Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will share it, subject to there being nothing commercially sensitive involved. Given that Deputy Troy is the Opposition spokesperson on transport, I would be very keen to share it with him. That would only be fair. I have to examine the implications involved. I am not trying to be evasive, rather I am seeking to be helpful. I am not sure it should be made public if it reveals to competitors a large number of facts that they would find useful. As a matter of principle, I would be pretty happy to share the review with Deputy Troy, particularly in view of the fact that in all my dealings with him, I have found him to be somewhat controversial and colourful but completely honourable. I would be very happy to share it with him in that sense. I will ask my Department's advice to see if the information it contains is commercially sensitive. The review has been done and it is mostly to do with compliance and techniques and how the system is operating rather than any big decisions on routes.

The Deputy asked me for a date by which the free travel negotiations would be settled. This morning, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, said it could not happen before 2018 because all the money involved is tied up. I will not give an absolute date. However, it is something we would all appreciate and the Deputy can see exactly why I would like to conclude the negotiations as soon as possible. I regard this as a matter to be dealt with urgently. The commitment to change the way of funding is urgent. We need it. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, has been extremely helpful and co-operative. We will do it as soon as we possibly can.