Results 4,181-4,200 of 6,816 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I understand Ms Brogan's position in terms of what she can and cannot say. We have a sense and are hearing - not necessarily from the Department explicitly - but from a range of stakeholders that there are serious concerns. If there were serious concerns and if there was a serious problem here, what would be an appropriate response from the Departments involved - the Departments of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: It is a matter for the Government to address. I suggest that it involve a real engagement with the relevant stakeholders and a responsive reaction in terms of the Government moving the levers it has as quickly as possible because we do not want to see businesses go to the wall because of the nature of the constraints we have applied to them or, more important, projects not being delivered or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses for the statement. I do not know if they watched the earlier proceedings, when we spoke with departmental officials. What we as a committee tried to impress upon them was a degree of urgency with the matter, and we have some work to do with other Departments. Representatives of Transport Infrastructure Ireland met the committee before Easter and they pointed to a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Representatives from the Department came before the committee. It was difficult to read between the lines. They have a line they need to hold. I got no sense that a duck was paddling under the water and there was a level of urgency regarding this. They spoke about ongoing assessments and engagement. I ask the witnesses to give us a sense of the type of risk that is at stake here, in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Are businesses considering variation clauses, new contracts or a new system or code?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: On that, is that a suggestion that we could move to the NEC model for future or existing contracts, or both? How do we deal with that if we cannot do so?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: It might be a case of making amendments to existing contracts to allow a price variation clause.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electric Vehicles (26 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 89. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way that he intends to build a second-hand electric vehicle, EV, market here; if he has examined the barriers posed by Brexit in the context of importing second-hand electric vehicles; if he is considering introducing a scrappage scheme for older more polluting cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21010/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electric Vehicles (26 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: How does the Minister intend to build a second-hand electric vehicle market here? Has he examined the barriers posed by Brexit to importing second-hand electric vehicles from Britain? Is he considering introducing a scrappage scheme for older, more polluting cars in rural areas? Will he make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electric Vehicles (26 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I appreciate some movements and changes were made to the schemes last July on the back of the work of the group the Minister mentioned. It took away some of the particularly offensive elements of the scheme, for example, the price cap was reduced. Much more needs to be done. The trickle-down economics approach is that those who can afford electric vehicles can get them now and the people...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electric Vehicles (26 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Across the political spectrum there is a commitment to try to deliver as much of this as quickly as possible. The committees dealing with transport and climate have heard from the industry and various stakeholders. The industry tells us is it needs fleet cars and State cars to be electric vehicles. It needs to turn them over as quickly as possible after a couple of years to generate the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (26 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister just said that there is no intention to consider changing the ten-year rule now or at any stage in the future, which is a very big statement to make. It is as firm a "No" as one might ever get but I think there is a real case for reviewing it at this point in time. We have had two years with a lot of cars laid up. Cars are maintained to a very high standard. This is not 2011,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (26 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister not to close the door completely and to consider an alternative transition. I do not have those figures on the breakdown of vehicles by age but it is certainly something that should be considered if it means that taxi drivers can transition to an electric vehicle more quickly. They have had a couple of years out of action and if they have a vehicle that is now approaching...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (26 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is considering extending the 10-year rule for taxis in view of the fact that vehicles were underused for the duration of the pandemic; the other actions he intends to take to support taxi drivers who are struggling with high fuel and running costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21009/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (26 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister for Transport if he is considering extending the ten-year rule for taxis in view of the fact that vehicles were underused for the duration of the pandemic; the other actions he intends to take to support taxi drivers who are struggling with high fuel and running costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Home Heating Fuels: Motion [Private Members] (26 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The initial attempt by the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on the issue of turf was as poorly delivered as it was designed. His latest attempt is premature, daft, unworkable and senseless. These are words from his Government colleagues. I will not repeat what colleagues on this side of the House have said but the sentiment is the same. Those same Government colleagues will have the chance to act...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: New Retrofitting Plan and the Built Environment: Discussion (26 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. The last point about the performance gap would concern people. Dr. Kinnane pointed to some possible reasons. The European Court of Auditors indicated similar issues, which are concerning. The SEAI was here a couple of weeks ago. I specifically asked about longitudinal information before and after an assessment. It stated it is looking at that with pilot studies....