Results 17,561-17,580 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I do not think anybody in the House is in favour of capital punishment. I find it extremely offensive that one of our closest allies, the United States of America, last night once again in a high profile case barbarically executed yet another person for a crime which he undoubtedly, or probably, committed, although that is irrelevant. I heard on radio this morning that some 400 people had...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: Just the stocks.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I wish to share time with Senator Harris.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I welcome the Minister. NAMA has been a very hard sell. This should be as non-political a debate as possible. Although I believe NAMA is wrong, the Government has approached it in a fairly non-political manner. It is genuine about the NAMA project and has not been as conscious of the political implications of its approach as it has been in other areas. This is welcome to those of us in...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I am sorry. I gave Senator Harris only so much time.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: There is a real pricing problem. The figures are simple - the pricing mechanism has benefited the banks, while the taxpayer has suffered. We all know that the taxpayer is subsidising the banks, but this would not necessarily be the case had the banks been nationalised. There would not have been a pricing problem because the assets would have belonged to the State. As I have only one minute...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I have only one other major point to make. There is a real problem with the NAMA industry. I was staggered when I saw the figures for what the State will pay out to all of the agencies involved over ten years. Will it be €2.4 billion?

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: That is in fees. The money could be spent this year instead of throwing it away to the people concerned. The Minister mentioned experts and expertise. I was a stockbroker for a long time and never came across anyone in that world who knew much about which stocks and shares to buy. This is the expertise in question. I have never come across anyone in the auctioneering world who knows how...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: This may not be unrelated to the fact that many gigs are being offered in the NAMA business. Brokers will be looking for them.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: That is corect, in which case they are guaranteed to get the work. It is the Government's line. Auctioneers will do the same. They will give NAMA the valuations it wants in return for fees. We do not need such a NAMA industry because no one will be independent, yet they will receive significant sums from the taxpayer. This activity would not be required were nationalisation involved. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: He is on that side of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: Why?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I wish to address a peripheral matter. I was absolutely staggered when I read in yesterday and today's newspapers that after its stand-off with the Minister for Finance, Allied Irish Banks was about to appoint an insider as its executive chairman. Of all lessons to be learned, I would have thought the banks and the Minister had learned that the single thing one did not want was an insider...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: It is absolutely extraordinary that this proposal could be indulged. Moreover, the lack of opposition and the manner in which it is being reported obviously reveal a situation where the Government is surrendering again. It did so with Bank of Ireland and Anglo Irish Bank and is now doing so with AIB. I appeal to the Minister not to present this as a compromise, as it is not. Were this...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Shane Ross: I endorse everything Senator Bradford said and support the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senators Mullen and Quinn. The House has a serious responsibility which we continuously funk, which is to make immediate decisions on matters which are relevant. We are always discussing and condemning after the event. We have an opportunity to give a certain amount of leadership and...

Seanad: Denominational Schools (28 Oct 2009)

Shane Ross: I thank Senator Buttimer for sharing time. There is a very strong campaign to reverse the proposed decision to withdraw the grant for Protestant schools. I endorse what Senator Buttimer said. It seems extraordinary that the Attorney General has suddenly found that the grant may be unconstitutional. It might be unconstitutional to withdraw it when it has been in place for 40 years. I...

Seanad: Denominational Schools (28 Oct 2009)

Shane Ross: The Minister of State is both.

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Order for Second Stage (28 Oct 2009)

Shane Ross: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Shane Ross: I would first like to congratulate Senator Boyle on the introduction of this Bill in the Dáil in 2007. It should be noted that this Bill is identical, bar the date, to the one introduced by the Green Party and supported by all members of that party in the Dáil debate. On this side of the House, therefore, those of us supporting it are expecting a certain consistency from them. I am sure...

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear.