Results 11,441-11,460 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Other Questions: Dublin Airport Authority (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy and I would be most interested to receive the evidence.

Other Questions: Airport Development Projects (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: ​As the Deputy will be aware, the DAA has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin Airport, including the second parallel north runway project. DAA has made provision for the new metro north project in its master plan for Dublin Airport. Specifically, it has preserved an area within the central core of the airport to facilitate the metro link. The DAA...

Other Questions: Public Transport Provision (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: The mid-term capital review has been brought forward. One cannot simply wave a magic wand and say today that we will go ahead with the projects for which we do not have the money. That does not work and it will not happen. It is my ambition to do exactly as the Deputy says. I would love to see the imagination he has for transport in this city, which is to be commended, turned into...

Other Questions: Public Transport Provision (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I agree with everything the Deputy says, except on the timetable. We do not have the money at present to commit to this. That is the reason the design stage is taking place now. When we get through the difficulties in the next few years, presumably we will have the cash to pay for these large capital projects. We cannot do it overnight - it is unrealistic - but we will do it in due course.

Other Questions: Road Projects (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy. In his budget speech, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform indicated he was bringing forward the capital plan review and that work on the review would commence now. He also stated clearly he would be in a position to bring a revised and more ambitious programme of capital investment forward next year. To date, the review has not been formally launched and the...

Other Questions: Public Transport Provision (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: The Deputy’s written and oral question seem to be slightly different but I will try to address them both through my supplementary replies. I do not mean they are very different but there is certainly a lot more in the Deputy's oral question than in his written one. I will address both. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has statutory responsibility for the implementation and...

Other Questions: Public Transport Provision (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I would love to be able to do exactly what the Deputy says. I absolutely agree with him and I deeply regret that both the projects the Deputy referred to were delayed. One was delayed in 2015 and the other was postponed in 2010. The DART underground project was postponed in 2010. The Deputy should bear in mind that these were done with a heavy heart. I had no brief in Government at that...

Other Questions: Public Transport Provision (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: Deputy Ryan might have been aware of that at the time and before. It was postponed but the imagination is still there and in 2015, it was reviewed and revived. The Deputy will be aware that the money was made available for it to be redesigned. We now have a situation where it has been redesigned but is less ambitious. That is probably more realistic. There is no tunnel involved in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Greenways Development (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I will consider that. If I think there is any useful purpose in meeting the landowners and any groups involved, I will consider doing so. I am not inclined to get involved in a local dispute if I think it will not do any good. It is very important that we consider, under the greenways policy, what we are going to do here. I understand the problems for landowners and the fact that they...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Greenways Development (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: We are probably ad idemon this. We all want to see this greenway developed and brought to fruition. It is just a matter of the best way of doing that. There is a process already being shaped by my Department for the development of greenways and difficulties of this sort. Specifically, my Department will consult all stakeholders in the coming months. This proposed strategy will include...

Other Questions: Road Projects (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which is very important to his area, other areas and nationally. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding regarding the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects, including the N22, is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII -...

Other Questions: Road Projects (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: That is certainly an invitation I could not refuse. I thank the Deputy for it. I would be delighted to make a trip to Kerry as soon as possible. I meant to go in the summer but I was diverted to Rio on the way and I was lucky to get back. I would be delighted to go to Kerry and I will not be heading back to Rio in a hurry. I thank the Deputy and accept his invitation. I and any officials...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Regulations (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy. I appreciate his concern. I note many of his constituents are concerned about this. The Deputy would be welcome, like others, to bring in any delegation of groups he wants in order that my officials and I can listen to what they have to say. I am impressed by the ones who have come in already. I am impressed by their concerns and by the fact that much of what they...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Regulations (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: It is a pity to prejudge the decisions of a new body which has not even come into existence at this stage. No doubt the Deputy will find, because it is a new body, that it will be an improvement. I stated in answer to Deputy Ryan's first question that it is not perfect. There is no perfect solution to this problem. That said, I think he will find it will be independent, impartial and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Greenways Development (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I seem to be spending more time discussing the issues in Athlone than anywhere else when I am answering questions on this particular body, partly, through no fault of Deputy Troy, because I seem to be familiar with those issues. This greenway is a good litmus test. It is a good question and I will address it. My Department is developing a new strategy to set out a cohesive and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Airport Development Projects (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank Deputy Troy. I agree with much of what he said. The interests of the residents are immensely important on this issue of noise regulation in particular but also on the development of the second runway generally. I do not know whether the Deputy is aware that I have met several of the residents' groups individually. Some of them were brought by members of the Deputy's party to meet...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Airport Development Projects (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: Absolutely. The Deputy is being a little bit alarmist. There is one certainty. The runway will be built. What is uncertain, as the Deputy correctly said, is the exact timeframe because we are not certain that primary legislation will not be required. It is unlikely, but it is possible. If this is done by way of a statutory instrument, it will all be over by Christmas. If primary...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Regulations (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank Deputy Ryan for his question. The current regime for managing airport noise is based on EU legislation dating back to 2002 where the responsibility rests primarily with the airport operator. The entry into force in June of this year of EU Regulation No. 598/2014, to which Deputy Troy referred, represents a shift in responsibility from the airport operator to a separate, independent...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bus Services (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for her supplementary questions. It is very omniscient of her to be able to tell me what I have and have not thought about. She can tell me what I have said, not what I have thought about.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bus Services (2 Nov 2016)

Shane Ross: I certainly have not done it. The idea of a consultative forum has merit. There are possibilities in having one. I want to be guaranteed that we do not have the kind of megaphone diplomacy that has been going on during the industrial relations problems we have at the moment. There are certain State bodies which deal with those. What was conspicuous in the last industrial dispute, in...