Results 11,361-11,380 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Driving Test Waiting Times: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Yes. What is important here is the average waiting time in weeks. There are two categories the Senator got in the letter. The letter, which I read, made those two categories absolutely clear. In every case that the Senator quoted, the average waiting time was considerably lower. There is an obligation on the Senator, as someone who has rightly championed those who are experiencing the...

Seanad: Driving Test Waiting Times: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: No one should come into this House and quote figures which are not representative. I would certainly be happy to address individual figures with any Senator, because everybody has them in his or her own area. We should give this a little bit of time now, because measures are being taken. I would be happy to come back here in six months' time and inquire of the RSA what progress has been...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputies for raising this question which is, obviously, important to the travelling public in the coming weeks, whatever the outcome. I wish to comment on what Deputy Broughan said. The idea that I somehow intervened in any industrial discussions in any form recently is completely untrue. I want to put that on the record. For Deputy Broughan to say that I somehow stopped it,...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I do not think Deputy Broughan was listening to what I said but never mind. If he wishes to turn deaf ears to what I say that is absolutely fine; I cannot do anything about it. I have not cut the PSO subvention. I have quoted it to the Deputy already. Perhaps he was not listening to what I said.

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I have not cut PSO.

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Somebody else may have cut it. The Deputy should not tell me that I cut it.

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I never cut PSO.

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: PSO subvention, as I explained to the Deputy at the beginning, has gone up and will go up this year. It is not just an ambition; it is a fact. As long as I am Minister, it will continue to go up. I understand the Deputy's point of view perfectly and sympathise with much of what he says but he should not quote things to me that are factually incorrect. I have not threatened anything in...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I have not threatened and Deputy Broughan should not say it. There may be a report but I did not write the report. The position on rail is quite simple. We believe in rail. We subsidise it very heavily because we believe in it. The rail review has come up with certain suggestions and an overview of certain alternatives. They will be decided in due course after the national planning...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I will address the specific issues raised by Deputy Lawless. I will refer the issues back to my Department and give the Deputy a reply afterwards because I do not know the answers. When the Deputy asks a question about a specific line, it is an operational matter. It is fair enough for me to refer it back to the Department and get the Deputy an answer. It is an operational matter. It is...

Topical Issue Debate: Scéim na mBóithre Áise (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Just a second. Excuse me a second while I put on my headphones.

Topical Issue Debate: Scéim na mBóithre Áise (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for his very eloquent advocacy for this village regarding the issue of the road which he says is in such bad repair. I take his point about the area and its large population of 5,000 people, about the fact that the repairs were stopped up to 2008 and that it is obviously an important road in an area that contains an Irish college, a fire service and schools. He said that...

Topical Issue Debate: Scéim na mBóithre Áise (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I would like to respond as specifically as I can. It is a bit difficult to judge, just on the basis of the Deputy's word, how big an emergency this is. While I do not doubt him for a second, I cannot compare it with Donegal without having first-hand experience of that to which he is referring. However, I know it has been a problem for a long period and may have been exacerbated in recent...

Topical Issue Debate: Scéim na mBóithre Áise (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I come to the point about the grants system. The local authority is the road authority. If it is an immediate safety issue, it should be addressed first with the council. Primarily, it is a matter for the council. This year, we gave Galway County Council €19.5 million in grants. Of that, €11.1 million was for restoration. In addition, €4.8 million was for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Employment Rights (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The pay terms and working conditions of the many people who work for Ryanair across Europe are a matter for the company and the employment authorities across Europe, including the Irish employment authorities. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has no function in relation to such matters.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Travel Trade Sector (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The responsibility for administering the licensing and bonding of travel agents and tour operators in accordance with the Transport (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) Act, 1982 as amended, was transferred to the Commission for Aviation Regulation on 27 February, 2001.  I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the Commission for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Services (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The issues raised are matters 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 reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Statutory Instruments (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Directive 2014/45/EU on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers, requires, from 20 May 2018, the mandatory periodic testing of tractors with a maximum design speed exceeding 40 km/h (category T5), and which are used mainly on the public road for commercial road haulage purposes. There is however, no requirement on Member States to introduce compulsory testing for...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Projects Status (26 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank Senator Lombard for raising this important issue and commend him on making such a strong case for the Bandon southern relief road. I agree with his comments regarding the volumes of through traffic and his observation that the town serves as a gateway to west Cork, which I visited recently. The argument he makes has a great deal of merit but I dispute his claim that the projected...