is very important that we realise semi-State bodies are not...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

Shane Ross: Will the Leader ask the Minister for Transport to come to the House as a matter of urgency? The House may not be aware of the fact that CIE is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Joint Committee on Transport. Yesterday, in a move which I believe is possibly unprecedented and is indefensible, the executive chairman of CIE wrote a letter stating that the non-executive directors...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

Shane Ross: I cannot understand how we have no political accountability-----

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

Shane Ross: -----and a Government which is prepared to stand over this and not put pressure on this board to appear before the committee.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

Shane Ross: Approximately two years ago I brought a whistleblower, Mr. Eugene McErlean, to the Joint Committee on Economic and Regulatory Affairs. It was a risk. At the committee he convinced everybody on all sides, including the bank involved, AIB, not only of his credibility and truthfulness but also of the need to introduce legislation to protect whistleblowers. Even a senior executive in AIB, whom...

Seanad: Code of Conduct for Civil Servants: Motion (12 May 2010)

Shane Ross: I second the amendment. I congratulate the Green Party Members on tabling this motion and look forward to seeing the legislation in due course. I would have been more confident that this would be followed by action had they been able to vote in this House for their own legislation on appointments to semi-State bodies. I am delighted to see the numbers of Green Party Senators in the House...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2010)

Shane Ross: I wish to comment on what Senator O'Reilly said about Seán Quinn and the Quinn Group. While everyone has sympathy for the workforce, we should not make a martyr of Seán Quinn in the process. We should not necessarily make a hero of the man because in many ways he has been a menace as regards what has happened in this country. He certainly contributed to the sinking of a bank which has...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2010)

Shane Ross: I am responding to what was said and trying to express the other point of view.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2010)

Shane Ross: If we are going to eulogise someone, I presume there is another point of view which should also be expressed and I was trying to do so. If I was out of order, I apologise, but I stand over what I said. I address the issue of Iarnród Éireann which was raised by Senators Donohoe and Buttimer. What is happening at Iarnród Éireann is absolutely incredible. The Minister for Transport stated...