Results 161-180 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Election Expenses: Motion. (18 Jun 2003)

Shane Ross: This is a difficult problem and I am not sure on which side of the fence I stand. In theory, one should be able to spend a large amount of public money in defence of democracy, which makes a worthy target for public funds. We do have to pay a price for democracy. The question is how much should one be able to spend and whether that democratic funding should be supplemented by other funding....

Seanad: Election Expenses: Motion. (18 Jun 2003)

Shane Ross: If we could have all-party agreement on this issue it would be more credible.

Seanad: Death of Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy. (7 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: I support the sentiments expressed by Senators O'Rourke and Brian Hayes. I did not know Lady Goulding well and did not serve with her in this House. She was a family friend so I knew her when I was younger. She was a unique person. As Senators O'Rourke and Brian Hayes said, she was a British aristocrat who came here and embraced the country with open arms. Instead of apologising for her...

Seanad: Death of Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy. (7 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: On behalf of my Independent colleagues I express our condolences to the family, friends and acquaintances of former Senator Louis Walsh who, were he still living, would have had some wonderful tales to tell back to the 1950s. I did not know him but we have heard a story of a public servant who ended his life in public service as the county registrar in Donegal, which is a rare path to take. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: There is also an independent Progressive Democrats Party.

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: I am rather struck by the unanimous view inherent in the use of a phrase used by Senator Brady, which ought to be punctured before it is allowed to go any further. The phrase is used by politicians and economists and those reading scripts – which is against the rules – in this House from time to time. It is the mantra that social partnership is the basis of our economic boom. There is...

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: Senator Ryan has been boring the House all day on other matters and he might as well bore us on benchmarking.

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: I choose my subjects. This subject has been difficult for political parties for good political reasons. It has also been an easy one for us, as Independents, to tackle for good political reasons. It has been difficult to tackle because of the power of the social partners to which Senator Brady referred. The public service unions have wielded incredible power in this country. The most powerful...

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: Senator Ryan is due at least five more interruptions before he makes his own boring speech.

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: Indicative of that was the fact that the only private sector member on the board resigned.

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: Why did Jim O'Leary resign?

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: I do not mind. Nobody else is taking any notice of me. His resignation indicated a dissatisfaction with what was going on. Those on the outside understood his resignation to mean he was flagging the fact that the results were predestined. That is a pity. The disappearance of the data discredited the findings, to which the Minister referred. I see no reason the data on which they based their...

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: I will conclude with a slight reference to our situation in the Seanad.

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: I promise industrial peace if I can have one more minute.

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: Our position is embarrassing to say the least. We are beneficiaries of this enormous rise at the expense of the taxpayer yet there are no demands upon us. It is somewhat ridiculous that we are debating this issue with that particular embarrassment hanging over our heads.

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Shane Ross: Senator Norris is in America.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Nov 2003)

Shane Ross: If I could heal the rift between the two Government parties, it would be helpful to the House.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Nov 2003)

Shane Ross: I wish to change the subject and say a few words about the economy. The Exchequer returns were produced yesterday and they were not too bad. Let us congratulate the Government as things are going rather better than expected. There is one problem to which I should draw attention and it would be useful if the House were to debate it. Some figures were produced last week on what is known as...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Nov 2003)

Shane Ross: —in a difficult global situation. The Government has done reasonably well and it is right for Members on this side to acknowledge that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Nov 2003)

Shane Ross: I support with enthusiasm Senator Ryan's call for a debate on stem cell research. It is an important issue and one on which the Seanad could take a lead. There is division on it among all political parties which makes it more interesting. I would also like to respond to Senator Maurice Hayes's suggestion that we have a debate on public sector management. The term is a bit of an oxymoron to be...