Results 17,901-17,920 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Leinster Lawn (26 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: Twenty five years.

Seanad: Leinster Lawn (26 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: It is disappointing but I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: The Deputy Leader should ask his parliamentary colleague if he is prepared to take the Bill I have placed on the Order Paper concerning broadband, if I do not push it to a vote. It contains many of the things of which he and his party approve, as well as many of the things in the leaked document, as a basis for discussion and moving this matter on. We should not just sit back and talk about it.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: I endorse the call by Senator O'Toole and others for a debate on the economy. The issue of how banks deal with employees was mentioned, but we should examine the extraordinary job they have done in damaging the economy in the last few years. It ought to be realised, if it has not already been, that Irish banks in particular are disgracefully run because they are run for bankers and nobody else.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: They are run for the board and the management. That is why they have been lending recklessly and irresponsibly to people who are now in the sort of misery to which Senator Fitzgerald referred. The banks set themselves extremely undemanding, short-term targets which depend on them lending to people who cannot afford to pay them back. They get their short-term performance bonuses while the...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: I will finish with another matter which is relevant to the Order of Business and was raised by Senator Kelly. I still maintain that the broadband issue is not appreciated by Members of the Oireachtas. For some time, I was a voice in the wilderness on this matter but I am delighted to hear Members of this House who are now very vocal about it. However, a document was leaked — and I have...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: I am sorry, a Chathaoirligh, that was an aside. A legitimate and authoritative document was leaked to The Irish Times yesterday, stating how well the Government was doing. A very good Green Party Minister is involved in this. The document said the Government was proposing a paper on broadband and that it was somewhere in the Department. This was to give us the impression that something...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: I am prepared to allow Senator Regan time to reply. That would be far more entertaining. Senator Leyden remarked that the European Union has woken up to Ireland. It is about time. Confirmation of the Senator's remarks comes with the encouraging and authoritative report in today's Financial Times under the headline "Tax harmonisation on ice after Irish poll". The crux of the piece is that...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: I thank the Leader for allowing us time to reflect on the Lisbon treaty. It is especially appropriate in this House, where the issues were not properly debated before the referendum. We will be debating in somewhat of a vacuum because there is no plan B or C. There is simply no plan.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: That is one of the big problems we face because everybody, including Senator Alex White, talked down to the Irish people and was disconnected from them.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: They had no plan on what to do if this occurred. It may be a disaster for the political parties who advocated it but it is not a disaster for those who voted for it. I am somewhat tired and I do not indulge in any triumphalism because it is a difficult situation for everybody but I do not think we should say we respect the decision of the Irish people and then say they were wrong and will...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: I am about to conclude. People made a perfectly informed decision. It was just as well informed as that of Members. It is patronising to suggest that the people made their decision because they were ignorant of what was happening. Those who voted "No" and those who voted "Yes" did so for different reasons. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. There were legitimate, good reasons...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: No.

Seanad: Fuel Prices (18 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: I wish to speak about the need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the Government's plans to curtail the increase in the price of diesel fuel in light of the knock-on effect on the consumer price index. I just met a businessman whose business has a small turnover of approximately €10 million per annum. He told me that the increase in fuel prices,...

Seanad: Fuel Prices (18 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I neither accept nor reject his analysis of the reasons for the rise in the price of diesel as against that of other fuels. I just do not know whether what he said is actually the case. There are many disparate reasons for this rise and the Minister of State's assertions, which were certainly given in good faith, may be true. If the Government...

Seanad: Lisbon Treaty: Statements (18 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: I am deeply disappointed with the tone of this debate, apart from Senator's Norris's speech, which was constructive about the way forward. It is extraordinary that we have not had anybody chart the way forward or had an suggestions in that regard.

Seanad: Lisbon Treaty: Statements (18 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: It is not too early. The Minister of State should have thought of it six months ago. It seemed to have been an impossibility to the political parties that this treaty would have been beaten. So arrogant and disconnected had they become, which they admit, that they never conceived that there would be a situation like this. We are bankrupt of ideas about it. That is a terrible reflection...

Seanad: Lisbon Treaty: Statements (18 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: That is patronising rubbish. It is nonsense.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil as well.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Shane Ross: I wish to respond to what Senator Regan said. I admire the passion and dedication with which the Senator has pursued the promotion of the Lisbon treaty. However, one cannot always pick those with whom one rows in this type of a boat.