Results 3,901-3,920 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: There certainly was a meeting. Deputy Brendan Ryan spoke about the wording in the document. That wording was examined by the Attorney General when testing the independence and he found that the independence was definitely established. Staff have been sanctioned but not recruited.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: Is the Deputy referring to the role of the director of services?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: As far as I know, the posts have been sanctioned.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: I am not sure because it does not involve my Department. It comes under the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. It gave sanction to Fingal County Council to recruit up to nine permanent officers.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: I have just been informed the grade levels for director of services, senior executive planner, senior executive engineer, senior staff officer and a staff officer have been approved.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: Yes.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: They have not been recruited. The posts have been sanctioned, if needed. That is all.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: They have been sanctioned if needed.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: There is a common theme which has gone through nearly all of the contributions, which is the recruitment of the nine members of staff. Some people call it arrogance and some have said it was reckless. It is not arrogant. No staff have been recruited. What has happened is that positions have been sanctioned. That is prudent and a sensible thing to do in anticipation of what we expect to...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: To reply to Deputy Clare Daly, I am confident that we will get the necessary expertise. I do not think that will be a problem. When the Deputy says that I have repeated answers I have produced before, if she asks the same questions she will get the same answers. I do not mind if the Deputy wants to go over the old coals of this long saga time and time again, that is up to her, but she will...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: I am not averse to that suggestion. To an extent, it is micromanaging which I would not be expected to do. It is somewhat absurd to ask me to give the details of exactly who will do what job, but if Deputy Clare Daly wants them, I will endeavour to find out and provide her with the information.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: I am not unhappy to do it, but it is probably up to the competent authority to provide it. That is why we have these bodies to do this work for us. Certainly, I will obtain the information for the Deputy if I can.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: That is something on which I can give the Deputy full assurance. That will happen.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: I have multiple motivations for getting this through quickly. We are behind on noise; that is the factor. It was 2016 and therefore we are late and that is the factor. It is to get it expedited as soon as possible.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: My assumption is that it would be delayed considerably if that had to be done.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: I will not accept the amendment and I do not think the Deputy will be particularly surprised by this. I do not think it is necessary. We have a very democratic way of dealing with these regulations already. Any regulation made under section 9(9) or 10(16) will be laid before each House as normal, with an opportunity for them to be examined within 21 days.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: I cannot accept the amendment for good reasons. EU Regulation No. 598/2014 makes it clear that the noise regulator must ensure regard is had to the 2002 environmental noise directive in monitoring noise levels at the airport. We cannot alter EU Regulation No. 598 which ensures a consistent EU-wide approach to noise levels assessment. I do not propose to move away from it and it would be...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: Let me repeat the legal advice we have on this, which is definitive. We cannot add or take away from this regulation. I wish to comment on the 2002 environmental noise directive to which the Deputies have referred. Obviously, it is open to the regulator to have regard to that when making decisions. However, I cannot possibly do anything but ask the proposer to withdraw this amendment...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: It is an EU regulation. That is what we are implementing.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Committee Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Shane Ross: We update when the EU updates. We do not do so unilaterally. It is imperative that this is in place for another reason. It ensures that there is a consistent EU-wide approach to noise assessment. This would divert from that as well.