Results 21-40 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Address by President of the European Parliament. (10 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: I will now withdraw the compliment I was about to make.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: It is unusual and it will not happen again, but I endorse what Senator McDowell had to say.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: It is timely that we should have a debate on benchmarking.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: I support a debate, because as my colleague the ATM man on the left would say, this issue will be very contentious. Realistically, benchmarking awards cannot and will not be paid to anybody and that includes for Members of this House. Let us not go along a blind alley pretending that it will be paid. It will not be paid and the sooner the better we as Members of this House debate it and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: It is a fudge.

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: Is the Leader saying one person from each group can speak for six minutes and that is it?

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (23 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: We have debated Northern Ireland in the House for many years. This particular debate, however, is taking place in a more mature atmosphere with people with whom one might disagree, but who are well qualified to talk on the subject. It is a great reflection on the House that such debates now take place in a calm atmosphere. It is indicative of the situation in the North because some years ago...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: I wish to make a brief comment about the television sets in the Chamber. While they are a wonderful innovation, I am not sure why we need to see ourselves performing when we can already see each other perfectly. They do a great deal of good for Senator Mansergh who looks about 15 years younger on them.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: I am curious about the reason they are in the House. An issue I raised a couple of weeks ago seemed to provoke a certain amount of sensitivity, but I cannot remember the Leader's reply. I sought a debate on benchmarking and believe she said it would be held at some stage.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: It is particularly important now because at least two of the beloved social partners of the Government have said benchmarking cannot and should not be paid. This might be a matter of some embarrassment to Members of this House who will benefit from it and will be extremely conflicted if it is paid.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: The only people left are the trade unions. Senator O'Toole finds himself once again in isolation against his partners—

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: I am.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: Thank you, a Chathaoirligh. If I could seek that debate without interruptions from the president of the ICTU, who has a vested interest which he has not yet declared, I would be grateful. The final point I wish to make is an important procedural one. Members of the House seem to be developing a habit of reading speeches in the House. That is a great shame.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: It has long been the tradition in the House that only the Minister reads a scripted speech. It is difficult when one first becomes a Member of the House not to read a speech, but doing so reduces the level of debate.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Shane Ross: Why should we wait for that?

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Nov 2002)

Shane Ross: I thank Senator Finucane for raising this matter and congratulate all those Members of this and the other House who withdrew from the proposed visit to Colombia. It is important that we hear from the Leader of the House Government policy on sending representatives. All the Members who intended to go have, in their wisdom, withdrawn because they do not want to be used as propaganda tools for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Nov 2002)

Shane Ross: I am asking the Leader a question, as you probably heard, a Chathaoirligh. We have an ambassador out there, presumably doing an excellent job, who is looking after the rights of the people concerned. It would be wrong and confuse the issue if people were to come back and make highly politicised statements, which is what I predict. This is a very dangerous area.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Nov 2002)

Shane Ross: Senators Hayes and McDowell mentioned tonight's debate on the Estimates and housing. I notice the complete silence on the one issue causing real trouble in the public service – benchmarking. Why can we not have a full and frank debate on benchmarking? Why can we not start in this House by saying about the main beneficiaries of benchmarking—

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Nov 2002)

Shane Ross: I want a full three hour debate on benchmarking. I will not be silenced on the issue.