Results 18,541-18,560 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Nuclear Plants: Motion. (25 May 2005)

Shane Ross: With the permission of the House I propose to share my time with Senator McCarthy. I am delighted this motion has been proposed because I have been tabling motions on Sellafield for a very long time in a similar, but perhaps not quite so detailed, manner. No matter how many times motions are tabled regarding Sellafield and the danger it poses to Ireland they have little effect, and this is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Shane Ross: I second the amendment proposed by Senator Cox and applaud her willingness to make a stand on an issue such as this. I share to some extent her concern regarding the contempt in which Departments and the Government in general sometimes hold this House. I apportion no blame to the Leader in this regard. The standards of rubber-stamping that go on in this House are something which should be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Shane Ross: It is very much relevant and relates to the standing of this House. This is no longer a debating Chamber if Members are allowed to use scripts. If they are allowed to read lengthy scripts that have been issued by their press office beforehand, they might as well say nothing at all.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Shane Ross: It is an important point and I hope the Leader will respond. I understand that people must use a certain amount of script. It is essential when one is quoting from a report, for example. However, a routine has developed in the House whereby Members may come in willy nilly and read pages of scripts which are neither prepared by them nor read by them in advance and which are issued by their...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Shane Ross: I commend everybody who worked to arrange yesterday's debate on the EU constitution. I was sceptical in advance of the value of the debate because I predicted it to be something of a parade. However, it was an experiment which worked extraordinarily well. It was informative, involving an exchange of views with MEPs whom we do not see often through no fault of their own. They gave us a new...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Shane Ross: Senator O'Rourke missed my point, although not deliberately. The point was that a Minister could have listened to what was said in the House.

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: I thank the Minister, Deputy Roche, for finally circulating his script. Following his departure, will another Minister now take his place for the debate?

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: It is a pity a Minister will not be present but there is nothing to be done if this was agreed by the Whips. It serves to devalue the debate that there is no Government representative to listen to Members' contributions. This experiment, which has so far been useful, is treated with a certain amount of disdain if it is not attended by a Minister. For all such discussions in future, we should...

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: The celebrations in Berlin indicate that Europe has politically healed the wounds of the Second World War. I suspect this has much to do with the EU and the political closeness that has developed between the countries of Europe. I agree with everything that has been said on this unquestionable benefit. I was disappointed that the Minister, in his speech, never touched upon the issue of the...

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: Senator White's comment is fair but this remains a valid question. The world's two great economies, Europe and the United States, are moving at different speeds. We must ask whether the great European expressions which Senator Ormonde discussed and to which we pay tribute, such as proportionality and subsidiarity, are in some way stifling the European economy or whether the ideal of a social...

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: A housing boom continues. That is one of the reasons. At the same time, we have been riding the American boom. The Americans have a disdain for social partnership. Multinationals have been the engine of the growth for the economy. What will this constitution do for Ireland? I see what the European Union has done for Ireland in the past. It has been fantastic and a net payer to us. In the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: I welcome the consistent signs of sedition from the Government benches, which are very refreshing.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: I fit in very well this morning with the tantrums of Senator Mansergh and others.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: I welcome and endorse most of what Senator Cox had to say. Having a debate on the issue she raised would be useful although she is not completely right that everyone who held those insurance policies is getting a letter from the Revenue Commissioners. Two institutions are involved. One is the Revenue which sends out letters to old and infirm people who do not understand them and find them...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: ——or doing something unawares and have been penalised in the most extraordinarily unfair way when those who seduced them are not being prosecuted. This is a problem which we could usefully address in a debate in the House. We could have a Minister here to tell us why the Government has not taken action against these institutions while poor people who have done wrong have had to pay fines...

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: On a point of order, would it be possible for us to get a copy of the Minister's script?

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: That is why I am asking.

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: Are any copies available now?

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: I just want to know whether any copies are available now?

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Shane Ross: In other words it is not available.