Results 7,861-7,880 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Coast Guard Issues (22 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the immeasurable contribution made by the Irish Coast Guard Volunteers in the provision of the State's Search and Rescue Service. In relation to the question at hand, ​I refer the Deputy to my response to PQ Ref: 34648/16 on 15thNovember 2016, which outlined the legislative provisions that underpin the activities of the Irish Coast...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (22 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: ​The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airlines Regulations (23 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has not undertaken an examination of the specific employment practices/labour models of any Irish airline. All matters related to employment contracts are an operational matter for the airlines and not under my remit as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. However, I would like to state that Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Railway Stations (23 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). The NTA has informed me that the current position with regard to the opening of Kishogue Station will be reviewed after a period of operation of services through the Phoenix Park Tunnel when revised travel patterns have been...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (23 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: The company referred to by the Deputy has not received any funding or grants from my Department in the past five years. 

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (23 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: ​​​​The regulatory framework governing the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector is the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and Regulations made under the Act by the National Transport Authority as regulator for the sector. Under that regulatory framework the core requirement, with a small number of limited exemptions, is that the carriage of passengers for reward in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Commencement of Legislation (23 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: The Vehicle Clamping Act was enacted in May 2015 and conferred the responsibilities of regulating vehicle clamping upon the National Transport Authority (NTA). This conferral of additional responsibilities resulted in a requirement for allocation of additional resources to the NTA in order to allow it carry out its new functions in this area. In addition the NTA also required a period to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Meetings (23 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I met with the EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc when in Luxembourg for a Transport Council meeting in June 2016.  In relation to EU funding for infrastrutural projects, my officials have attended committees chaired by the European Commission and are proactively engaged with the European Commission and other stakeholders concerning the Connecting Europe Facility for...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Railway Stations (23 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank Senator Conway for raising this important matter. He has made a very good case, within the context in which we work, for the station he mentioned at Crusheen, County Clare. I will begin by addressing the broader context of this issue. The Senator will be aware that submissions are being taken as part of the public consultation side of the ongoing rail review. If Senator Conway and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Railway Stations (23 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank Senator Conway for his remarks. Now that he has raised this case with me, Crusheen will certainly be embedded in my mind when these matters are being considered. I might respond to his sensible agreement that a lack of funding has been responsible for many of the difficulties relating to our railways by saying we expect that the rail review, which has identified a funding gap of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Accidents (24 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: ​There is no record in my Department of an incident relating to a report of an accident in November 1980 involving a vessel of the name supplied.  My Department has a record of an accident relating to a vessel of a similar name, which may be what the Deputy is referring to.  The Report of the Preliminary Inquiry into the casualty on the vessel in question is on a file in the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (24 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  Within its annual budget the planning, design and implementation of individual road projects, such as the Ardee Bypass is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (24 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including issues pertaining to decals, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have therefore referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (24 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: ​Action 14 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011 recommended the prohibition on the transferability of small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences. The Taxi Regulation Review Group included representatives of the taxi industry and its recommendations were widely publicised to the industry, including through the National Transport Authority's website and industry updates. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Agencies Staff Data (24 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 253 together.​ The information requested by the Deputy is available on my Departments website at the following link Board appointments are generally made in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Guidelines on State Board Appointments. Under these Guidelines, the Public Appointments Service (PAS)...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Development Projects (24 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: The National Aviation Policy (NAP) recognises the geographic and infrastructure characteristics that differentiate the respective roles of the three State airports, and indeed of the regional airports, and the differing challenges and opportunities that exist for them.  It is a matter for all airports to identify, and to market opportunities for attracting, new business within their...

Topical Issue Debate: Appointments to State Boards (29 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank Deputy Kelly for raising this issue and for giving me an opportunity to respond and address the matter. I know he has a great deal of interest in these issues. I am sure he understands the complex nature of the system of making appointments to State boards and the extraordinary responsibility it entails. It is not a matter that can be treated in a trivial way by any Member of this...

Topical Issue Debate: Appointments to State Boards (29 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to respond to some of the things he said, many of which he knows nothing about, quite obviously, from what he said.

Topical Issue Debate: Appointments to State Boards (29 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: It is quite apparent, from what he says, that he has not done very thorough research. I would add that I have total confidence in all my officials, who are doing an extraordinarily good job. I would not agree with everything they put in front of me, and it is not my job to do so, but the idea they were doing things in bad faith is absolutely absurd.

Topical Issue Debate: Appointments to State Boards (29 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: That is absurd. What we are doing is discussing-----