Results 18,281-18,300 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (6 Jul 2006)

Shane Ross: A motion in favour of social partnership was recently passed almost unanimously in this House. Today, the same trade union that is leading the drive for social partnership and promising industrial peace as its part of the bargain is calling a strike at Dublin Airport. We must ensure SIPTU can no longer have it both ways. These people are antediluvian in their outlook on industrial relations....

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (6 Jul 2006)

Shane Ross: Yes. I ask for a debate on the role of SIPTU in the national economy and in what is happening today. It is completely out of synch not only with IMPACT, which is behaving responsibly, but also with the workers it represents. This is a power play. When SIPTU leaders called a meeting last week, only some 40 out of 1,800 members attended. The leadership of SIPTU does not have the support of its...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Jul 2006)

Shane Ross: I endorse some of the comments of my colleagues about the dangers of a decision being made on Aer Lingus during the recess. There is a general principle involved here. I do not join the opportunist bellyaching which always comes from some parts of the House about a long recess but it would be extremely regrettable for the Government to use the recess as an opportunity for taking important...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)

Shane Ross: I thank Senator Norris for his support in respect of the Adelaide Hospital.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)

Shane Ross: I shall give the Senator equal support——

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)

Shane Ross: I endorse the call for a debate on financial institutions. It is important to realise that we are in a position of dangerous overlending. This is not exclusive to credit cards. Banks are lending people money which they will not be able to pay back, giving them a short-term injection for a long-term burden. That will be serious if the economy takes any sort of downturn. Banks lend at between...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)

Shane Ross: We call in all sorts of people under other guises.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)

Shane Ross: If the Committee on Procedure and Privileges decided it was possible it would be. The bankers have appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)

Shane Ross: In that case let us change the terms of reference. They are there to be changed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)

Shane Ross: I am making a serious point. I see no reason people of that stature and power in our society should not be answerable to parliamentary committees. There is no reason the Seanad should not call them in. While they lend so much money which will cause so much misery, some bankers draw sums of up to €2.8 million in salary per annum. That is the figure revealed for at least one banker. It would...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)

Shane Ross: Why not?

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Shane Ross: I wish to endorse the calls made by several Senators in recent weeks that the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children come to the House to discuss a variety of issues. I particularly seek a debate on the Adelaide Hospital. The leaders of the Adelaide Hospital are meeting the Taoiseach today about what they regard as a highly critical situation for the hospital. Their problem is that a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Shane Ross: None of them has even been offered a job.

Seanad: Social Partnership Agreement: Motion. (21 Jun 2006)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Social Partnership Agreement: Motion. (21 Jun 2006)

Shane Ross: I hate to break the consensus that seems to exist in this House.

Seanad: Social Partnership Agreement: Motion. (21 Jun 2006)

Shane Ross: I am suspicious of the consensus on this issue because so many people, including Charlie McCreevy, John Bruton and others had been sceptical of social partnership until they got into Government. It seems that people change their minds when they get into Government and I suspect it is a convenient tool for Government but not necessarily a good one for the country. What has been sincerely...

Seanad: Social Partnership Agreement: Motion. (21 Jun 2006)

Shane Ross: I suggest that in the main it is not true at all.

Seanad: Social Partnership Agreement: Motion. (21 Jun 2006)

Shane Ross: The reason people say this is that it is a great way of patting ourselves on the back for the economic success that has taken place. The economic success has got far more to do with two other factors — the great decision taken byDonogh O'Malley more than 40 years ago to have free education, a magnificent decision; and the other, which is less palatable to this House, is the incoming...

Seanad: Social Partnership Agreement: Motion. (21 Jun 2006)

Shane Ross: Precisely.

Seanad: Social Partnership Agreement: Motion. (21 Jun 2006)

Shane Ross: The extraordinary peculiar and inconvenient fact about that is that the multinationals are not represented at the social partnership talks. They do not have anybody at the talks. The engine of the economy has nobody at the talks. They have contempt for the talks, they do not abide by the wage agreement and do not have anything to do with it. They pay their people in a completely different...