Results 9,741-9,760 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: It is complete and utter rubbish. I have no privatisation agenda whatsoever.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I have answered the Deputy's question. I have no privatisation agenda whatsoever. If I have had tussles with various individuals in various strikes in the past, it does not mean that I have a privatisation agenda today. I do not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank Deputy Barry for his contribution. I have heard it before and no doubt I will hear it again. I wish to find a solution to this problem. That is my agenda and I think we are addressing it in the best possible way. As far as I know, there is no intention of introducing zero-hour contracts. I will repeat that I have no privatisation agenda. It is unhelpful for Deputy Barry to come...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I will take the second question first. I have not yet made this point but I presume it is sticking out and everyone knows it. I cannot give money to Expressway. It is as simple as that. Therefore, I have no role to play. It is a commercial organisation. It would be against the rules for me to do it. I cannot go in and sort out this problem for Expressway by just giving it a subsidy....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: That is true, but that is up to the NTA. That is what has happened already. As the Deputy knows, it happened the Athlone-Westport route. Expressway closed it down and the NTA moved in and put in extra buses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I do not think that is the case at the moment. The situation is that the NTA does not have to stretch because of the proposals on the routes that are to be closed down. It can be covered by the NTA itself. I will check the matter for the Deputy. I am pretty certain though.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I will come back to the Deputy now on it. I am correct. The Deputy can be absolutely certain of it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy is right that some of the private carriers do not carry those who hold a free travel pass. When will we do it? The last time I inquired about it, it was pretty well imminent. It was coming down the line. A few things remained to be settled but I think it will be probably in a week or two. We can probably be sure that we will get it within a week or two.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: This is separate. That is a bit like saying that the subvention can sort the dispute. The subvention cannot sort out the dispute. Nor can the free travel scheme sort out the dispute.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: Let me finish. The issue of free travel should have been sorted regardless of this dispute and would have been sorted regardless of this dispute. It is an issue that affects the other transport companies as well. The Deputy should not just target Bus Éireann as part of the free travel area. It also affects the others.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: Let me answer the Deputy's question but first I shall contradict something she said. I do not believe the company is being pushed to insolvency. That is an unfortunate turn of phrase. There is a danger of insolvency and we are trying to keep it out of insolvency. It is unfortunate the Deputy used the phrase "pushed to insolvency".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: We are trying to persuade the workforce and employers to get together and sort it out by themselves. That is our objective. Do not say it is being pushed to insolvency. The Deputy is right when she says it is in danger of insolvency but the rhetoric is really misleading.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: No, because I think the company has a good future and a viable future. I am very much hoping it has a viable future.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I do not disagree with quite a lot of what Deputy Murphy has said. I am totally on the same page as her about people who may not be able to pay their mortgages and I saw a lot about this on television recently. It is a really tough situation for them. The problem is that there are inefficiencies in the company, which is acknowledged by the staff and the management. I cannot give money to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: Yes.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test Centres (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: This is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Provision (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: ​The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the new Metro North project. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: ​As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects (including the N24) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Funding (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: Kerry Council Council submitted an application to my Department for the construction of Phase 1 of the Tralee-Fenit Greenway under the 2014-2016 National Cycle Network funding programme. While no funding was awarded under that programme, €345,000 was subsequently awarded from the Government Stimulus package 2014 for infrastructural development which allowed...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Private Partnerships Expenditure (29 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects (including PPP schemes) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority. ...