Results 41-60 of 7,549 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. If I am hearing correctly, we are being told to hurry up with this, make it happen as soon as possible and have something for 2026, at least on an interim basis. We will hear from the SEC in the next session. I do not know if the witnesses have heard from that commission before but it will say that there was a review in 2000, which said it was, to use its language,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Ms Bissett referenced Britain. Are there other examples in lots of different European countries?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Is it fair to say this is a widespread practice internationally?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: In terms of the wider review of RACE and Dyslexia Ireland's opportunity for participation, involvement and engagement, what has the experience been like and what does Ms Bissett expect it to be?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Ms Feeney. I am sorry but I had to take a question in the Dáil so I missed some of the start. Does she accept that the decision not to act on the recommendations of the 2009 report has continued to disadvantage children with dyslexia?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I asked a specific question on the recommendation for additional time that was made in 2009. Does Ms Feeney accept that the decision the SEC made not to act on that specifically has continued to disadvantage children with dyslexia?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Is that not exactly the point? It is ethically, morally and politically reprehensible and bankrupt actually not to act on that. Ms Feeney's argument is: "Well, there was a number of recommendations and we had to balance them out and we could not go to the politicians or population and say we are taking 20 minutes off here or taking that the grammar and spelling accommodation off, so what we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The State Examinations Commission has ignored a specific recommendation that would level the playing field. There is significant international evidence to show that even when you give extra time to children with dyslexia and dyscalculia, they do not have an advantage over their peers. In fact, it brings them up to a level. Unfortunately, 15 years later, the SEC is about to look at that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The SEC has had the lifetime of a child to resolve those issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The SEC is specifically tasked with dealing with that issue. It is the responsibility of the SEC. In response to my own question, the vast majority of people would say that the SEC's decision not to act on that recommendation has compounded the disadvantage. That is my opinion.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Facilities (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 36. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to support the development of Dalymount Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51143/25]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Artists' Remuneration (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 72. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to extend the basic income for artists scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51142/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 102. To ask the Minister for Health when Givinostat will be available to people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; if cross-border and early access programmes have been considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51163/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 424. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Meath will receive an appointment at Beaumont Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52722/25]

Situation in Gaza: Statements (1 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The situation in Gaza is not just a tragedy; it is a moral catastrophe. Over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed, entire districts have been reduced to rubble and hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee under relentless bombardment. Starving children are murdered while they wait for food. We have genocide and we have man-made famine. I say "man-made", but they are not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Urban Public and Sustainable Transport: Discussion (1 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to raise with the NTA the issue of public bus services to and from Ratoath via Ashbourne. There has been a very significant increase in population. There are high-frequency services but also a lot of cancellations, replacement buses and single-deckers when it should be double-deckers. There is a lot of congestion in the city so time is being made up by bypassing Ashbourne on some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Urban Public and Sustainable Transport: Discussion (1 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I would make the case that because of congestion, we are living with Ashbourne being bypassed by some services. I am grateful that the NTA will consider reviewing it. I would ask that it look at the real-life scenarios that are playing out on a daily basis. While I understand the counterarguments, I believe this will work in everybody's interest.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Urban Public and Sustainable Transport: Discussion (1 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: When will the decision from the Department of Transport about funding for the projects and the national development plan be? Mr. Creegan said before the end of the year. I presume Navan rail is linked to that.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (1 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 102. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to clarify when a person will stop receiving their widow's pension under the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partners and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025. [52305/25]