Results 9,821-9,840 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Priority Questions: Railway Stations (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I wish to make the Deputy an offer. If he has evidence of these things happening in those stations and if he has not received a satisfactory response to representations which, presumably, he has made about all of those incidents he mentioned, I would be more than happy, in the name of natural and human justice, to make representations as well to Iarnród Éireann and anybody else and...

Priority Questions: Road Tolls (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I understand the reasons Deputy Munster is saying this - it is her constituency and her constituents obviously feel this is unfair to them. I do not accept that the figures are made up. I accept the fact that they may be subjective and not entirely and totally accurate in circumstances where one cannot measure it down to the last lorry or car, but the Deputy must accept that a contract has...

Priority Questions: Road Tolls (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: If the Deputy wishes to say the TII's figures are wrong, I would like her to produce evidence to the contrary. I would like her to produce conflicting figures.

Priority Questions: Road Tolls (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy said they are wrong, makey-up figures. She may be right but there is no evidence for it whatsoever. I assume TII, which is employed to do this sort of work, has an expertise in tolling and counting the number of cars and lorries that go through. The Deputy has produced no evidence whatsoever that it is incorrect.

Priority Questions: Road Tolls (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I am not going to interfere with a single toll in a single place because that is not my role as Minister. It is the TII's role. I understand the reasons the Deputy raises the matter, but I note that the aim of the Donore ramp toll plazas was to help the local communities by mitigating possible rat-running with adverse impacts on them. In response to concerns expressed about the possible...

Priority Questions: Bus Éireann (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I share the Deputy's concern about this particular problem, which is still going on as we speak and remains unresolved.​ As I have previously indicated to the Deputy, during the course of 2016 Bus Éireann management worked on developing a business plan to address the loss making situation in its commercial Expressway business. Several drafts of Bus Éireann's proposals were...

Priority Questions: Aviation Industry Regulations (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: There are a lot of questions to answer. The Deputy correctly stated the reply is similar to that on the previous occasion. This is a complex statutory instrument. We do not know at this stage whether there will necessarily be primary legislation but I suspect there will be. As the Deputy will be aware, it is extremely important it is robust and will not be challenged. It is important...

Priority Questions: Aviation Industry Regulations (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I will answer that in my next contribution, with this next bit as well.

Priority Questions: Aviation Industry Regulations (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I will not give the Deputy a deadline date but it is a matter of urgency. I have made that quite clear. That question was repeated. It is a matter of urgency but I will not say it will be next week when there are complex legal problems involved. Deputy Troy can be assured I will be putting pressure on all parties involved to get this to us quickly. The Minister of State, Deputy...

Priority Questions: Road Tolls (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank Deputy Munster for this question which is on the same lines as questions the Deputy has been following up over a period of time. ​As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in regard to the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure...

Priority Questions: Aviation Industry Regulations (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: There is a question about the Coast Guard and I will reciprocate the Deputy's sincere comments, with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's indulgence, when the question arises. I echo the Deputy's comments in the meantime and it is of course a very sad day for the nation and people of all political parties. Sympathies must go to the families. I thank Deputy Troy for putting this question. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Capital Expenditure Programme (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: The Government's Capital Plan allocates just over €3.6 billion for investment in public transport for the period 2016 to 2022.  Over this period, the level of annual funding for public transport investment will increase to more than €800m by 2022.  This will facilitate a significant upgrade to the public transport system, particularly in the Greater...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Light Rail Projects Status (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to proceed with the new Metro North project and as I have outlined in my reply to the previous question, funding is provided in the Capital Plan to facilitate construction of the link commencing in 2021 with a view to delivery by 2026/2027. The decision to proceed with new Metro North followed...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network Safety (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: Staffing levels at train stations are an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and not issues in which I have any statutory function. I have however been informed that there are no plans to make either Portarlington or Portlaoise stations unmanned. The broader issue of staffling levels at stations generally is under review by the Company, primarily in response to changes in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: ​As the Deputy may be aware, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to reviewing public transport policy so as to ensure services are sustainable into the future and are meeting the needs of a modern economy. My Department's Statement of Strategy 2016-2019 lists the publication of a new Public Transport Policy Statement as a key indicator of progress. My Department plans...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority Reports (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy may wish to note that I responded in relation to this RSA survey on 24 January this year, in Question No. 607 of that day.​ As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for legislation in this area.  The prevention/detection of driving while disqualified is a matter for An Garda Síochána, and falls within the remit of the Tánaiste and Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: ​I fully recognise that there is considerable evidence emerging of increased travel demand across the Dublin Region in general. Insofar as congestion issues in Dublin are concerned, the National Transport Authority's (NTA) transport strategy for the Greater Dublin Area provides the overarching framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services over the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Harbours and Piers (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: ​Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is designated under National Ports Policy for transfer to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. Since the transfer process commenced, senior officials from my Department have met with Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, and the CE and senior officials of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, on a number of occasions, to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Industrial Disputes (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 38 and 89 together. First of all I want to be very clear that the issues currently arising within Bus Éireann stem from their commercial Expressway routes and are not related to taxpayer funding. The vast majority of Bus Éireann routes and passengers relate to its PSO business and are funded by the taxpayer. In Budget 2017 I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Military Aircraft Landings (22 Mar 2017)

Shane Ross: ​International civil aviation is governed by the Chicago Convention. Annex 10 of the Convention deals with aeronautical telecommunication and contains detailed regulations in relation to all radio communication matters, including the use of call signs by aircraft. Call signs are unique identifiers used by an aircraft in radio communications, in compliance with international and...