Results 301-320 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Transport Policy (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Planning Framework, the National Sustainable Mobility Policy and the Climate Action Plan all commit to extend the statutory transport planning remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA) to the metropolitan areas of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. This would provide the NTA with the same statutory powers it currently exercises in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and will...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Traffic Management (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: A 'working group' comprising representatives from the local authorities, An Garda Síochána, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the National Transport Authority, and the Department of Transport, completed draft updates to the 'Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland'. The purpose of these updates are to provide additional guidance to local authorities with respect...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Transport Policy (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with Galway City Council and Galway County Council, is developing the Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (GMATS). This strategy will replace the existing Galway Transport Strategy adopted in 2016 and will provide a long-term strategic planning framework for the delivery of transport and the integrated development of transport...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Road Tolls (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 and 542 together. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Transport Policy (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 543 and 544 together. There is a strong commitment under the Programme for Government to create a Transport Security Force under the NTA, which would operate and have similar powers to Airport Police and Customs Officers. Work in the my Department is ongoing around identifying the necessary legislative proposals to progress the Transport Security Force...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Transport Policy (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. Anti-social behaviour is a broad societal issue, to which public transport is unfortunately not immune, and it is those passengers and staff who regularly use and work within our public transport network...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Bus Services (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus shelters. There is a commitment under the Programme for Government to ensure that public transport operators provide...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Even for you, you are in gas form this morning. There is a reason the climate action plan was not published. It was a thing called the general election and Government formation. That has been done. The climate action plan will be coming to the Government within the next two weeks and it will be published then. In addition, we have no Oireachtas joint committee at the moment and that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree with the Deputy that many communities have been ahead of successive Governments on this but, to be fair, the Government is here to support communities and local authorities. To specifically answer the Deputy's question as regards even the financial support for local authorities, first, local authorities have never been better funded than over the past five years. By any fair...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I know that the Deputy is a big supporter of the initiative and is passionate about it. Last week, I met one of her constituents, a múinteoir as Na Forbacha through the Irish cycling network. Bhíomar ag caint faoin stailc agus na fadhbanna sna Forbacha agus i mBearna freisin. Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall cabhair a thabhairt do na daoine i mBearna agus sna Forbacha. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy does not support any of the measures we have brought forward, such as the marine planning Act, the planning Act or anything like that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Everything from his side is purely oppositional for the sake of opposition. There is a serious global climate crisis. We are all aware of that and should be working together to accelerate the delivery of renewables. Gas demand will not start to decrease until approximately 2035. It will be a transitionary fuel. As I said to Deputies in response to earlier questions, we should compare the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Why does the Deputy interrupt people all the time?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 15 together. Local authorities play a key role, working with local communities and businesses, in delivering climate action. The Deputy can be sure of my continued support for local authorities to do that. This role is underpinned by the statutory requirement on each local authority to prepare a local authority climate action plan. Following...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy has a bit of a fixation on this. I have talked about-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, you do. The reality of it is that I cannot ignore the risks the State has with regard to our energy supply. It would be dereliction of my duty as Minister on behalf of our citizens if I ignored the independent advice I have with regard to the risk to our society, economy and country should there be a disruption to our gas supply. I said this earlier, but I appreciate that the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: It has not. It suits the Deputy's narrative-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: -----that he goes out and starts telling people we are buying fracked gas from the United States. That is not the question at all, but it suits the Deputy's narrative that he will be able to stoke up anger in this regard. We are doing pretty well as a country with regard to our transition to green energy. On an average day, approximately 33% of our energy is generated through renewables....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: -----for opposing it. I brought the Bill forward. On one hand, some Deputies opposite will say they want a green transition and to move towards renewables - we are doing that - but when we bring forward any legislation that actually assists in doing that, they oppose it just because it is the Government that brings forward the legislation,.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: No, you do not.