Results 7,541-7,560 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: Deputy Smith cannot expect me to agree with her and I do not. Putting these routes out to tender is not a wage deal at all. It is a matter of introducing competition into the market. It is not a wage deal, which is a separate issue that was discussed in a separate forum and where a settlement was reached to the satisfaction of all parties. That is not related to this particular issue....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I will answer the Deputy's question. Do I hope this will take cars off the road? The answer is yes. Do not say that I am not answering the question. The answer is Y-E-S. I do hope it will do that. Does this answer the Deputy's question? Is that plain enough for her?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: It is absolutely absurd for Deputy Smith to say that. The workers and staff are protected under this particular scheme. There will not be redundancies as a result of putting this out to tender. There will be none, so for the Deputy to suggest that the workers are in some way being laid off, they are not. They have options under these schemes. They have options to have similar terms of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Transport Infrastructure Provision (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank Deputy Connolly for her question. I am sure that the Deputy is aware that the transport strategy for Galway city was prepared by the National Transport Authority in partnership with Galway City Council and Galway County Council in 2016. The strategy set out an overall framework for the development of transport infrastructure and services in Galway city and its environs over a 20...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: To answer to the Deputy's first question about the 24-hour notification, I believe that is unacceptable. I am delighted the NTA has approved a pilot project and that Iarnród Éireann is doing that. I hope it works and that it is followed by all the other companies. A 24-hour notification period is far too long. I want to see a transport system which treats and facilitates...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Search and Rescue Service Provision (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: Under the Irish National Maritime Search and Rescue Framework, SAR framework, which was published in March 2010 by the then Minister for Transport, the Irish Coast Guard, as a division of the my Department, has responsibility for the co-ordination of maritime search and rescue, SAR, emergency response at sea and along the coasts and cliffs of Ireland, and on major inland lakes. Under the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Search and Rescue Service Provision (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I will answer the Deputy's second question first. The IAA carries out periodic comprehensive reviews of its NAV charts. The most recent comprehensive review was carried out between October 2016 and May 2017. It involved the Air Corps CHC pilot organisation and its associations. The review involved a series of technical workshops over a number of months attended by over 100 participants....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Search and Rescue Service Provision (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: The position is very clear. The then Minister in 2010 signed off on a framework which was absolutely specific, namely, that the Coast Guard is responsible for all of the regulation around the coast and on the cliffs and the IAA oversees the aeronautical travel that is going on. That could not be clearer, and they are responsible for that. It is an organisation. That is the practice and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Search and Rescue Service Provision (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: That has been the accepted practice since 2010. The IAA is one of the most respected of the regulators of safety in the world. It was second in Europe last year and has been acknowledged by all the auditors. It is audited in the most stringent way, not only globally or nationally by my Department but also by the European Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, the European safety Organisation. To...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I constantly answer questions on this, not just here but in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport. I think the Deputy will find that no other Minister has attended so often to answer questions specifically on the transport budget and other ancillary issues. I am willing to do so at any time. I am willing to converse with the Deputy, to receive delegations and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I will try to keep to the time. The Acting Chair might interrupt me because it is quite difficult to keep an eye on the clock at the same time.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: My Department's high-level policy goal for accessible public transport is embodied in the concept of Transport Access for All. This policy is based on the provisions of the Disability Act 2005 and related Government strategies, in particular the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021, NDIS, launched by Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Finian McGrath, in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: It is disingenuous for Deputy Munster to suggest we do not have commitment in this area. I respect that she has a commitment to it and she should acknowledge that we have allocated a greatly increased amount to disabilities in the plan. Trebling the amount is no mean achievement and shows no lack of commitment. It would be helpful if the Deputy acknowledged that. That money is very...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for the question, which is very important, particularly in view of the mid-term capital review and the ten year capital plan. The Deputy is aware that following the completion of the mid-term review of the capital plan, my Department secured the largest increase in capital funding of all Departments out to 2021 and the end of the current capital plan. Total capital...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank Deputy Troy for his response. He is right in all the facts which he has given. We had the lowest proportion in 2010, but the infrastructure was in a very precarious state. As the Deputy said, we first need to tackle the business of the steady state. There is no point in introducing new and extravagant infrastructure when the roads are not up to par. I have spelled out very clearly...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 51 and 75 together. As I have advised the House previously, civil aviation is a highly regulated global industry, and there are extensive EU and international rules and regulations which all members states are obliged to comply with. In Ireland, the Irish Aviation Authority is the designated, statutory body for aviation regulation and it is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Civil Aviation Regulation (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: The internal review of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973 is currently underway. The purpose of the internal review is to identify the options available for various aspects of the Order. The internal review of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973 is currently underway. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023 (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 52 and 91 together. Before I respond to the deputies' questions, I wish to reiterate my congratulations to France on their win. As I have said, I wish them every success as they turn their attention to delivering what I hope will be an outstanding tournament in 2023. Wednesday's result was disappointing, particularly after the years of work put...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services Provision (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day to day operations of public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the NTA is the statutory body with responsibility for the issues...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: EU Regulations (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: Deputy, you will recall that in October, I advised the Dáil of the most recent legal advices made available to me at that time which had the effect of ruling out the Irish Aviation Authority as the preferred body to be nominated Competent Authority for the purposes of EU Regulation 598/14. This represented a very late-in-the-day development, and it has resulted in my Department...