Results 5,401-5,420 of 6,823 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee
Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I am happy to withdraw the amendment to provide an opportunity for the officials to meet and discuss their concerns and proposals, and for the Minister of State to meet the committee in advance of Report Stage. If necessary, we might table amendments on Report Stage or the Minister of State might do so.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I have no interest in stymieing debate at all but I am very conscious we have spent the past three hours and 20 minutes speaking to three groups of amendments out of more than 160 amendments. We are discussing amendments Nos. 1, 3 and 19 to 23, inclusive. Many Members who went to the bother of tabling amendments have not yet had the opportunity to speak to them, although they are speaking...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I am sorry, but we have had a three-hour debate on this group of amendments. The first amendment is in the names of a group of Sinn Féin Teachtaí Dála. I would like to push that to a vote at this stage. I think Standing Order 78 provides for that.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Does Standing Order 78 provide for termination of the discussion at this stage? We have had three hours of debate. I think Members would like the opportunity to have their say.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: All right.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, line 8, to delete “the transition” and substitute “a just transition”. I am disappointed to see reflected in the Bill that the Government has taken nothing on board from the 12 hours of Committee Stage scrutiny we had on this Bill last week. Some 231 amendments from Opposition politicians were put forward and not only did...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 52. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the breakdown of the funding allocation for his Department for 2020 and 2021 by project. [32385/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 53. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the breakdown of just transition funding; and the number of workers it is expected to support on an annual basis. [32386/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Data (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 54. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the breakdown of the environment fund over the past three years. [32387/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 56. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the breakdown of costs associated with the Climate Change Advisory Council for the three most recent years; his views on plans to resource the Council for completing the responsibilities in the Climate Action Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32504/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 63. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional air circulation or filtration measures that have been installed in train carriages since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic given that most train carriages do not have windows that can open for air circulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32177/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 67. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is putting in place to assist driver instructors with the cost of restarting their sector; if he has engaged with unions representing driver instructors on the challenges the sector is facing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32229/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses for their attendance today. I am conscious of the fact that Dr. Holohan and Dr. De Gascun were with us on 2 November last. At that time, we had no testing - either PCR or antigen testing - but we had a very similar conversation about the need for validation, the importance of validation and real-world testing. In the meantime, a number of reports have been published....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Yes, but not as part of the protocol for international travel. That did not happen on a mandatory basis until 2021.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Could the witnesses answer my question on who makes the decision around pilot studies? How does one go about establishing a pilot study? Why have they been done in the meat industry, which is appropriate, and in the third level sector but not in the aviation sector? This committee wrote to various Ministers on 5 May recommending that a pilot study be undertaken in the aviation sector to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Sorry to interrupt but who takes the lead in that? We heard from Dr. Niamh Power last week or the week before and she specifically outlined how she proactively established the antigen testing process at the airports here. That strikes me as the sector putting its hand up and saying it was ready to play a role. Is it the Department that takes the lead or the Minister?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: In Dr. Holohan's experience, would there be a role in this for the Department of Transport, the Department of Health or another Department? I am sure the sector is watching this meeting. It has been publishing reports as far back as last July calling for the implementation of such a testing regime. From its perspective, this is about aligning the interests of public health with public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: But we could create or generate that evidence. There is considerable experience around NPHET's table and within the various Departments to design a suitable study that compares performance. Now is an opportune time when there is limited travel and there is PCR testing in place. We have not had such a pilot study since 5 May. Are there other resistances to a study?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I wish to make a final point. I fully appreciate all of the work that has been done, including on the report, but if we had started earlier, we would be further down the line. We could have started this work last November if we had made that decision and we would now have a different evidence base. We are talking about pure science, including randomised controlled studies. No one knows...