Results 4,741-4,760 of 6,842 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (5 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, lines 1 and 2, to delete “1 December 2022 and ending on 30 June 2023” and substitute “1 July 2022 and ending on 31 December 2024”. The most egregious part of this legislation is that it is constrained to that period of 1 December 2022 until 30 June 2023. It is just that seven-month period when we have all seen the graph of...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (5 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: That comes as no surprise but it is deeply disappointing. Coupled with the earlier amendments we moved on the price threshold or cap, when we look at what other countries have done on this, it really reflects a very soft windfall tax. Just by the measure of fairness and moral responsibility, this falls short. We should look at what other countries have done. We discussed this on Committee...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (5 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I do.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (5 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 5: In page 29, lines 17 to 19, to delete all words from and including “prescribe” in line 17 down to and including “with,” in line 19 and substitute the following: “prescribe a scheme for the due disbursement of amounts from the Fund for the purposes of lowering the electricity purchase costs to final domestic electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (5 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 22. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts he is making to improve the 109 and 109A bus services in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42983/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (5 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 76. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts he is making to improve the 103, 103X, 105 and 105X bus services in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42982/23]

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 1: Mineral Oil Tax (10 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I support the Sinn Féin amendment. This hike in carbon tax is a deeply regressive move. The Government has played with words and spun very significantly about the carbon tax for far too long. We need to state clearly that it is just the increases and not all of the carbon taxes that are ring-fenced. Therefore, a very significant amount of carbon tax that is raised goes into the...

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 1: Mineral Oil Tax (10 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: We have spelled it out for the Government, but it consistently ignores it. It is interesting to draw a comparison between how it treats ordinary workers, families and people who do not have alternatives, and how it treats energy companies. We have looked at our windfall taxes which are before the Oireachtas at this point in time. Sinn Féin and others in the Opposition have pushed for...

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 1: Mineral Oil Tax (10 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: It is a deeply regressive retrofitting scheme.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 11. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of gardaí in Meath at present; the total number newly employed; and the total number who resigned in each of the years 2020 to 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44011/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to ask the Minister the total number of gardaí in County Meath at present, the total number newly recruited and the total number who resigned in each of the years 2020 to 2022 and to date in 2023. If possible will the Minister supply figures on retirement as well to give us a sense of turnover, and whether there are plans to increase recruitment? Will the Minister make a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister. I am not looking for a particular advantage for County Meath. What I am looking for is fairness and equity. It has been confirmed again this morning that County Meath has the lowest number of gardaí per head of population. That is a longstanding issue. I will ask the Minister about the rationale as to how we ended up in that position. It is fair to say that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: It is a statement of fact that in 2018 we had 318 sworn gardaí in County Meath. Five years later we are back to that point. That is just a statement of fact. I welcome the additional funding in the budget. However, we know recruitment is significantly behind the targets. It was 800 for 2022 and 300 were recruited, 1,000 for this year. I heard the Minister on the radio this morning...

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: In my limited time, I wish to focus on the climate and environment budget. Budget 2024 reaffirms the Government's commitment to a climate strategy that is not working. Despite Ireland having the highest greenhouse gas emissions in the EU and having blown almost half of its first five-year carbon budget in two years, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party remain steadfast in their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (10 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 4. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount that was spent on the recent refurbishment of the Irish Consulate General office in Chicago; if this refurbishment programme is completed or still ongoing; and the number of companies that applied for the contract to refurbish the Irish Consulate General office but were unsuccessful. [43641/23]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 5. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region was discussed at the most recent EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. [43642/23]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (10 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 21. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the allocation for all of the different retrofit schemes accounting for any changes post revised estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43463/23]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (10 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 38. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the total amount of funding awarded and community energy grants awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the average level of funding awarded per each successful grant application; the total number of applications rejected; the total number of successful applications per county; the target for community energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (10 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 40. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding community energy grants awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the total amount of funding awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the average level of funding awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 per successful grant application; the total number of applications rejected in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (10 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 46. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has spoken to the United States Secretary for Defence to date in 2023. [43650/23]