Results 2,641-2,660 of 7,153 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: What does the Department do to assess that? Does it engage with the sector or consultants?

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: What is Ms Brogan's estimate of the type of inflation that is happening and that is projected into the future or does she have an estimate?

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 very significant concern. We heard from TII. It is related to the former piece. It concerns the viability of existing and committed projects based on the type of contracts that were entered into in light of this emerging trend in inflation. What is the Department hearing or seeing with regard to that? Ms Brogan does not have to give specific examples but we have specific examples...

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 am not asking Ms Brogan to speculate. I am just asking her to tell us what the Department is hearing.

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 am just trying to get a sense of the scale of concern. Ms Brogan said it involves a small number of projects but it has the potential to have significant implications. Have certain projects been stalled? Have certain projects gone to tender and have reduced numbers of people applied for them? Have people had to pull out of commitments on certain tenders? Is it manifesting in that way yet?

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.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (4 May 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 157. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of the €652,287,332 that was raised in carbon tax revenue in 2021 that was ring-fenced for expenditure on climate action measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21764/22]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (4 May 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 569. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he intends to meet the Climate Action Plan action number 343 to promote the role of afforestation as a climate solution; the number of hectares planted on public and private land in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22265/22]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (4 May 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 571. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of planting one hectare of public land with broadleaf trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22280/22]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 May 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to raise the crisis in the taxi industry. Over 2,000 taxi licences have gone after Covid, and thousands of licenceholders have not returned to work. We have circumstances in which people cannot get a taxi or face an inordinate delay when they want one. At the same time, drivers are struggling to make a living. They may be busy for a short number of hours but their business is very...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 May 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: In chronological order, I support the first amendment tabled by Deputy Whitmore. A number of other amendments share the theme and seek to insert the principles of just transition throughout the Bill, which is really important. My amendment No. 13 seeks to confer responsibility such that "the circular economy strategy shall" rather than the "circular economy strategy may" and that this is...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 May 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: It is appropriate amendments Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, are grouped because they are variations on the same theme, namely, the definition of circular economy. Our suggestion is to include a reference on page 7, line 21, to every stage of the supply chain being adapted. It strengthens the definition to explicitly state it is at "every stage". In that way, it better reflects the necessary scope...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 May 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I will withdraw it with a view to reintroducing it at a later stage. I echo some of the points made by Deputy Bruton. There is a pattern in these amendments and I would appreciate it if the Minister of State would take on board some of the contributions here. There is an opportunity for agreement at a later Stage.