Results 19,061-19,080 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Motor Insurance: Motion. (12 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: I would be delighted to share my time with Senator White.

Seanad: Motor Insurance: Motion. (12 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: I thank the Senators who contributed to the debate. I particularly thank Senator Leyden for coming forward with a constructive suggestion. There was no ambition on the part of Independent Senators to have a row about this. We simply wished to raise the issue, debate it and get some agreement from the Government.

Seanad: Motor Insurance: Motion. (12 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: The Leader is correct. It was mentioned in the first paragraph. A high level implementation group usually means it is full of rather pompous people who will not reach any conclusions. The Minister of State then went on to refer to two of my pet hates, the two words in any speech that drive me mad, namely, IBEC and the ICTU. They were used as a sort of defence for delay and committees. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: I endorse the comments made on both sides of the House about leaked documents. A serious issue arose yesterday concerning a leaked document on the penalty points system. It appears that some sabotage is going on regarding a very important programme that was launched by the Minister for Transport. We have heard that RTE obtained a report on the penalty points system, which seemed to spin in...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (6 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: I join the expressions of sympathy to the family of Séamus de Brún, his party and friends and relations. Like Senator O'Rourke, I was honoured to sit in this House with him for several years. I reflect on the fact that he was one of those Senators who ran counter to the criticisms some of us make of this House. He was elected from the Cultural and Educational Panel and may have sprung from...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: I thank Senator White because if we all had to apologise for every irresponsible thing we said in this House, we would not do very much business and debate would be less robust.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: The question of certain chocolates is of concern to all Members and I would like to know what was put in them.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: I am one of the few Members who has not eaten these chocolates.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: There are still some in my office marked "best before November" but they were delivered before Christmas.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: I have. In all seriousness, it seems Senator Mansergh and I are the only Members who have not tasted these chocolates.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: According to the back of the chocolate box, the sweets contain nuts. That concerns me as, I am sure, it does every other Member.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: I propose to share time with Senators Norris and O'Toole.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: I am instinctively opposed to the Bill, as are all people who are in Opposition or independent of the Government. There are good reasons for that. I do not oppose it with any great hysterical fervour because I understand perfectly well from my experience in this House how politicians behave when they are in Government. I understand even better how civil servants, who are permanently in...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: It would be far better if we knew openly where Cabinet Ministers stood on every issue. They have nothing of which to be ashamed. No realistic citizen expects that 15 people will agree on something and come up with a unanimous verdict. Every intelligent person would understand if they saw a Cabinet openly disagree – as it does on every issue – and then come together, put through a measure...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: —-and issues which are of such vital national importance and sensitivity that it is necessary to draw a line with regard to them. There should no longer be any mystique about what happens at Cabinet and politicians should not be ashamed of their views. An example of the culture of secrecy in our society is the extraordinary aura that still attaches to judges. Oireachtas Members must openly...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: They do not.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: They complete a different form.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Shane Ross: It is different. For example, if a person is high up in a semi-State body, he or she does not have to declare his or her interests to the public. The interests are declared to another group and that information is never made public. Why are such people not subject to the same rules on openness as Members of the Oireachtas? There should be consistency on that matter. The Civil Service is not...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)

Shane Ross: I support the call made by Senators Brian Hayes and Ryan for a debate on what is a rapidly approaching crisis in the pensions industry. A pensions Bill was debated and amended by the previous Seanad. It has now been overtaken by events and we are heading for circumstances in which people's expectations will simply not be met. It should be pointed out that the industry is not run for the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)

Shane Ross: —and have been absolute disasters in running pensions. As Senator Ryan rightly said, they invested in the worst possible performing asset for the past 16 years in which equities have been out-performed by bonds and the experts in the industry have taken the wrong course. The result is that those expecting pensions will not get what they expected. That is a serious situation which is getting...