Results 18,301-18,320 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

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

Shane Ross: The other point about democracy is that we should ask who these people represent. Both IBEC and ICTU are imposters. IBEC does not represent business. Senator Feighan said he was not represented by IBEC, he has a small business. IBEC represents all the big banks and the semi-States. They are their principal paymasters and the people who are pulling the strings. ISME is not represented. Who do...

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

Shane Ross: ——every day are looking to their unions to see them negotiate their deals in Government Buildings. They do not give two hoots about this deal but these two imposters go to Government Buildings and negotiate much more than a pay deal. Senator Cox eloquently broadened the agenda enormously to include housing, old age and education. These people are not only negotiating a pay deal, they are...

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

Shane Ross: That goes through every single area of the public service.

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

Shane Ross: That is a cheap jibe.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

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

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

Shane Ross: I do not understand how anybody with sympathy for the young people of this country could disagree with the sentiments expressed in the motion. It is one of the great problems of the success of the Celtic tiger that the property market has taken off to such an extent that so many people cannot afford to buy houses. It is an issue the Government has been unable to address successfully. The...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Shane Ross: I thank Senator Norris for sharing time. I wish to state how enormously relieved all Members, not least the Minister, are at the result of the case. To some extent, we are speaking in a vacuum because neither the Minister nor his officials know the grounds on which the Supreme Court made its judgment, whether this will be followed by a series of attempts by others to be released or whether...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Shane Ross: This legislation is flawed, because age-related legislation is, almost by definition, flawed. It is unfashionable to use age as a criterion when deciding on many issues and this applies particularly to older people in relation to driving and so on — ageism is frequently condemned. However, regarding young people, we need to consider the issue. The Minister has a difficulty because we...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 May 2006)

Shane Ross: I refer to an important issue that has been raised so many times that I am tired of raising it. The British Prime Minister made a speech on nuclear waste and nuclear energy last night. In the height of arrogance in dealing with the Irish republic, he decided to approve another generation of nuclear plants in the United Kingdom. This morning the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 May 2006)

Shane Ross: Yes.

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (16 May 2006)

Shane Ross: If the Minister tells me not to worry and states the members will all be appointed because they know a lot about road safety and transport, I will just tell him I do not believe him — that is no reflection on him. The experience of those of us in politics and others is that politicians appoint their friends and relations to boards, even to the boards of the most vital, sensitive State...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (16 May 2006)

Shane Ross: Why are such declarations not made in the same way Members of the Oireachtas declare interests, available to the public? Why is there one law for political favourites and another for Members of the Oireachtas? These declarations should be utterly transparent.

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (16 May 2006)

Shane Ross: They are all political appointees. The fact that they have other qualifications is camouflage and makes no difference. Members of the Progressive Democrats are the worst offenders for this behaviour and have their snouts in the trough to the same extent as Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (16 May 2006)

Shane Ross: If that is the case, why have the party's friends been appointed?

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (16 May 2006)

Shane Ross: As the Progressive Democrats do in all cases.

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (16 May 2006)

Shane Ross: It is because they are the Senator's constituents.

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (16 May 2006)

Shane Ross: Senator Dardis is a nominee of the Taoiseach. He got in through the back door but he hopes local public representatives might be his constituents in the future.

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (16 May 2006)

Shane Ross: I thank Senator Quinn for sharing his time with me. It is somewhat dangerous for us all to stand around and preach about bad driving because I do not believe there is anyone in this Chamber who is not a sinner in one way or another. I have accumulated penalty points myself as a result of some minor speeding offences. While I believe it is essential that restrictive measures be introduced and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Shane Ross: I wish to associate myself with the remarks of everyone who paid tribute to Archbishop Eames and to echo the words of Senator Maurice Hayes. It must be immensely frustrating to be a clergyman in Northern Ireland where the only weapons one possesses are words to be used against the weapons of action used by politicians and the real weapons used by paramilitaries. Archbishop Eames wielded what...

Seanad: National Pensions Reserve Fund: Motion. (3 May 2006)

Shane Ross: After the NTMA was set up, its chief executive, Mr. Michael Somers, and the Minister for Finance used to hold annual press conferences. The Minister used to sit and glory in the performance of the agency and he attracted a great deal of press publicity because there was nothing else to cover on 31 December. Every year he and the chief executive stated how wonderfully the agency had performed...