Results 13,961-13,980 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Applications (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: It is Government policy to integrate the Public Services Card (PSC) into all public service provision. In line with this policy, I amended regulations earlier this year to allow the PSC to be used as an optional but not mandatory form of identity in applications for driving licences. The Road Safety Authority, which is responsible for the driver theory test, has required a PSC as a form of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 506 together. As the Deputy is aware, the National Development Plan (NDP), published in February as part of Project Ireland 2040, identifies the delivery of the full BusConnects programme for Ireland’s cities (inclusive of ticketing systems, bus corridors, additional capacity, new bus stops and bus shelters etc.) as a key investment priority...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network Expansion (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA), working with other relevant State bodies, is responsible for ensuring the planning, development and delivery of the public transport infrastructure priorities in the GDA. This includes the electrification of the Maynooth...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Status (11 Jul 2018)

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 roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Data Sharing Arrangements (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: The Data Sharing and Governance Bill, responsibility for which falls under the remit of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, was published on 8 June 2018 and is currently at Report Stage in the Seanad. As the Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018 is still under consideration, my Department is not yet in a position to prepare and implement appropriate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I thank members for being present to discuss what everybody recognises is a vital piece of national infrastructure. It is correctly being examined by this committee, because without it we would lack connectivity which we need so badly. I have arranged a full briefing for members by my officials tomorrow if they want to get into the detail. They have all been notified of that. The second...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: No. The Chairman is correct in what he says. The restrictions are there but they do not kick in until it is finished. If the legislation is passed by the Oireachtas those planning permissions will then lapse and there will be new conditions. We do not know exactly what they will be at this stage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: That was in 2007 in different circumstances.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I cannot predict whether it will be challenged. However, it will now be considered in different circumstances because it will be considered under EU Regulation 598/2014. It will be working to that template and those conditions. The conditions are quite different and it will be working under an EU directive when it issues its new findings.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: Under the EU directive there needs to be an appeal body and An Bord Pleanála is the ultimate appeal body. If it went straight to them there would be no appeal body. We have to have construction and then-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: Yes. Senator O'Mahony asked about the throughput. According to the DAA, if everything went wrong and the planning restrictions were as they are now, it would halve the throughput of night-time traffic, that is, traffic between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. That is very serious and would not be acceptable. We do not know if the new noise regulator will come up with a similar solution but the DAA is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I think there are some 120 but this would be reduced to 60. Deputy Troy is right in much of what he says. There has been a delay, and when we thought the IAA would be the competent authority we anticipated an earlier timetable for the legislation and everything else. We were taken by surprise by our legal advice forcing us to look for another authority. That is why we have such a tight...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: It did change.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I do not know what it was based on but it did change. It was probably based more on other judgments in Europe relating to the issue. The alternative to what we did was to ignore the legal advice but the advice was that, if we appointed the IAA, we would be subject to legal challenge. It would have been pretty irresponsible and reckless to appoint the IAA in the face of such advice. With...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: It will commence immediately.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: The Chairman is correct. We will not be waiting for the legislation to be pass. People will be recruited in anticipation of that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: The noise regulator is independent and it can decide what independents do. We cannot put pressure on them or tell them what to do, etc.. It will be working within the confines of an EU directive. That directive states specifically that restrictions are a last resort. It is not anticipated that this will be the first choice at all. We may be right but we may be wrong. Restrictions are...