Results 19,021-19,040 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Sustaining Progress: Statements. (27 May 2003)

Shane Ross: I have more than doubts about this document. I recognise that when a debate of this sort happens in this House, people take the opportunity to speak about anything they feel like. It is a very wide-ranging debate with very few interruptions from the Chair regarding relevance, simply because this document is so all-embracing that one can speak virtually on any issue affecting the public...

Seanad: Sustaining Progress: Statements. (27 May 2003)

Shane Ross: It is the sixth document of its sort, and Fianna Fáil backbenchers in particular will tell one privately that they have far less access to Ministers than those who are now dubbed the social partners. They have a democratic mandate, the social partners do not. This is not the most powerful of all the documents issued over the six-document period but is a programme that will, to a certain...

Seanad: Sustaining Progress: Statements. (27 May 2003)

Shane Ross: How many outside feel very strongly that it is a bad idea? Is it just coincidence that there is some sort of unanimity in the Houses, when outside there is no such unanimity? This arises from fear of the unions and an embarrassment that we are beneficiaries of this deal, which cannot be afforded. There are two extraordinary details in the document. One is the cosmetic nature of the...

Seanad: Sustaining Progress: Statements. (27 May 2003)

Shane Ross: It also goes on to talk about performance related committees to verify the performance of various public servants in getting these pay deals. This started with the teachers who have simply refused to work the time required of them by the social partners.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 May 2003)

Shane Ross: I also congratulate the Leader, although in a less obscure way than some Members, on her great show of independence in the House last night.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 May 2003)

Shane Ross: It is refreshing that the Leader of the House is prepared to take a different line to the that of the Government. Long may that last. Having been flattered by that kiss of death, will the Leader arrange for a debate on autism which is being discussed this morning by the Joint Committee on Health and Children? This is a devastating problem for which Government funding is required and it is,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 May 2003)

Shane Ross: It cannot, therefore, be tackled by, for example, putting children into one classroom and asking them to perform the same task. There is no uniform cure or palliative for this condition. We should debate this matter in the full knowledge that it is an extremely complex problem which – because everyone who suffers from it needs individual treatment – requires vast amounts of money.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 May 2003)

Shane Ross: The Independent Senators have tabled a motion on this issue, but it will probably not be debated for a year. In my opinion, it deserves to be debated before the end of the year.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Shane Ross: I thank Senator O'Toole for sharing his time. We are speaking in a vacuum because we do not know what the Government's proposals are at this stage. However, we know it proposes to reverse the decision which was taken some time ago. Like Senator O'Toole I opposed the introduction of free third level fees. That has been a sometimes difficult and sometimes easy road to travel. To suggest now,...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Shane Ross: I must confess to a certain degree of surprise at the way the motion has gone because when I spoke to Senator O'Toole in the corridors about it, I felt a certain indifference to it because I thought it would be, as is normal in the case of Government motions, a lap of honour for the Minister. Everybody in the House knows that when the Government takes this time, it congratulates the Minister...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Shane Ross: I am staggered that any Opposition Member can oppose it and condemn the Minister for what is possibly his greatest strength. I agree with Senator Wilson. As an Independent Senator, I suppose I am officially a member of the Opposition in this House—

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Shane Ross: That is not a point of order. There are no points of information in this House. I agree with Senator Wilson that the Minister is a breath of fresh air in the Government in that he has introduced measures which others feared to introduce and did not introduce when they were in power. What is going on? The penalty points system is a great success for the Government for one reason only – it...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Shane Ross: —because there are no funds available.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Shane Ross: Where are the funds?

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Shane Ross: I will. If members of the Opposition wish to produce the funds and tell us from where they are coming, that is fine but to talk about funding this, that and the other in isolation is apple pie and ice cream because they made a dog's dinner of funding initiatives when they were in power. Let us be honest about it. They were put out of power because they were not so good at managing Ireland's...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 May 2003)

Shane Ross: Like Senator Mansergh, I agree with what Senators Brian Hayes and Maurice Hayes have said. Respect for minorities who may want to maintain their identities should also be borne in mind. Whereas the motives of those in the majority church may be ones that we criticise, there may not be enthusiasm for this from all minorities. I would hate to think that they would have something imposed on them...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 May 2003)

Shane Ross: Conversely, it is probably wrong for us to lecture others about cutting back when we are awarding ourselves very large amounts of money.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 May 2003)

Shane Ross: Every Member of this House is about to receive a large cheque for pay dating back to 2001. It is important—

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 May 2003)

Shane Ross: Perhaps I can finish on this point without interruption.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 May 2003)

Shane Ross: I know it is embarrassing for all Members—