Results 16,381-16,400 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Traffic (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I am keen to mitigate any adverse effects that Brexit or other factors may have on the tourism industry, including cruise tourism. With these concerns in mind, I met with the Dublin Port Company recently regarding its capital development plans and rationale for prioritisation in the context of Brexit, as well as the specifics with regard to cruise berths. At the meeting, Dublin Port...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Traffic (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I was taken somewhat by surprise by this announcement and did not expect anything quite so immediate. I have responded to it by bringing in the chairman and the chief executive of the Dublin Port Company. Since becoming Minister, I am a regular visitor to and frequently keep in touch with the company, as do my officials. There is no lack of communication normally. The chief executive...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Traffic (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: The port has shown a great commitment to the cruise industry and cruise liner numbers have been rising. The Deputy is well aware of the pressures of freight and cargo on Dublin Port. It is not a matter of making a choice of one or the other. It is about ensuring cargo is secured and there is enough space for it. I was surprised by the timing of this particular announcement, although...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Football Association of Ireland (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: Sport in Ireland is generally organised and governed by autonomous national bodies.  The governance of these national governing bodies of sport, NGBs, is a matter for the governing bodies. While the Government does not regulate sport, Sport Ireland is an independent statutory body whose functions include responsibility for governance oversight of NGBs.  All of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Football Association of Ireland (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: The Deputy knows I cannot possibly comment on current events because Sport Ireland is clarifying them and will report to me. As I said, I will release whatever material Sport Ireland sends to me to the Deputy and anyone else who wants it, hopefully by the end of the week. As the Minister of State correctly informed the Deputy, Sport Ireland is responsible for governance. I understand...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Football Association of Ireland (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I certainly cannot comment on part of what the Deputy said, as I made clear. The Deputy knew that when she asked me the question. I will not comment on any specifics.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Football Association of Ireland (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: If I may answer, I will not comment on any of the specifics of any issue currently being investigated by Sport Ireland or anyone else. That is out of the question. Sport Ireland has robust arrangements in place attached to the funding it provides to sporting bodies, including the Football Association of Ireland. As part of Sport Ireland's normal processes and procedures relating to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Light Rail Projects Status (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Transport Authority, NTA, published the MetroLink preferred route for public consultation on Tuesday, 26 March. This reflects the NTA's and Transport Infrastructure Ireland's consideration of issues raised in the consultation period held last year on what was known as the "Emerging Preferred Route". The Deputy has welcomed the publication of the new...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Light Rail Projects Status (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: Maybe I could give the Deputy a timeline. First, this current consultation phase will run until the end of May. The NTA and TII will then work on finalising a business case for submission to the Government. The Government must then approve the business case before it can progress to planning. The NTA then expects a railway order application by the second quarter of 2020. A statutory...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Light Rail Projects Status (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: There obviously have been considerations of the route in the south-west direction, by which I take it the Deputy means Rathfarnham, Terenure, Tallaght and that direction. Those considerations have been made on a thorough basis and the judgment has been made that there is not the population there to merit a Luas extension to there at present. There are plenty of other candidates for Luas...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Light Rail Projects Status (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: Certainly, the Terenure-Tallaght-Rathfarnham option is not one of those which is currently under active consideration. On the issues the Deputy raised, he will find that, as I said, a business case will of course have to be made. When Deputy Troy asked me whether the 2021 date is something which I can be specific about, I obviously cannot be more specific about what time in 2021 because...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Light Rail Projects Status (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: -----and that is dependant on planning.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Transport Services (2 Apr 2019)

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, has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. It also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Transport Services (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for his intervention. As a human being, I am absolutely sympathetic with what he says and as a representative I can understand his point of view. If he says quality has suffered, particularly with respect to accessibility with some of the buses, I regret that on a personal level. My understanding is this process is carried out by the NTA under European Union rules. As...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Transport Services (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: My understanding is the impact of the procurement process is not necessarily what the Deputy has said it is, although I do not doubt for a moment his bona fides. My understanding is that as a result of the procurement process, there is no change in the transport services, although there is a change in the management of services at a local level. The procurement service allows TCUs to plan...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Light Rail Projects (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for his question. The Deputy is aware of the current status of the MetroLink project both from my earlier answer and the briefing session the National Transport Authority arranged for Members last week. The Taoiseach was correct in that the project has a great deal of appeal and all projects should be considered if they appear sensible on the surface, although they must...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Light Rail Projects (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: All the routes suggested by the Deputy are worthy of debate. Any suggestions he makes are very worthy of debate in this House and they will go into the mix when the review commences. When it concludes, it can review the general transport strategy in a way the Deputy approved of thoroughly in the past. That is the system and process it will go through. In the meantime, the Deputy's...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Light Rail Projects (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: Sometimes I find that what the Deputy has to say can be quite confusing. I assume he has now dropped that south western project he had in mind. I notice that he has abandoned it. That is all right then. I see nothing wrong with him dropping one project one week and taking up another project another week. It is somewhat volatile but he is entitled to be volatile in this business and to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Accident Investigations (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: We all sadly recall the tragic loss of Rescue 116 in the early hours of 14 March 2017 at Blackrock, County Mayo. First of all, I again wish to avail of this opportunity in the House to offer my sincere condolences to the families, colleagues and friends of the four crew members who lost their lives - Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, Captain Mark Duffy, Winch Operator Paul Ormsby and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Accident Investigations (2 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: The Deputy's questions merit answers. I will answer the question about what my Department is doing on foot of safety recommendations issued in the interim report, which I think is what the Deputy is addressing. The safety recommendation was that I "carry out a thorough review of SAR aviation operations in Ireland to ensure that there are appropriate processes, resources and personnel in...