Results 661-680 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) and the information requested is held by that agency. I have therefore referred the question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Once a holder of a non-EU/EEA driving licence becomes resident in Ireland, they can no longer use that licence and must obtain an Irish licence to drive here, either by exchange or by obtaining a licence through the normal process. The time taken to process driving licence exchange applications can vary. The licence for exchange must be verified by the jurisdiction that issued it and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the National Driver Licence service (NDLS), including online services and platforms. Therefore, I have referred this question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Correspondence (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The query the Deputy raises was sent by email to the Department on 27 March. The Department's Customer Charter commits to providing an answer in 20 working days. This allows my staff time to seek clarification as necessary from correspondents to ensure that the information provided is accurate for the scenario under question. My staff will engage directly with the correspondent in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Road Projects (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on these roads are funded from Councils’ own resources and supplemented by State Road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The roll-out of infrastructure for mobile telecommunications services in Ireland is primarily a matter for private mobile network operators, operating on a commercial basis in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg is statutorily independent in the exercise of its functions in accordance with section 11 of the Communications Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Reply not received from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Bodies (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 153 together. The matters referred to in the Questions are operational matter for the SEAI. I have asked the SEAI to respond directly to the Deputy to provide the specific information sought as soon as possible. Additionally, the SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Reply not received from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: One intervention area that my Department has been considering, in conjunction with ComReg, is content inspection on carrier messaging, often referred to as an 'SMS Filter', akin to an email spam filter. There are a number of ways content inspection on carrier messaging could be applied, most of which can be executed within our existing legislative framework. One application would see the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is committed to tackling scam calls and texts across electronic communications networks and services. It is necessary to explore a myriad of solutions as there is no one panacea for phone or SMS fraud. Instead, we must look to layer multiple protections together to truly mitigate the risks and safeguard consumers. One intervention area that my Department has been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Reply not received from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Atlantic salmon conservation work at Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is supported by independent scientific advice provided by the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS). River-specific scientific catch advice on our salmon fisheries is provided by TEGOS based on a forecast of the abundance of salmon which will return to each river in that year, comparison of the estimated returns to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Bag Limits) Bye-law No. 1013 of 2024 regulates the number of salmon or sea trout that a person shall take in 2025. Under this Bye-law, "a person shall not take by rod and line more than 10 fish in 2025, ‘’fish’’ meaning salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40cm) or both’’. The classes of fisheries...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The development of a new policy statement for the inland fisheries sector is a significant and complex undertaking which will take account of developments and challenges around conservation, ecological and environmental issues over recent years. Significant progress has been made by my Department in its development. The policy statement will also have regard to ongoing initiatives such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Reply not received from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The prevention of the spread of bacteria such as Aeromonas Hydrophila in any fish species from one watercourse to another is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the Agency with statutory responsibility for the protection, conservation and development of the inland fisheries resource in Ireland. IFI has established a specific email address for queries from members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Supply Board (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: ESB is a commercial State body, under the aegis of my Department, established under the Electricity Supply Act 1927. ESB is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department. This is an operational matter for ESB and not one in which I have any function. The Deputy may wish to contact ESB directly via Oireachtas@esb.ie in relation to the Question raised.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In December 2022, the Digital Connectivity Strategy for Ireland was published and it sets out a number of targets including that all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028. This target is on track and will be met through a combination of commercial investment and State funding. The Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Bodies (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. The Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end 2030. To promote and incentivise the achievement...