Results 2,941-2,960 of 6,816 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: There are acute challenges with regard to public transport in the late-night economy and they need to be addressed. Last week, the Tánaiste pointed to Uber and Lyft as a possible solution. He said they are just not available in Ireland in the same way and maybe we need to look at that again to see if we can liberalise that. Those comments caused significant concern, not least with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Biodiversity: Engagement with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (14 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Dr. Lynn for her opening statement, much of which focused on future plans and developments. I will ask about the current state of affairs. We keep hearing one word, that is, "implementation", and we have heard at various stages about the resourcing of the NPWS. Is the NPWS adequately resourced given the impending extension of its mandate and the types of new and complex planning...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Biodiversity: Engagement with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (14 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: It was about the waterways. I am particularly interested in the Boyne Estuary SPA and the Boyne and Blackwater SAC. They are beside me and there are controversial plans. I ask about the quality of our waterways, the current trends and what might be done to address them.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (23 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 22. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures he is taking to maximise public greenspace in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33221/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Suicide Prevention (23 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 450. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1728 of 19 January 2022 if he will provide an update on vacant suicide resource officer posts in counties Louth and Meath; the date on which these posts will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33630/22]

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I would like to register my concern at the rushed nature of this Bill. Deputies only got sight of the Bill last Tuesday and it has not undergone any pre-legislative scrutiny, although we had a briefing on it, which was welcome. We in Sinn Féin and others in opposition had other important questions we wanted answered and we wanted to hear from stakeholders. There are still very many...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The Government could have done that last September.

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I asked a pile of questions. What is Deputy Farrell talking about?

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The Deputy needs to ask the Minister of State whether I asked questions. Of course I did.

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The Deputy is factually incorrect.

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I think there has been an accounting mechanism for moving moneys from communications, as I understand it, to energy. Will the Minister outline the detail of that? How much will it be and how will it be progressed? Will it be through a Supplementary Estimate perhaps? In addition, we hear the PSO reduction on residential bills will be in the region of €75. Has the Minister...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to come back to the question of which Vote the funding is coming from and under what heading. I understand the Minister will present before the Committee on Transport and Communications for this reason. Is this for the full €350 million that is estimated? What impact will that have in regard to the communications budget and from where is this money coming? Are there projects...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, line 35, after “thereto” to insert the following: “, with priority given to renewables, zero or low carbon electricity generation options or those most easily retrofitted into zero or low-carbon alternatives in the future”. What I want to do in this amendment is to ensure there is a commitment to consideration of the types...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Within those considerations, and as the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, said last night, some may be distillate and some may be gas, all things being equal, the State and EirGrid must surely go for the lower emissions alternative. I hear the Minister's point but it is important to state that the lower emissions alternative must be given priority, and if there is an option to go for...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I echo many of those comments and sentiments from Deputy Smith. We have an amendment grouped with this. I entirely agree that the suggestion that data centres are not a significant part of the issue is complete spin and nonsense. It is disingenuous for anyone to make that statement. In fairness to the Minister of State who was here last night, he pointed to three main reasons we are where...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to put on the record, as I have done before, an issue that is a cause of frustration. When I raise issues with the Minister or the Department, I am often pointed towards a body at arm's length, whether that is the CRU, EirGrid or some other organisation with responsibility. Especially in the context of the CRU, there is always a line in the response that the body is not responsible...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Will the Minister come back to the point about the prospect of an economic, environmental and energy security impact risk analysis for current and planned data centres? All the issues that have been raised need to be addressed and such an analysis would be a suitable vehicle to address them.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 13. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to ensure gas, liquid and solid fuel supply for winter 2022 in view of ongoing and expected supply challenges; the extent to which his and other Departments are engaged in these efforts; the extent of European and international co-operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34888/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 17. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 14 June 2022 (details supplied), if he will provide a list of the new services that will be introduced in 2022 as part of the initial roll-out of the Connecting Ireland plan; the current stage of progress of these services; the date on which they are expected to commence; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which a school (details supplied) in County Meath will have its SNA exceptional review conducted and a final decision on SNA allocation for 2022-2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34853/22]