Results 7,661-7,680 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Regulations (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy. I appreciate his concern. I note many of his constituents are concerned about this. The Deputy would be welcome, like others, to bring in any delegation of groups he wants in order that my officials and I can listen to what they have to say. I am impressed by the ones who have come in already. I am impressed by their concerns and by the fact that much of what they...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Regulations (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: It is a pity to prejudge the decisions of a new body which has not even come into existence at this stage. No doubt the Deputy will find, because it is a new body, that it will be an improvement. I stated in answer to Deputy Ryan's first question that it is not perfect. There is no perfect solution to this problem. That said, I think he will find it will be independent, impartial and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Greenways Development (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I seem to be spending more time discussing the issues in Athlone than anywhere else when I am answering questions on this particular body, partly, through no fault of Deputy Troy, because I seem to be familiar with those issues. This greenway is a good litmus test. It is a good question and I will address it. My Department is developing a new strategy to set out a cohesive and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Greenways Development (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I will consider that. If I think there is any useful purpose in meeting the landowners and any groups involved, I will consider doing so. I am not inclined to get involved in a local dispute if I think it will not do any good. It is very important that we consider, under the greenways policy, what we are going to do here. I understand the problems for landowners and the fact that they...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Greenways Development (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: We are probably ad idemon this. We all want to see this greenway developed and brought to fruition. It is just a matter of the best way of doing that. There is a process already being shaped by my Department for the development of greenways and difficulties of this sort. Specifically, my Department will consult all stakeholders in the coming months. This proposed strategy will include...

Other Questions: Road Projects (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which is very important to his area, other areas and nationally. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding regarding the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects, including the N22, is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII -...

Other Questions: Road Projects (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: That is certainly an invitation I could not refuse. I thank the Deputy for it. I would be delighted to make a trip to Kerry as soon as possible. I meant to go in the summer but I was diverted to Rio on the way and I was lucky to get back. I would be delighted to go to Kerry and I will not be heading back to Rio in a hurry. I thank the Deputy and accept his invitation. I and any officials...

Other Questions: Road Projects (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy. In his budget speech, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform indicated he was bringing forward the capital plan review and that work on the review would commence now. He also stated clearly he would be in a position to bring a revised and more ambitious programme of capital investment forward next year. To date, the review has not been formally launched and the...

Other Questions: Public Transport Provision (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: The Deputy’s written and oral question seem to be slightly different but I will try to address them both through my supplementary replies. I do not mean they are very different but there is certainly a lot more in the Deputy's oral question than in his written one. I will address both. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has statutory responsibility for the implementation and...

Other Questions: Public Transport Provision (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I would love to be able to do exactly what the Deputy says. I absolutely agree with him and I deeply regret that both the projects the Deputy referred to were delayed. One was delayed in 2015 and the other was postponed in 2010. The DART underground project was postponed in 2010. The Deputy should bear in mind that these were done with a heavy heart. I had no brief in Government at that...

Other Questions: Public Transport Provision (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: Deputy Ryan might have been aware of that at the time and before. It was postponed but the imagination is still there and in 2015, it was reviewed and revived. The Deputy will be aware that the money was made available for it to be redesigned. We now have a situation where it has been redesigned but is less ambitious. That is probably more realistic. There is no tunnel involved in the...

Other Questions: Public Transport Provision (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: The mid-term capital review has been brought forward. One cannot simply wave a magic wand and say today that we will go ahead with the projects for which we do not have the money. That does not work and it will not happen. It is my ambition to do exactly as the Deputy says. I would love to see the imagination he has for transport in this city, which is to be commended, turned into...

Other Questions: Public Transport Provision (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I agree with everything the Deputy says, except on the timetable. We do not have the money at present to commit to this. That is the reason the design stage is taking place now. When we get through the difficulties in the next few years, presumably we will have the cash to pay for these large capital projects. We cannot do it overnight - it is unrealistic - but we will do it in due course.

Other Questions: Dublin Airport Authority (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: ​I thank the Deputy for the question, which is on the same lines as many others which have come through today. There is great concern and enormous interest in the area. All Deputies in the area are feeling the anxiety and distress of the residents of the area affected by the noise of Dublin Airport and the prospects ahead. Given the differing geographical and environmental...

Other Questions: Dublin Airport Authority (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I have met a large number of these residents and I would be happy to meet a large number more of them and hear what they have to say. I would like to see the evidence the Deputy has, if she can produce it, to support her statement that aircraft are being enticed to use Dublin Airport at night. If it is true on a massive scale I will examine it. I have not seen such evidence. I am led to...

Other Questions: Dublin Airport Authority (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy and I would be most interested to receive the evidence.

Other Questions: Airport Development Projects (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: ​As the Deputy will be aware, the DAA has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin Airport, including the second parallel north runway project. DAA has made provision for the new metro north project in its master plan for Dublin Airport. Specifically, it has preserved an area within the central core of the airport to facilitate the metro link. The DAA...

Other Questions: Airport Development Projects (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: What the Deputy has said is true. It would be a great pity if preparation was not made for metro north coming to Dublin Airport but that provision is being made. As I stated, the plans are advanced and a specific area has been set to one side. This is bearing in mind that Dublin Airport is experiencing a strong and sustainable return to growth. Traffic in 2015 alone grew by 15%, from 21.7...

Other Questions: Airport Development Projects (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: We will do what we can for the Deputy. As he probably knows, the National Transport Authority, NTA, has commenced initial work on the design and planning stages of the scheme, in collaboration with TII. The key objective of this first phase will be to determine the route alignment. Thereafter, the NTA will prepare a detailed business case for the project based on more detailed design and...

Other Questions: EU Regulations (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: The new EU Regulation No. 598/2014 stipulates that competent authorities must be independent of any organisation that could be affected by noise related measures at an airport but it specifically allows for that independence to be achieved through a functional separation model. This option for member states in implementing the EU regulation is a recognition of the differing administrative...