Results 8,321-8,340 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy is quite right that the 12 week period became nine months, but there was a reason for it. Part of it was the reluctance of people to appear and part of it was the fact that there were difficulties which had not been anticipated. It did go on too long and it was a pity that it went on for as long as it did. We received frequent requests from the judge for an extension, which was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: We have established very pertinent facts. That is beyond dispute.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: Mr. Justice Moran went on to say that that was why he did not investigate events surrounding the London Olympics and other games. It was an impediment in certain areas, on which he is correct. However, it did not stop him addressing the key issues and making findings which are absolutely invaluable and about which none of us knew. The fact that he was impeded in certain areas does not mean...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: Oversight is mostly carried out through Sport Ireland which is the funding vehicle. The OCI supplies Sport Ireland with audited accounts annually. The OCI provides AGM minute notes annually. It provides a mid-year report on activities. It provides a mid-year update on programme costs. It provides a tax clearance certificate for Sport Ireland. It provides an operational agreement which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: The Chairman makes a very good point. The OCI has committed to signing up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: No, it has not signed yet. The Chairman will have to ask the OCI about that today. We are putting the maximum amount of pressure on the OCI to do that as soon as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: I agree.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: The Chairman should ask the OCI today how long it is going to take and what its programme is for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: Until the OCI satisfies us that its governance is in order, and that includes signing up to the code, its prospects for funding will not be good. If it does sign up, those prospects will obviously be massively improved. Sport Ireland is engaging with the 42 bodies that have yet to sign up to the code. All of them are committed to looking at it. I am not sure that they are all going to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: No, it did not. We made it absolutely clear to the OCI that we want this done as soon as possible. Obviously, funding is a material matter. One is conditional on the other.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: I think I have answered that question already. I do not see any grounds for a statutory investigation or a further investigation of that sort. That is quite clearly what I have said and it is clearly what the judge said. Therefore, I do not think that is the case. However, there are still questions to be answered. We do not know-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: Did the Deputy say they cannot claim privilege on the grounds of self-incrimination?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy has bounced that onto me so I will not give her a direct answer - I will have to come back to her later on the matter. I do not see any merit in, or need for, another report at this moment. This report has given us a large number of answers, although not all the answers. It has told us things we did not know and has given us the basis for reform of the OCI, which is going to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the Chairman. I want to be measured. I have a great deal of sympathy for what he and Deputy Mick Barry are saying. As a principle, Mr. Hickey should come here. There is absolutely no doubt that he should be here to answer questions. While I understand the plea about not self-incriminating, I find it very difficult to reconcile it with going to the media and giving interviews. If...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: I certainly will not dismiss it today because I think it would be unreasonable to do so, but it would have many implications down the line. I suggest, therefore, that the committee wait and see what comes out of the proceedings, but I am not passing up the proposal. The committee is to talk to the OCI this afternoon and will hear what it has to state about it. It has a legal problem, on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: Maybe they would. There is a combination of two things here. The events, including the inquiry precipitated the movement and the reforms in the OCI. Maybe the fact there was an inquiry precipitated the hand over of the payments. Would it have done that without the inquiry? I do not know. I do not know if it would have cleaned up its act without the inquiry, but I do not think it would....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: He is suggesting doing that now. That is what is in the report, he said let us use social media so that it probably will not happen again. We have dealt with the London games and the reconciliation of accounts. I think we have dealt with everything.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: They have been general and particular. I prefer to be general. They are not irreconcilable. Deputy asked me specific questions about THG and should we sort it out first. Yes, obviously that comes under the general-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: I do not want to give huge hostages to fortune because they could be open to strange interpretations. I am saying that normal corporate governance rules must be in place or we must be satisfied that they will be in place before funding is given to OCI.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report into Ticketing at Rio Olympic Games: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Aug 2017)

Shane Ross: I am not saying that. Sport Ireland funding is for administration and programmes. What I am saying is that I do not believe funding should be given to an organisation that is behaving in a way that is ethically unacceptable.