Results 12,361-12,380 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: International Flights (16 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: On the 12th of April 2016 the US Department of Transportation issued an Order to Show Cause (Order 2016-4-12) that tentatively found that Norwegian Air International (NAI) should be issued with a foreign air carrier permit, which would allow the airline to operate the proposed Cork to Boston route and other routes from Europe to the US. The US Department of Transportation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Properties (16 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: The Irish Coast Guard, a division of my Department, operate from some 54 properties around the coast. Some of these properties are leased from the OPW, Government Departments, County Councils and private landowners. Further information on these lease agreements will be provided to the Deputy at a later date. The position regarding the Agencies under the remit of this Department is a...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I congratulate the Tánaiste and the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, on introducing this measure. It is difficult to debate this in the sort of mature way everybody has, particularly because of the history this particular measure has. However, I think we are saying that today it is more about criminal gangs than about paramilitaries. It may be born in paramilitary traditions and...

Report of Standing Order 112 Select Committee on the Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 2013/34/EU: Motion (15 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I am just finishing. If multinational companies are in a position to create their own taxation and increase or decrease it as they see fit, it means the Exchequer is in some danger of being held to ransom.

Report of Standing Order 112 Select Committee on the Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 2013/34/EU: Motion (15 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the House for allowing me to speak. I will be very brief. Like every other Member of this House, I thoroughly support the presence of multinationals and their contribution to this economy, particularly through the provision of employment. It has now become unfashionable to take on multinationals or challenge them in an any way in this country because they are so powerful and...

Topical Issue Debate: Greenways Funding (15 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy. I hate to say it to him, but I have been invited back to Athlone by Deputy Moran. Deputy Burke will be fed up seeing me, as I will revisit the area and see those parts of the greenway that I did not see last time. I am energised, as are my Department and my colleagues, by the idea of greenways, which was only recently introduced to me in a serious way. Deputy Burke...

Topical Issue Debate: Greenways Funding (15 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for bringing this very important issue to my attention. Indeed, I have had more questions on this particular issue in the last two days than I have had on anything else. Greenways are all the rage. As the Deputy said, I was recently in County Westmeath and met with him, my colleague, Deputy Kevin Moran, councillors and officials from Westmeath County Council. I was...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate which has been extremely worthwhile because this legislation, as Deputy Eamon Ryan and others said, strikes at the heart of the democratic values we all champion and hold dear. Being in government I suspect I now see it a little differently, although I have always been in favour of the Special Criminal Court. However, I...

Other Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Let me first say that seated two places to my left, we have a recognition of the fact that this Government is taking disabilities more seriously than any previous Government has done in the history of the State. We have a Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities who sits at the Cabinet table. I do not know if I would be revealing...

Other Questions: Airport Development Projects (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Deputies will be cognisant of the fact that the problems faced by the residents will not stop the second runway. That will not happen because there is an overall national interest in putting the second runway there. The damage and the difficulties caused in their lives by the runway should be recognised in a material way. Some of these people have lived there for 30 or 40 years and the...

Other Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for the question. The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority, NTA, in conjunction with Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.  I ask her to please advise my private office if she does not receive a response within ten working days. As regards accessibility generally, I...

Other Questions: Road Safety Authority (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Much as I would love to be, I am not Minister for Justice and Equality and cannot increase the number in the traffic corps at the drop of a hat. I understand the Deputy's point and there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that the lack of checkpoints coincides with the increased number of accidents and deaths and the increased number of traffic fatalities in which alcohol was a factor. At the...

Other Questions: Traffic Management (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: ​My views on this issue are pretty much irrelevant. While I have responsibility for road traffic legislation, traffic management is a matter for the local authorities. The Deputy might wish to raise any concern he may have about the proposed College Green traffic management measures with Dublin City Council. Regarding the impact of measures on...

Other Questions: Traffic Management (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I do not have any particular function in the matter in terms of traffic management and my personal view might not matter. However, I would be prepared to discuss it with the Minister of State to see if it has implications for tourism. If it will have an adverse effect on tourism, I will re-examine the matter.

Other Questions: Traffic Management (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: The runway.

Other Questions: Airport Development Projects (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for tabling the question. It is the third time I have answered it today and I will try to answer it in a manner which is consistent with the way I have answered the other two. Deputies Brendan Ryan and Dessie Ellis asked the same question. I hope to meet the DAA next week or the week after. A meeting was supposedly going to be arranged today. The issue of the second...

Other Questions: Public Transport Provision (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Question No. 67 is in the name of Deputy Seán Crowe, nominated by Deputy Imelda Munster.

Other Questions: Public Transport Provision (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Okay.

Other Questions: Road Safety Authority (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank Deputy Munster for her question. I presume she is referring to a statement I made at a Road Safety Authority Garda event recently. Although Ireland, as of the latest available data, for 2014, is now one of the better-performing EU countries in terms of road safety, there is no room for complacency. It is important that we continually evaluate our performance with a view to...

Other Questions: Harbour Authorities (14 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I am sympathetic with what Deputy Boyd Barrett has said but I am not sure that at the moment I would have any real function in meeting them, bar listening. I do not think after that I would be in a position to interfere in a process which is ongoing. If I were to meet them in the expectation that I would then interfere in the process, it would be wrong. It would also be wrong of me not to...