Results 341-360 of 6,816 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (17 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding supports available for students undertaking graduate entry medicine; if the SUSI grant or other grants are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24526/20]

Community Safety and Fireworks: Motion [Private Members] (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Deputy Ward for bringing this motion forward. It is timely and important, particularly for the people living in the areas most affected. It is fair to say that these issues present in different ways in different places, some at the more extreme end. The solution is the same in all cases and it is clearly outlined in the Sinn Féin motion. It is about ensuring there are...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 61. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions he will take to remove the barriers blocking the growth of rooftop solar panels here, including the lack of a long-term payment system for excess electricity sold back to the grid, the roll-out of smart meters and planning issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25603/20]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: If we are to achieve 70% renewable electricity by 2030, a key component will be ordinary people and community groups generating their own electricity and selling the excess back to the grid. Solar photovoltaics, PV, can play an important part in this but blockages in the system are preventing that becoming a reality. Can the Minister outline the steps he will take to remove these barriers...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Paying people for the excess electricity produced by their solar panels will result in their installation becoming much more appealing to many more people. At the moment, excess electricity produced by privately installed solar panels is spilling onto the grid for free. It is not fair on those who have paid thousands for them and does not make a compelling financial case for those...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: In the interest of time I will commend noteworthy.ieand thejournal.ie. They have come in for some pressure in recent days which is probably not unrelated to the important work they are doing in terms of analysis, evidence, transparency and accountability. I would be happy to send the information to the Minister. There is some concern about smart meters and the nature of the information they...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 63. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost of undergrounding the North-South Interconnector compared to the current plan; the date on which the cost comparisons were calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25604/20]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. This is an issue that I have already raised but will continue to raise with the Minister as this Government looks set to repeat the mistakes of the past. The need to connect our two grids on the island is vital, even for the solar improvements we spoke of earlier. The current plan however for the North-South interconnector is putting...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. The Minister raised the report of 2018. He must know that the community has no confidence in this report. It never did and I understand why. It is not the case that the community saw the report, did not like it, and walked away from it. They said from the very outset that they did not have confidence in the inquiry team, in the terms of reference, or...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: The solution here, and I want to contribute to finding a solution, is to co-design an independent review of the undergrounding option involving all of the stakeholders, with the identification of a suitable panel of inquiry and independent consultants, where the terms of reference and the methodology to be employed will be co-designed with the stakeholders. We have never had that. In...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 64. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which he plans to grow the number of community owned renewable energy projects in view of the recently approved results of the RESS auction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25605/20]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I know and I am sure that the Minister is aware that he misrepresented Sinn Fein’s position on the North-South interconnector in his last contribution but we will have time to come back to that, hopefully, in oral questions, where I can state the case clearly. On the recent renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, auction, can the Minister outline how he intends to increase the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister will be aware of the international comparisons with Scotland, for example, and many parts of Scandinavia in terms of the state infrastructure that is available to facilitate communities which want to connect to the grid. The Minister might outline his plans to build that infrastructure. All of this contributes to the price of electricity in Ireland, which we know is among the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: On the price of electricity, does the Minister believe, on the basis of his exchanges with them, that providers are still intent on increasing prices? Are they still on that trajectory or will the Minister's intervention or that of the energy regulator provide some relief for customers? I am sure the latter would very much welcome an update on that. Regarding the community...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 72. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the recent representations he has received on the need to underground the North-South interconnector in view of the recent decision in Northern Ireland to grant planning permission for the North-South interconnector, including representations from elected representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I will not repeat my concerns on this topic from earlier. Has the Minister met or will he meet representatives of North East Pylon Pressure and Monaghan Anti-Pylon who have been campaigning on this issue for years? Sinn Féin, North and South, has been very clear and upfront in our position on the North-South interconnector.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister mentioned EirGrid's engagement involving community liaison officers and a mobile information unit. I would like the Minister to meet people in the community to see what those words mean in those communities. The way EirGrid has handled this project and how it is perceived have the opposite effect to that presented by EirGrid. The same is said of the sponsorship of local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister in the North - not the Executive in the North - granted planning permission for the project in the North. My colleagues have called for the Minister to come before the Assembly and explain that decision. In February 2017 the Dáil passed a Fianna Fáil motion calling for no further work to be done on the North-South interconnector until a fresh analysis and a full...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 94. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to fast-track the delivery of the national broadband plan in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government; the cost implication this will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25173/20]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (22 Sep 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 98. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of plans included in the recently published Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25174/20]