Results 8,141-8,160 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Road Traffic Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Road Traffic Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputies for the contributions they made this evening and throughout the debate on the Bill, which has been addressed in a pretty non-partisan way, which is healthy. People realise the importance and urgency of this. Deputy Troy referred to it quite rightly when he said this is a matter of saving lives. All it is about is saving lives and saving people from injuries and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Environmental Policy (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: ​My Department has not considered introducing a ban on diesel vehicles. Policy in relation to alternative fuels and air quality falls primarily within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment. Our Departments work together closely on matters of mutual interest. Ireland has expressed its intention, through a national...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: At present, the maximum penalty for drink driving offences is six months in prison and a fine of up to €5,000.  There is also a consequential disqualification which is based on a scale, depending on the level of alcohol and whether or not it is a first offence.  Disqualifications on this scale range from a minimum of 6 months to a minimum of 6 years. The 10-year sentence...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: The Northern Rail Line plays an important role in linking communities North and South of the Border.  I met with Northern Ireland's Infrastructure Minister, Chris Hazzard, on Monday the 12 December under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council.  This provided an opportunity to further develop co-operation between our respective Departments on strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Vehicle Clamping (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: The Vehicle Clamping Act has not yet been commenced.  The Act requires amendment in order to correct an error in how it deals with the consultation process before making required Regulations. This necessary amendment is being introduced within the Road Traffic Bill 2016 which last week completed Dáil Committee Stage and is expected to complete all Oireachtas stages before the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Expenditure (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: ​The details of photography bookings from 2011 to 2015, including the cost of these incurred by my Department, are published on the Department's website at the following link:. The details and costs for 2016 will be collated and published in early 2017. It is the policy of the Department that photography costs are kept to a minimum and services are provided...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Consultancy Contracts Data (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 605 together. Details of external services, including consultancies and public relations firms as requested by the Deputy, are available from my Department's website at the following link .  This document is updated twice yearly, the information for January to June 2016 is currently available and information relating to the second...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: ​I appreciate the Deputy's concerns and share them. Therefore, I intend to engage with my colleague, the Tanaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to assess how best, as legislators, the government may assess the consistency and effectiveness of sentencing regarding road traffic offences.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: While road fatalities in 2015 at 162 matched those in 2012, making it Ireland's joint safest year on record, the reality is that each of those deaths is one too many, and there has been an overall upward trend in road fatalities in Europe and in the US over the last few years, and regrettably in Ireland this year. The RSA and all relevant stakeholders met on 21 November...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: The RSA has statutory responsibility for the oversight and development of standards for the construction, equipment and use of vehicles, including the drafting of regulatory proposals and the furnishing of advice to my Department in relation to same. It is in this capacity that they attend quarterly technical meetings of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry where evolving...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: ​Irish driver licensing law, which operates within a framework of EU driver licensing law, currently works on the assumption that a vehicle is under the control of a driver. Any future approach to the question of who would be responsible for an autonomous vehicle would have to be considered carefully, and I would anticipate that this would be addressed ultimately at EU level. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Correspondence (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: I have an official Oireachtas email account and, since my appointment as Minister, an official Departmental e-mail account. I have not, and do not, use private e-mail accounts for official business.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Data (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the granting of wheelchair accessible taxi/hackney licences and the administration of grant schemes for wheelchair accessible vehicles, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: There are currently five vacancies on the Taxi Advisory Committee (TAC), four of which are vacant since 31st July 2015, when the term of office of the membership of the last TAC expired.  I am currently reviewing these appointments and will be making an announcement shortly. The fifth vacancy arose on 19th September 2016 with the resignation of the Local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Events (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is engaged in the preparation of an all-island bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.  The Government is committed, in co-operation with the Northern Authorities, to support the bid. As part of that commitment, the Government has agreed to contribute just over €1.2 million to the overall cost of preparing the bid. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Coast Guard Issues (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: I refer the Deputy to my response to PQ Ref: 38795/16 on 7 December 2016, which outlined the legislative provisions that underpin the activities of the Irish Coast Guard and my views on the matters to which he refers.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: ​I am aware of these matters, and I am in the process of preparing regulations to update this form. I have taken legal advice, and I am satisfied that the form D401 being used at present by the National Driver Licensing Service, while not in every respect identical to that currently specified in regulations, is a valid version of the form in light of section 12 of the Interpretation Act.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual national road projects is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services Provision (13 Dec 2016)

Shane Ross: The National Transport Authority (NTA) is currently running a public consultation on rail in Ireland.  It was launched with the publication of the Rail Review 2016 - which the NTA undertook in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann - together with an NTA consultation document "The Role of Rail in Ireland and Funding its Delivery". Both documents are available on the NTA's website. ...