Results 7,381-7,400 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I take the Senator's point that some of them do it out of pure patriotism and for the good of the community. Some of them refuse to do it because they do not like being under the spotlight and do not like the kinds of controversies that emerge. I will not be invidious here. There are boards where people's attendance records are not adequate and that should be addressed. That is at its...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: Did Deputy Barry refer to the M20?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: It is very difficult for me to answer questions in the detail for which Deputies are asking without it being interpreted as an intervention in the current situation. As a Deputy said, I will not produce a cheque book. Both sides in the dispute have to believe that. It will not help the situation if people try to draw the Minister into a battle with which he will not engage. For me to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: Will I deal with the aviation programme now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: The board is not short of a quorum.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: It is not short of a quorum.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: Yes, it is not short of a quorum.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: Okay, I will deal with the aviation programme first. The aviation programme for this year has an allocation of €26 million. The key priority for investment in the programme over the short to medium term is to support the four regional airports, namely Donegal, Knock, Kerry and Waterford. The 2016 allocation to the regional airports programme represents an increase of 5%. As members...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I would like to mention the death of a member of the country's emergency services on Monday, 12 September. Caitríona Lucas, along with her husband Bernard, was a part of that extraordinary group of men and women who volunteer to dedicate their skills, time and passion so that others may be safe along Ireland's coastline. I would like to extend sincere condolences to the family and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I shall start with Deputy Fitzpatrick. Congratulations to Dundalk Football Club. What it has achieved is fantastic. The League of Ireland has not got the recognition it deserves and we are all very proud of the players. I did not ignore the Deputy's invitation. I am sorry that I did not go to Dundalk in the summer but I will do so. Let me address the Brexit query and I will then deal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I can assure the Deputy that no county will be excluded from the initiative.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: The Deputy has heard what I said. Let me move on to the next question. The Deputy asked about the capacity issues of a second runway. The whole point of having a second runway is because the airport will need one to cope with an expected increase in the number of passengers over and above that which has already occurred. There is no doubt that a second runway is essential. In fact, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I will try to get to that as well. A question was asked about the Olympic Council of Ireland inquiry. I do not think it is toothless and I will explain why. We took a long time to consider whether to make it statutory or non-statutory, and it could have been either. The reasons we went with the non-statutory option related to cost and time. These factors were obviously going to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: That is a good point, but it still does give employment and it is the overall employment benefits that we are thinking about. They are so important. Deputy O'Keeffe and Senator Ó Céidigh addressed the question of the results of the Olympics. We heard how there were only two silver medals, but there were some pretty good performances as well. Elsewhere, team Ireland had 14...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I understand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: Yes.

Road Traffic Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (27 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." As Minister, it is a pleasure to be able to bring before the House the Road Traffic Bill 2016. There has been much talk over this year about new politics and new and more co-operative ways of doing Dáil business. Road traffic legislation is an area which can point the way. This has always been a remarkably non-partisan aspect of...

Road Traffic Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (27 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I stress that this exemption will apply only to the new offence of the presence of cannabis, not to the existing offence of being under the influence of an intoxicant to such an extent as to be incapable of controlling a vehicle. If people taking Sativex finds that their reactions are impaired, they should not drive until the effects have passed. That is reasonable and proportionate. On...

Road Traffic Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (27 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: The system of allowing local authorities to decide the right speed limits for roads in their areas is the correct one, because built-up areas contain a multitude of different kinds of road. It would not be appropriate to set one limit for all of them, and local authorities are best placed to decide what is appropriate to a given road. Beginning in 2014, the Jake's Legacy campaign has...