Results 8,941-8,960 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: We have to get the full information before we make any decision because the issue is so important. From previous meetings the Secretary General and members of staff and officials have had with the United Kingdom, from as early as January, we have certainly had a very detailed discussion about the land bridge issue and got a great deal of comfort from the United Kingdom that it has no wish to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: On the issue of TEN-T funding, a submission will be made to Commissioner Bulc who I hope to meet next week at the Transport Council. It will be part of a submission I will make. I gather overtures have already been made on the issue. On the matter related to the haulage industry, I do not know the answer to the Deputy's question. I will examine it and come back to him on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy wants to know how far the discussion on the Open Skies agreement has got. That answer is, as far as I understand it, that the United Kingdom will start the withdrawal talks very soon after the general election. They will proceed in a certain way and no talks on other matters, including the Open Skies agreement, should start before March 2019. That would be a very long period in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: About customs posts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: It has come from the talks with the officials and with the committee last week. The chairman of the Revenue Commissioners said and made it clear at the committee last week that they would be seeking electronic solutions. That is credible and the optimal solution if there are to be customs arrangements in order that the process will be as seamless as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: Symbolically?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: I do not think it is at all but if Britain leaves the customs union presumably there will be some mechanism to ensure that certain rules are kept and what we would look for is minimal disruption and disturbance. The horrific imagery of Border posts, with lorries and cars and freight queueing there, is unacceptable and we would have to introduce the most seamless way possible of doing that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: Provided that the committee does not get legal advice. I will be there and I am happy to take it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: What was the last part?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: On the question of there being any threat to free travel, there is none. Emphatically none. There is no threat whatever to free travel, I have no intention of altering that in any way.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: No reductions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy will know, there has been an ongoing discussion between my Department and the Department of Social Protection on this matter. That continues but is nearing completion. A principle has been agreed that all commercial bus operators, including Expressway, should be treated the same regarding the methodology used for compensation for participating in the scheme. As I speak, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: The increases are quite satisfactory. They have gone up over recent years and will continue to do so. They should be focused most where they are most needed. I am conscious that some rural communities feel that they have been neglected or deprived in recent times. My opinion is not that important because that scheme is run by the Department of Social Protection and the NTA has an input as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: The most important thing from a transport point of view is to co-operate on housing and because the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government is leading in this area, and look at where it intends to build new houses. From our position, wherever housing expands, we must look at those areas and expand in those areas. When housing density increases, it affects transport...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: I will take the questions in order. I agree that it was a painful strike for some people and that difficult decisions were made. I pay tribute to all sides on reaching an agreement, including the trade unions, employers, the WRC and the Labour Court, where significant efforts and sacrifices were made. That should be acknowledged. It was very difficult for certain people to accept it and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: I will give it, but because I want to answer the questions chronologically, I will first answer the Deputy's question on the unions. Of course I will meet the unions. I received letters from three of them last week. Those have been acknowledged and I will write to them in the next day or two to invite them to meet me. That will be an open agenda. I will discuss with them what we plan to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: Yes. It would include the private commercial operators, trade unions and employers. We would be delighted to include members of this committee. I will not list everyone, but it would also include transport economists. We would be happy to have that. I will not delay it, but we want to set up something that is meaningful and will feed into the consultation process and review of transport...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Shane Ross: I am not familiar with the problem, but I will examine it.