Results 3,701-3,720 of 7,603 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

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

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for being here. To pick up on that point, this is a process that is evolving. We need to get to a place where we have a calendar of engagements and accountability. Maybe we need to look at the scheduling of that in relation to EPA announcements or updated figures. We want to get to a place where we are actually looking at the detail of it. The idea as I understand it...

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

Darren O'Rourke: I might just clarify the point around access to officials. The greater concern for me, thinking back to a lot of our deliberations in this committee, is access to officials who have a deep understanding of the implications for them and their Department of the climate Act and the climate action plan. Maybe it is just a matter of that system slowness. That is to some degree understandable...

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

Darren O'Rourke: Yes.

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

Darren O'Rourke: I want to ask about the retrofitting plan. We rehearsed some of this previously with regard to some of the differences between the approaches of the Government and my party to this. I do not want to go over old ground. Whatever way we cut it up, when we get to 2030, a lot of people who are using kerosene now will very likely still be using it. This is because they are ineligible for...

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

Darren O'Rourke: I accept that.

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

Darren O'Rourke: What about liquefied petroleum gas, bio liquefied petroleum gas and moving people from kerosene to bottled gas?

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

Darren O'Rourke: Wherever it comes from, surely it would be more sustainable than kerosene.

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.