Results 18,461-18,480 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: The words stand. It is clear that in this House it has already become a political football. Political parties should not compete for possession of this part of our history. That is the problem.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: If we are genuine about it being a national commemorative event — I believe Senator Ó Murchú is genuine — let us not allow Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil to compete for possession of this part of our history, as occurred last weekend.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: If the Taoiseach was genuine, he would have announced it in the Dáil, not at that event which the Cathaoirleach does not want me to call a tribal rally.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: I make a special plea to the Leader of the House——

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: ——that the Fianna Fáil Party, in a spirit of consensus and mercy, has compassion on Senator Cox when it comes to consider her case.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: It is a long held aspiration.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: Startling figures showing our high rate of personal credit, consumption and borrowing were issued yesterday by a company of stockbrokers owned by a bank. The ratio of personal debt to average income will rise from 120% to 160% in the next three years and we are now rated third highest in the euro zone. It is a source of alarm to international observers and the Central Bank that individuals...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: I thank Senators and the Minister for contributing to this debate, which was useful even if it did not elicit a great deal of information from the Minister about the Government's intentions for child care in the budget. We did not expect that anyway. One of the important matters to emerge in this debate is that this is not necessarily a problem about money. Money helps and we have plenty of...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: I will finish on this sentence but it will be a long one.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: I will decide when the full stop comes. We must relieve the human misery suffered by those who choose to work. They suffer from the stresses of traffic congestion when commuting and their incomes going on crèches. The solution to the problem lies in a balance between contributions from businesses that can afford to pay, the parents and the State. We anticipate with great interest a crusade...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: On a point of order, I welcome the Minister's newfound humility which may be a sign of a general election.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: I wish to point out the Minister's departure from his script, which is obviously welcome, which states that he is moving the amendment.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: Who is moving the amendment? Is the Minister or Senator Cox?

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: I move: That Seanad Éireann, mindful of Ireland's unprecedented national wealth and the difficulties encountered by parents of —children attending crèches or primary or secondary schools; —urges the Government to give far greater resources in the next budget to child care; —insists that the Government matches any benefits given to parents in the workforce with tangible recognition of...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: I am beginning to finish. We should consider the inconsistency in our attitude to education. For good or for ill, we have for the most part abolished third level fees, and we have free secondary and primary schooling. We should examine the possibility of having at least one year of free pre-schooling also. According to leaked reports the Government is considering this option, and the cost...

Seanad: Salmon Fisheries Report: Statements. (19 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: I find myself in the strange position of taking the side of the national interest against the position of Senator O'Toole who takes the interest of the private enterprise buccaneers——

Seanad: Salmon Fisheries Report: Statements. (19 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: —— which he has served so well here.

Seanad: Salmon Fisheries Report: Statements. (19 Oct 2005)

Shane Ross: I welcome that in certain areas he sees the light. Most of the time he does not, but on this occasion he seems to have taken a dash into the universe which others of us enjoy more readily. What is happening in this debate is very simple. We are seeing a very obvious problem, which has been emerging over a period of time and which it is patently obvious has damaged the national interest, being...