Results 501-520 of 6,816 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: On subhead E3 and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, the Minister might speak to the capital expenditure of €11.78 million and to the points regarding the national dialogue on climate action and specifically on the ambient air monitoring programme. There is a commitment in the programme for Government in relation to air quality. Has that been undertaken here? Is that part of...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: In relation to the capital expenditure, has there been expenditure on monitoring systems and devices that can expand the footprint of the EPA and its capacity?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: On subhead F6, energy efficiency fund receipts, to what does the figure of €10 million relate?

Level 5 Response to Covid-19: Statements (Resumed) (23 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I am sharing time with Deputy Paul Donnelly. County Meath is in the eye of the Covid-19 storm, with a 14-day incidence number of 1,287, which is 660 cases per 100,000. The people of my county have endured and suffered a great deal, none more so than Mary Bartley Meehan, whose husband, Ultan Meehan, and son, Adrian Bartley, both died during the pandemic. I call on the Government to engage...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank both witnesses. I would like to pick up on a point Dr. Muinzer raised on public participation and engagement. Perhaps Mr. Church would also like to comment. Could the witnesses comment on the importance of that element and what it looks like in other jurisdictions? Are there exemplars?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I have a question on the pros and cons of adopting the split target approach of handling various emissions in various ways. It was referenced with regard to New Zealand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (27 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. I will follow on from those questions to Mr. Cornelis. I take on board the point on EASA and the ECDC investigation of testing protocols. Will Mr. Cornelis speak to the existing testing protocols that are in place in European Union member states? There is some discussion in Ireland on the prospect of implementing a testing regime here, whether it be PCR or some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (27 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I wish to ask a couple of follow-up questions. When is the report expected from the EASA and the ECDC in relation to a testing protocol and what is the timeline in relation to that? As regards the efforts outside of testing to agree a common approach, Mr. Cornelis referenced that there was a difference between the Commission's proposal and that adopted by the Council. What efforts are being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. I will start with a question for both Ryanair and Aer Lingus. Since we last met there has been some progress on the traffic light system and some commitment regarding pre-departure testing, but not much movement. However, there has been significant backward movement in the spread of Covid-19 across the Continent. In a best case scenario and if everything Mr. Wilson...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: To what degree-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: My question relates to the best-case scenario.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Has Mr. Wilson a sense of pent-up demand?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Whether it is visiting friends and relatives, business or tourism and hospitality, there is obviously restricted opportunity to do anything if one is travelling abroad or coming to Ireland. Is there any sense of a pent-up demand and, if so, where is it relative to other years?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Okay. I put the same question to Mr. Moriarty about a best-case scenario and the opportunities for 2021.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Does Mr. Moriarty believe that his case his helped by coming here this morning and saying that there is a one in 27 million chance of transmission of the virus onboard an aircraft? That is completely not credible. I have looked at the IATA evidence, which indicates that it is not possible to give an exact estimation and that the figure is only based on published reports. Is it credible for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I have it. The report also says that there is no way to establish an exact tally of possible flight-associated cases. Does it not say this also?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: It does. I can tell Mr. Moriarty that it does.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: My point is that it is important to recognise the role played by aviation in the spread of the virus. We cannot be in denial of the role it plays and it is important to have an honest conversation about it. To suggest that there is a one in 27 million chance of transmission is completely incredible and is not based on any sound science. It does a disservice to the quality of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I wish to follow up on the issue of workforce planning. Will Mr. Moriarty indicate where Aer Lingus expects to be in that regard in the months ahead? For example, it has a voluntary redundancy package. By what number is it looking to reduce its head count?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: We heard Mr. Moriarty loud and clear as regards those requests. I thank him.