Results 10,621-10,640 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: Is the Deputy asking when the candidates will be selected?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I do not know exactly but it will be as soon as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I must be careful in what I say here because of the ongoing inquiry. The code of governance we set up was in direct response to that. The Moran inquiry was set up on top of that, and I am choosing my words very carefully here, in response to the issues raised by the Deputy. One of the reasons it was set up was the situation where one person appeared at the time to exert too much influence....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I think the Deputy is right. All sporting organisations of that sort, specifically those that get Government funding and that have such a large public following, should have independent directors on their boards. This is certainly something that ought to happen.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: We can put some pressure on them because they get Government funding.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I will look at the details of it and consider it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: The matter should have been addressed at this committee last week if it had not been previously addressed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the committee for inviting me today to discuss the situation at Bus Éireann. I do not for one minute underestimate the challenge facing Bus Éireann and I know this committee, irrespective of differing perspectives, does not either. It is unfortunate that these difficult issues have arisen on the 30th anniversary of the company's establishment in 1987 but in some ways that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I shall take that question straightaway. Obviously, the service has accounted for most of the losses of Bus Éireann. The turnaround in the fortunes of Expressway has been very sudden and critical. Was the Deputy asking whether Bus Éireann would be able to operate without it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: It is not for me to dictate who is doing a bad job at this stage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: It is obvious that it is the most unprofitable and difficult part of the company. It is patently obvious that it has caused the crisis, but I am not in the business of directing or pushing anybody in any way to make Expressway exit from Bus Éireann. That is not my intention. My intention-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: My opinion is that the two sides should get together and construct a solution in the interests of the taxpayer, the consumer, workers and rural areas. The interests of rural areas are very important. In that sense one cannot just do away with Expressway. What we must do is ensure a profitable service is run and a PSO service also. We have to ensure social needs are met. This is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: The NTA has made it absolutely clear that if Expressway drops any route, it will move to establish connectivity to ensure no community will be abandoned in the way people are suggesting. It will move if it looks as if any rural community is being abandoned as a consequence of the withdrawal of other services.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I do not like repeating myself.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: As Minister, I take responsibility for a large number of areas. There is an enormous number of responsibilities which I welcome. Let me make it quite plain to the Deputy that one of my responsibilities is distinctively not to get involved in the nitty-gritty of an industrial dispute in various bodies under my aegis. It is specifically not up to me to do so. We have institutions of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: The CEO has said they were not preconditions. What he did do was put out some programme which he was sharing with everybody else. Obviously, as far as I can see - I cannot read his mind - these are negotiating positions. He has stated specifically that they are not preconditions. The trade unions have also stated they would begin discussions without preconditions. Therefore, let us get...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: No. I believe they are negotiating positions, which are completely different.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: There we are.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Current Financial Situation at Bus Éireann, the Expressway Service and the Rural Transport Programme (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy is perfectly entitled to express that opinion.