Results 5,441-5,460 of 6,846 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: To clarify, is this legislation specifically dealing with the safety aspect of the services being provided? Right around the country we probably have lots of anomalies in terms of gas providers in particular being outside the scope of the CRU suppliers handbook because the heating systems are communal. This has arisen as a particular issue with the high price of gas. Communal heating...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Our understanding is that there is a new regime for district heating systems and communal heating systems that may, in time ahead, deal with those other aspects.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Review of Climate Action Plan 2023: Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (15 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for his opening statement. I have a couple of questions. There have been some reports on the cost of non-compliance. The indications were that we are not on target to meet our first or second carbon budget as things stand. Has an assessment been made by the Department or Minister of the likely cost of non-compliance based on, for example, the latest EPA emissions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Large-scale Capital Projects: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the witnesses and thank Mr. Walsh for his update. I will begin with questions on a couple of local projects before picking up on some of the points in his statement. People locally are keen to see the Slane bypass progress. Where is that project at from TII's perspective? The real question from the community is how quickly it can be delivered and whether the funding is there to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Large-scale Capital Projects: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Is Mr. Walsh saying it depends on-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Large-scale Capital Projects: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Walsh for that. He does not know how long it will take An Bord Pleanála to decide whether there will be an oral hearing but, in terms of the planning process, how long do projects generally take? He referenced that in his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Large-scale Capital Projects: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: At that stage, if it goes according to plan, with planning granted following an oral hearing, it will then be a matter of a green light for funding and the project will be ready to move. Is that the case?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Large-scale Capital Projects: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I will ask about a separate project that is not on the TII list before the committee. It is to get a sense about it because it is highly frustrating for people in the county where I live. The Rath roundabout to Kilmoon Cross project has now been deprioritised, to use my words. It is a frustration because it seems as if nothing is happening on it. We have discussed this previously in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Large-scale Capital Projects: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Walsh for that. As we discussed previously, the NTA has been helpful regarding the impact and cost of inflation. Will Mr. Walsh expand on the final points in his statement on the current areas of focus? In fairness, the authority has acknowledged progress on the nature of tenders. Will he expand on the final points he made regarding where the focus should be now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Large-scale Capital Projects: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: In what sort of areas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Large-scale Capital Projects: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: It is a question that begs to be answered.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important issue for the debate. There are many who will make the case for their local school building project to be progressed. That is understandable but it comes with the risk that all cases are heard at the same and all cases are treated the same. I am here to make the case that all cases are not the same. I believe the case of Lismullen...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I must say there will be real disappointment. The Minister of State’s contribution is a saga, from the perspective of the students, parents and staff. This school was first accepted onto the list of new school builds in 2007. Parents whom I met last night could point to other school buildings that went on at the same time or even eight years later and have progressed to completion...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Probate Applications (22 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 9. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in regard to delays in probate, what the current waiting time is; how many cases are on a waiting list in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024 to date, in tabular form; the average wait time in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024 to date, in tabular form; what measures she plans to address this; if there are plans to reopen the office to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Probate Applications (22 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I would like to ask the Minister about the delays in probate. What is the current waiting time? How many cases have been on a waiting list in recent years and to date in 2024? What has been the average wait time in recent years and to date in 2024? What measures does the Minister plan to take to address this? Are there plans to reopen the office to the public? Will she make a statement...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Probate Applications (22 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State. There is a significant problem here and it is reflected in many quarters. According to the 2024 Lisney property outlook, sales of second-hand homes will continue to be affected by lengthy delays in probate and this will impact on the supply of properties to the market. This is creating uncertainty. We see from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Probate Applications (22 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: It is welcome that the office will open even for some limited hours because its closure has contributed significantly to delays. Is it the case, with regard to the work on the eProbate service, that it will be early 2025 when that will be launched? There is a need for a significant effort in the meantime to address the delays. Regarding staffing, is there an update or timeline on...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: This week the Climate Change Advisory Council said it is unlikely that the first carbon budget will be met. Nowhere is this Government's failure clearer than in its national retrofitting plan. That plan is unfair and regressive. This week Irish Rural Link joined a long list of organisations, including St. Vincent de Paul, Social Justice Ireland, Friends of the Earth, the Irish Heart...