Results 6,321-6,340 of 6,824 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Level 5 Response to Covid-19: Statements (Resumed) (23 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I am sharing time with Deputy Paul Donnelly. County Meath is in the eye of the Covid-19 storm, with a 14-day incidence number of 1,287, which is 660 cases per 100,000. The people of my county have endured and suffered a great deal, none more so than Mary Bartley Meehan, whose husband, Ultan Meehan, and son, Adrian Bartley, both died during the pandemic. I call on the Government to engage...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: To follow on from that point, replies I have received to parliamentary questions confirm that there has never been a greater demand for school bus transport than this year and there have never been more refusals. It is wrong to state that this is related to Covid and that there is no demand. There has never been more demand for school bus transport and never have more children been refused.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to discuss subhead B8. Will the Minister explain what it is and how the system works? Will there be fines for missing targets? How is it accounted?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Is the amount paid relative to the degree to which the target is missed? Is there a levy per percentage?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: To whom is the debt owed? How does it work?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Is the €50 million owed now? When is it due to be paid? How will the transaction take place?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I have a question on subhead B1 and the increase in pay. Is it due to inflation, increments or has there been an increase in the number of staff in that section of the Department?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: What is the number in terms of headcount?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: On subhead C3, could the Minister indicate whether there is State-sponsored research of exploration opportunities off the coast, or is the research to better understand the coastal environment?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Based on subheads D1 and D2, it looks as if there has been some sort of shrinkage of activities or the headcount. Is that the case? Are the Ulster Canal and other projects of a cross-Border nature resourced and funded through this stream? Has funding been committed?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: The Ulster Canal is a project that has been on the agenda for many years. I think it is envisaged that there would be inland waterways connecting Belfast to Limerick. The project has been discussed during North-South and east-west negotiations, and commitments were made in a number, if not all, of those negotiations. Are there funding commitments in this subhead or this budget to the...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: There a number of subheads here that people might want to come in on. I will start with subhead E6, on landfill remediation. I appreciate the important work that is done on this. I wish to get a sense of the Department's understanding of the scale of the problem. When I was a member of the local authority in Meath we had a case in Timoole, with over €6 million for remediation. At...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Is there a sense at a departmental level of the real scale of this problem now or its likely scale in the future? In County Meath, for example, cases recently have completed at the High Court. The expectation is there will be a responsibility to undergo remediation. It strikes me that this is a significant problem. Much of it is legacy. I wonder whether there has been an assessment of...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I refer to subhead E10 on the enforcement initiatives. This is gained from experience as a member of a local authority and the major frustration of communities, and in fairness, of local authorities, in enforcing litter management policy. Expenditure of €5.7 million on enforcement initiatives was provided for. Can the Minister outline what they were or whether there are approaches...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: On subhead E3 and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, the Minister might speak to the capital expenditure of €11.78 million and to the points regarding the national dialogue on climate action and specifically on the ambient air monitoring programme. There is a commitment in the programme for Government in relation to air quality. Has that been undertaken here? Is that part of...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: In relation to the capital expenditure, has there been expenditure on monitoring systems and devices that can expand the footprint of the EPA and its capacity?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: On subhead F6, energy efficiency fund receipts, to what does the figure of €10 million relate?

Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I am conscious that the Chamber and the Houses of the Oireachtas have approached this legislation and this type of question numerous times in the past. Those most vulnerable and in need of support have often fared poorly. The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters was never meant to be an end in and of itself. Maybe there are those who hoped...

Railway Safety (Reporting and Investigation of Serious Accidents, Accidents and Incidents involving Certain Railways) Bill 2020: Second Stage (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: The Department was in contact with us and it explained the background to this Bill, as she has done again today. I thank her for that. She outlined the nature of the time pressure due to legislative changes at EU level so Sinn Féin is happy to support the legislation. I will keep my comments brief given the requirement to deal with all Stages this week to ensure the legislation can be...

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Regional Group for tabling this important motion. Sinn Féin is happy to support it. We have submitted an amendment which we believe further adds to the motion and we hope that people can support it. The work of postmasters and workers throughout our postal service has been vital during this pandemic, ensuring that people can stay in contact, access their weekly payments...