Results 18,401-18,420 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: I want to refer to one or two of the issues addressed by the Minister of State today, because it is a very serious subject. I have not much time to quote from the Minister of State's speech, but he made a cardinal mistake. Both he and Senator O'Toole advocated social partnership and then cited the great benefits the economy has reaped in the last few years. They go straight to quod est...

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: However, let us look at the overall economy and who participates in social partnership because I suggest this is a very convenient confidence trick for which a great many people are falling. I have pointed out here before that the trades unions as portrayed in these social partnerships are supposedly representing the entire workforce. They do not although they give this impression and are...

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: That is right, Independent Newspapers, as well, and the semi-States——

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: The big paymasters of IBEC are the semi-States, Aer Rianta, Aer Lingus, the ESB, RTE, which all pay well over €100,000 a year into IBEC's coffers. Can anyone tell me that these people somehow represent small business, the backbone of this economy, or the enterprise economy? Whatever one's personal feelings what can anybody say about the most successful company in this country in the past...

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: What does he mean by ten more years of this?

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: He means ten more years of tying people up to a lack of democracy. We see from the Minister of State's speech that within that, somehow, there will be some confusing types of wage deals from time to time. The Taoiseach, for some reason, wants to tie people up to ten more years in this straitjacket. What will happen is that more and more employers, unions and workers will secede from it...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (2 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: With the permission of the House I wish to share my time with Senators Norris and Quinn.

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (2 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: I was struck by the speech made by Senator Ó Murchú on the Order of Business. I was one of those who broke the rules of the House by applauding what he stated because I identified strongly with it. Perhaps the House finds that difficult to understand. His statement that his mother wore a poppy resonates with me. My parents also wore poppies when I was brought up. Perhaps they even sold...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (2 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: I am.

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (2 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: While the IRA has given up its arms, it seems to have handed over a legacy of criminality, which is yielding an extraordinary amount of money to an organisation which will perpetuate it. I am worried that the Government is not pursuing this with the vigour we should expect. I am worried because I suspect that, unbeknown to us, things are going on behind the scenes that may lead to a certain...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: I support the call by Senator Jim Walsh to invite the Minister for Transport to the House to discuss tolls. It would be appropriate that he would do so. He should be available; he is in the other House and I suspect he will be finished answering questions in about 20 minutes. I can think of no better or more important place for him to come than here.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: Judging by his willingness to appear at extraordinarily short notice for the media on Friday night, no doubt he will consider this House of equal importance and come here to address us on this issue. No doubt, when he comes he will also welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has done a very dramatic U-turn on the issue of the West Link toll plaza.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: Only a year ago the Taoiseach said the toll plaza would not be bought out, that the State could not afford it. It would be very useful to have a debate on that U-turn and why it happened. It would also be useful to look at the history of this contract. I will not give a history lesson but Fianna Fáil should stop rewriting history. It keeps saying it was a coalition Government that produced...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: ——and Mr. George Redmond who also could not wait to sign it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: Mr. Flynn has many great qualities but he did not——

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: ——join the Labour Party.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: When the Minister, Deputy Cullen, comes here the House should note the absence of Mr. Flynn's membership of the Labour Party. It is important that we debate the complete lack of clarity about what is coming up and not just what has happened.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: It is all very well announcing what is considered to be good news but having nothing to put in its place is unforgivable.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: What we need——

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Shane Ross: I will conclude in their favour.