Results 10,221-10,240 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: I do not propose to travel around Europe meeting all 27 of my counterparts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: It is important that I meet the key stakeholders and hear what they have to say, although one does not have to have a meeting with Michael O'Leary to hear what he has to say. He has publicly stated his views on Brexit on many occasions. I have met Mr. Stephen Kavanagh of Aer Lingus formally. I also met him informally on various occasions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: We discussed Brexit. I met the chief executive of the DAA formally and I have met him informally on other occasions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: We discussed Brexit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: The answer is that I have met all of the people the Deputy mentioned. Brexit has been on the agenda on all those occasions. I do not recall meeting Mr. Pat Byrne formally. I do not wish to mislead the Deputy. I certainly met Michael O'Leary formally at his office and we discussed Brexit. I have met the head of the DAA formally and we discussed, among other things, Brexit. I have met Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy, in answering his last question, is incorrect.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: On the regional airports, I have met the stakeholders of Waterford Airport on two or three occasions. The Government is committed to the regional airports which, if they are within the restrictions imposed by EU rules, will continue to get funding. However, if they are in the breach of the rules, they will not get funding. I visited Farranfore Airport in Kerry. I have not been to Ireland...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: No, I have not. On the UK landbridge issue, the Deputy is right to point out that it is extremely serious. The important aspect is that it is being done in a thorough and very formal way. That is in recognition of our need to have a fully researched piece of work on what exactly the effect would be and to have it completed in time before the negotiations start. Such research cannot be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: We have to get the full information before we make any decision because the issue is so important. From previous meetings the Secretary General and members of staff and officials have had with the United Kingdom, from as early as January, we have certainly had a very detailed discussion about the land bridge issue and got a great deal of comfort from the United Kingdom that it has no wish to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: On the issue of TEN-T funding, a submission will be made to Commissioner Bulc who I hope to meet next week at the Transport Council. It will be part of a submission I will make. I gather overtures have already been made on the issue. On the matter related to the haulage industry, I do not know the answer to the Deputy's question. I will examine it and come back to him on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy wants to know how far the discussion on the Open Skies agreement has got. That answer is, as far as I understand it, that the United Kingdom will start the withdrawal talks very soon after the general election. They will proceed in a certain way and no talks on other matters, including the Open Skies agreement, should start before March 2019. That would be a very long period in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: About customs posts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: It has come from the talks with the officials and with the committee last week. The chairman of the Revenue Commissioners said and made it clear at the committee last week that they would be seeking electronic solutions. That is credible and the optimal solution if there are to be customs arrangements in order that the process will be as seamless as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: Symbolically?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: I do not think it is at all but if Britain leaves the customs union presumably there will be some mechanism to ensure that certain rules are kept and what we would look for is minimal disruption and disturbance. The horrific imagery of Border posts, with lorries and cars and freight queueing there, is unacceptable and we would have to introduce the most seamless way possible of doing that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: Provided that the committee does not get legal advice. I will be there and I am happy to take it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: What was the last part?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: On the question of there being any threat to free travel, there is none. Emphatically none. There is no threat whatever to free travel, I have no intention of altering that in any way.