Results 9,461-9,480 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: Let us see the document.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: Yes. It is rubbish.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: It is complete and utter rubbish. I have no privatisation agenda whatsoever.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I have answered the Deputy's question. I have no privatisation agenda whatsoever. If I have had tussles with various individuals in various strikes in the past, it does not mean that I have a privatisation agenda today. I do not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank Deputy Barry for his contribution. I have heard it before and no doubt I will hear it again. I wish to find a solution to this problem. That is my agenda and I think we are addressing it in the best possible way. As far as I know, there is no intention of introducing zero-hour contracts. I will repeat that I have no privatisation agenda. It is unhelpful for Deputy Barry to come...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I will take the second question first. I have not yet made this point but I presume it is sticking out and everyone knows it. I cannot give money to Expressway. It is as simple as that. Therefore, I have no role to play. It is a commercial organisation. It would be against the rules for me to do it. I cannot go in and sort out this problem for Expressway by just giving it a subsidy....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: That is true, but that is up to the NTA. That is what has happened already. As the Deputy knows, it happened the Athlone-Westport route. Expressway closed it down and the NTA moved in and put in extra buses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I do not think that is the case at the moment. The situation is that the NTA does not have to stretch because of the proposals on the routes that are to be closed down. It can be covered by the NTA itself. I will check the matter for the Deputy. I am pretty certain though.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I will come back to the Deputy now on it. I am correct. The Deputy can be absolutely certain of it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy is right that some of the private carriers do not carry those who hold a free travel pass. When will we do it? The last time I inquired about it, it was pretty well imminent. It was coming down the line. A few things remained to be settled but I think it will be probably in a week or two. We can probably be sure that we will get it within a week or two.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: This is separate. That is a bit like saying that the subvention can sort the dispute. The subvention cannot sort out the dispute. Nor can the free travel scheme sort out the dispute.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: Let me finish. The issue of free travel should have been sorted regardless of this dispute and would have been sorted regardless of this dispute. It is an issue that affects the other transport companies as well. The Deputy should not just target Bus Éireann as part of the free travel area. It also affects the others.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: Let me answer the Deputy's question but first I shall contradict something she said. I do not believe the company is being pushed to insolvency. That is an unfortunate turn of phrase. There is a danger of insolvency and we are trying to keep it out of insolvency. It is unfortunate the Deputy used the phrase "pushed to insolvency".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: We are trying to persuade the workforce and employers to get together and sort it out by themselves. That is our objective. Do not say it is being pushed to insolvency. The Deputy is right when she says it is in danger of insolvency but the rhetoric is really misleading.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: No, because I think the company has a good future and a viable future. I am very much hoping it has a viable future.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I do not disagree with quite a lot of what Deputy Murphy has said. I am totally on the same page as her about people who may not be able to pay their mortgages and I saw a lot about this on television recently. It is a really tough situation for them. The problem is that there are inefficiencies in the company, which is acknowledged by the staff and the management. I cannot give money to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: Yes.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: Yes, I will make a few opening remarks if that is all right.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the Chairman very much for the second opportunity to meet the committee today and to present the 2017 Revised Estimates for my Department. I will make a few introductory remarks on the allocation highlights, as well as the key issues and priorities ahead. I will also introduce each sectoral programme in sequence but very briefly. First, I would like to introduce my officials. I am...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: The aviation programme is a relatively small but vital one with an allocation this year of €27 million, representing only 2% of the Vote, which is an increase of €1 million on 2016. The largest element of the programme is the regional airports programme at €13.3 million. Funding is also earmarked to cover costs associated with our membership of Eurocontrol, costs...