Results 8,441-8,460 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Roads Funding: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I accept Deputy Healy Rae's invitation as I will accept one from Deputy Harty if it ever comes. I thank Deputy Mattie McGrath for an education on rural roads which I will never forget.

Roads Funding: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: That is personally extremely insulting, is it not?

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Safety (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 325 together. The requirements in relation to the wearing of Personal Flotation Devices (lifejackets/buoyancy aids) on pleasure craft are set out in the Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 921 of 2005), as amended by S.I. No. 349 of 2012. I refer the Deputies to my response to Questions Nos. 696...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Services (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy is aware, Bus Éireann is developing plans to address its financial position. The Company is currently loss-making and these losses are not sustainable. The Company's difficulties stem from its commercial Expressway services which are not subsidised by the taxpayer and operate in competition with other non-subsidised operators. In my recent meetings with the Chair of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences Renewals (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including issues pertaining to vehicle standards, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply to him. The Deputy should please advise my private office if he does not receive a response...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 323 together. The issues raised are a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the transport operator and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions 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: Brexit Issues (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: The impact of Brexit on Ireland's economic and trading arrangements has been identified by Government as one of the key priorities in preparing for the EU/UK negotiations. As part of the comprehensive preparatory process undertaken across Government there has been deep analysis of the challenges facing both transport and tourism as a result of the outcome UK Referendum. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: ​A commercial vehicle, as with any other vehicle must be roadworthy at all times when being used on the public road. Commercial vehicle roadworthiness testing (CVRT) is only one component of the preventative road safety measures we need to have in place in order to ensure safer vehicles on our roads. Given that the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the CVRT,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank members for their invitation to appear before the joint committee and giving me this opportunity to engage in a productive discussion on sport related issues. Before I address the issues outlined by the committee, as this is the first occasion on which I have exclusively addressed sport related issues, I take the opportunity to congratulate all of our sportsmen and women who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I am sorry but I will have to check that. I would not really know that because it is a matter for Sport Ireland, and our role is not to actually interfere in the operations of the national governing bodies. However, I will check it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: The numbers are overwhelming but we still expect to be able to make decisions by mid-summer because I think it is important for everybody that the delay is not too long. The efficiency has improved immensely. Out of 1,592 applications last time, approximately one third were ruled out. However, the Department has made extraordinarily detailed arrangements around the country, with workshops,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy probably knows, the term of the current chair, Professor Pat Wall, ends on 17 February. I was anxious that there should be an open process about this and I wanted to get it past the Public Appointments Service. The Public Appointments Service said that it was outside its remit to do this because Horse Sport Ireland does not come within it. There was a further proposal that a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I will take a couple and perhaps Deputy O'Donovan can take a couple as well. A proposal was made for the second part of the funding of the indoor arena. It is quite a long saga. I will read out what I have. A proposal has been made. There is no agreement on the funding yet. Sport Ireland submitted a proposal to the Department on 12 June 2015 and again in January 2016 for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I will say a few words on the Olympics. The Olympics was an event far different from what we expected but I hope the 2020 Olympics to which the Deputy refers, and the Deputy might be in my place then representing the country-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I hope the Deputy does not have the same experience I did, but it was a very successful event for Ireland and underestimated in many ways. The fact that we got fewer medals than we did in London does not mean that the high performance was not good. The top 10s and 20s were very good indeed, and we should celebrate that. On the reports, I presume the Deputy is referring to the Moran...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: None at all; no verbal contact. We had a request for an extension, which we gave to it until 31 March. I understand the Deputy has tabled a parliamentary question on this also. There is no report, and I have had no contact with Judge Moran at any stage, and do not intend to have until his report lands on my desk. On the OCI, the election will be on 8 February. Obviously, we will not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I see no evidence that it is being done in anything but a proper way at the moment but if any such evidence becomes available, we would react accordingly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I will respond to the question on the sports capital programme because it is an important issue in which people are very interested and about which some people may be uneasy. Deputy Troy expressed a certain amount of unease about the programme and it is fair enough to do so. I want to ensure this programme is utterly fair and that no one will come to the conclusion that there has been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I will reply to the specific question addressed to me. While I did not bring the matter before the Cabinet, I do not need to do so because the promotion of women in sport is Government policy. We are engaging in significant consultation. We formed a sports leadership body, which includes 50 of the national governing bodies already, to consider the issue. We want to hurry up the process...