Results 12,261-12,280 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I am impressed by what members have said. The reality is that no decision has been made yet. It is a political decision which will be made by Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, and me. We will make a decision very shortly. I will bear in mind what members have had to say.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: May I have one minute, please?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: A strong Exchequer funding commitment to the sector will be key to achieving the ambitions set out in the tourism policy People, Place and Policy - Growing Tourism to 2025. There is an additional investment in 2016 of €2 million in key elements of Fáilte Ireland's and Tourism Ireland's programmes along with continued capital investment next year and beyond to 2022. This funding...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Sorry.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank members very much for their questions. A lot of them were comments, which are equally useful, to be honest, to hear what members' views are. Let me deal with Deputy Fitzpatrick's first. He talked about some of the cutbacks and the lack of funding in various areas. The tourism marketing fund went up by €1 million this year. On 8 June the Minister of State with...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I did not mean to say that.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: What has happened here - Deputy Troy can correct me if I am wrong - is that we have themed marketing projects now with the Wild Atlantic Way, Dublin's A Breath of Fresh Air and the Ancient East. Maybe we could suggest one or persuade the agencies that there could be a common theme in those counties which the Deputy has suggested might be neglected, although I do not think they are that...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: There are several themes which would be very attractive, such as the lake district of Ireland. It is a matter of selling it. There may be too many themes at the moment and we do not want to confuse people but it certainly has a specific and particular attraction which I am sure would appeal to people. Ireland's lakes have a huge range of activities to offer, such as fishing, and it could...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I would say that is true. With regard to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, I have the bid timetable. The applicant phase is from May 2016 until September 2016. The candidate phase is from November 2016 to June 2017, the evaluation phase is from June 2017 to November 2017 and the World Rugby class decision is November 2017. This is a very exciting project and it is a real runner. It will be...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I do not think the Government is going to take a position on French industrial relations. We could be looking for an awful lot of trouble, as the Deputy can imagine. However, he has voiced, very eloquently, the frustrations of people coming and going. It has driven people mad. Some people were left out of the European Cup because, having paid for flights, they were grounded on the day...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I will of course. This is my first appearance before an Oireachtas committee and I apologise if I do not yet have all of the information the committee needs. I can say, genuinely, that for me it has been a very useful exchange because it is two-way traffic. I can give whatever information I have, which is limited, but I will probably have more next time I come or at least I will be more...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: ​The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The NDLS consists of a central unit in the RSA and three outsourced providers, a card producer, a front office for engaging with the public, and a back office for processing applications.  All three were opened for tender by the RSA during the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a statutory function of local authorities in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.  Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Strategy (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: ​While the Road Traffic Act 2004 sets default speed limits for national roads (both within and outside built up areas), local authorities, in this case Clare County Council, may, in consultation with the Garda Commissioner and with the consent of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), make bye-laws to set Special Speed Limits for such roads in their...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Signage (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: ​As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national roads, including issues relating to signage, are matters for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: ​​The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads within its area is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. As regards the proposed Coonagh to Knockalisheen Road Scheme I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licensing Exchange Agreements (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Holders of American driving licences may drive in Ireland for up to a year, on a visitor basis, under international road traffic conventions. Under EU law, we may issue a driving licence only to a person who is normally resident here.  If a person has not taken up residence, we cannot issue them with a licence. Where a person from a non-EU country takes up residence in Ireland,...

Topical Issue Debate: Light Rail Projects Status (28 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear. I agree with the Deputy's closing statement which we should all welcome on this side of the House. When State companies go walkabout, sometimes it is not particularly good for the general public. Representatives of State companies who engage in such behaviour are usurping the positions of politicians. I welcome what the Deputy has said and wish I had said it, but I am happy to...

Topical Issue Debate: Light Rail Projects Status (28 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue which I know is close to his heart. He has been a very staunch campaigner on this issue on behalf of the people of his constituency and will continue to be until metro north is completed. I hope the date for its completion will be earlier than anticipated, but, obviously, I cannot make any promise because it is dependent on the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Regional Airports (28 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank Senator Maria Byrne for raising this important subject. I agree with much of what she said, and although I am very new in the Ministry I am still rather staggered by the number of people who prefer to come to Dublin despite the inconvenience and the expense. Senator Byrne put her finger on many of the difficulties. Hotel rooms are a major difficulty but people still seem to pay...