Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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445. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of bilateral meetings he held with his European counterparts in January 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48083/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I have met with a number of my European counterparts on a range of transport matters since January of this year.

In April, I met the EU North Sea – Mediterranean Corridor Co-ordinator, Professor Péter Balázs, in Dublin, where we discussed issues relating to TEN-T and the implications of Brexit.

In May, I met with the Swedish Minister for Infrastructure, Anna Johansson, on road safety and Brexit matters. Also in May, I met with the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Chris Grayling, in London, for detailed discussions on Brexit. 

In June, I met the Austrian Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Jörg Leichtfried, in relation to Brexit and Road Safety. I also met with members of the External Affairs Committee of the National Assembly for Wales on matters primarily relating to Brexit. 

In September, I had a conference call with Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, National Assembly for Wales, on Brexit related matters.

Last month, I welcomed the European Commissioner for Transport, Ms Violeta Bulc, on her visit to Dublin to undertake a range of meetings on transport and Brexit-related matters. I had previously met Commissioner Bulc in June of this year, at the Transport Council in Luxembourg.

I am currently planning on attending the Transport Council in Brussels next month. This will provide me with further opportunity to meet with other of my European counterparts.