Results 2,921-2,940 of 6,816 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (16 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: There is no argument that there are a cohort of people who are exposed, who are living in poverty or close to poverty, who are on low incomes in cold homes and who will not have a retrofitted home or a heat pump by 2030. There is an argument they could have a shallow retrofit and an improvement on their heating systems that is not a heat pump that could be done at low cost and that could be...

Energy Costs and Windfall Taxes: Motion [Private Members] (15 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the motion and the specific proposals to introduce targeted price caps and a windfall tax, review the proposed revenues from non gas and electricity generators and leave the Energy Charter Treaty. Sinn Féin has advocated an energy price freeze for some months. It is welcome that the Social Democrats support that move. It would provide certainty and the maximum protection for...

Energy Costs and Windfall Taxes: Motion [Private Members] (15 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: It resisted it every single time. Stand over the record.

Energy Costs and Windfall Taxes: Motion [Private Members] (15 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Every single time; look at what-----

Energy Costs and Windfall Taxes: Motion [Private Members] (15 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: -----the Government is saying about the Energy Charter Treaty. I will read the Minister's words back to him. He said if a decision is made for a co-ordinated exit of EU member states from the treaty, Ireland will support that position and withdraw. It is the same in respect of windfall taxes. While the Iberian countries of Spain and Portugal moved, the Government resisted that. Today,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (15 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 42. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he considers that the independence and focus of the EPA is comprised and diluted by the fact that its functions and lines of accountability are spilt between departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7450/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (15 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 83. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 416 of 8 November 2022, if a timeframe is set out for member states to comply with the requirements of Article 6.1 of the Habitats Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7449/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (15 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 84. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 293 of 29 November 2022, if it is the case that there are no conservation measures contained in the NPWSs published site-specific conservation objectives for the River Boyne and River Blackwater SAC site code 002299, despite indications in response to Parliamentary Question No. 326 of 11...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy (Resumed): Regional Airports (15 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. I was happy to listen to all of the contributions and the debate over the past two and a half hours or however long we have been here. Understandably, there was interest from colleagues from the regions. As transport spokesperson for my party, it is important to have this opportunity. It is part of an extended series of meetings that we have done with a range of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy (Resumed): Regional Airports (15 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Is Mr. MacCarthy satisfied that those systems are in place and he can secure the capital support he has outlined?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy (Resumed): Regional Airports (15 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Mr. Ó Cúláin touched on his relationship with Donegal County Council. I would like to hear about the wider tourism and business proposition and whether route development is under way or there is a need for specific new route development.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy (Resumed): Regional Airports (15 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: The committee could certainly pick up that proposal. If the witnesses have anything to add after this meeting, it would be useful to provide it so that we could take to the Department.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy (Resumed): Regional Airports (15 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I would like to hear from Ms Considine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Building Reform Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (14 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I will pick up on a couple of points. The Department indicated that, between 2013 and 2021, shallow retrofits had been carried out on 75,000 local authority houses by way of cavity wall and attic insulation. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, tells us a very significant number of the shallow retrofits carried out during that time could benefit from being revisited as the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Building Reform Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (14 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Is there an efficiency to be gained from it? I am conscious that we have an acute workforce shortage and-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Building Reform Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (14 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Reading the note on Articles 27 and 28, I remembered conversations with environmental officers in various local authorities about how to avoid demolition. That is the right approach, but where demolition is happening, it seems that the licensing system is acting as a barrier in practical terms to the reuse of materials and is contributing to more construction waste ending up in landfill or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Building Reform Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (14 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Is there an opportunity? It would be for the EPA to assess the consequences of the licensing system and various policies on where materials end up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Building Reform Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (14 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Armstrong.