Results 601-620 of 6,816 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (11 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: My apologies but Mr. Carroll mentioned that the target is between 55% and 60%. Is it not 51%?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (11 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Carroll.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 1. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for Covid-19 testing facilities at ports and airports; the form of testing that will be used; the cost travellers will face; if it will be in place before Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35955/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I wish to again raise the issue of testing and tracing for passengers arriving at ports and airports. Could the Minister please update the House on the type of testing that will be put in place? Will it be polymerase chain reaction, PCR, or another type? What will the cost of testing be? How many tests will each major port and airport be able to carry out daily? What will the timeframe...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: It is an unfolding situation. Many people are looking towards Christmas and want to know what testing regime will be in place. How does the Government plan to advise people on foreign travel for the Christmas period? Some 1.2 million people travelled through Dublin Airport during the Christmas period last year. That is a significant number. There is a demand for people to come home to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Coming back to the challenge at Christmas, the testing capacity will not be in place to test everybody who arrives in the country if the testing capacity is 150 per day. At this stage, if someone is planning for Christmas, is the Government maintaining the position that people should seriously consider planning for a different type of Christmas? Is the Government suggesting that people...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 3. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he plans to deal with the long waiting list of persons now waiting for a driver test and for driver licence appointments; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of driver instructors regarding access to testing centre facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35956/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask about the enormous backlog of people waiting for driver tests. The Road Safety Authority, RSA, has indicated that more than 93,000 learner drivers are waiting to sit their tests. The problem has been deteriorating over the year and has increased by 70% since June of this year. What measures are being taken to address this?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: There is no quick fix for this, it looks like we will have at least another year of these extended delays. A total of18 additional testers have been hired. Has the option of extended working days, including testing on Sundays, evenings and early mornings, to expand the capacity been considered? To what extent has that been explored, and how quickly will the Minister of State's...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to come back to driving instructors. I have been contacted by driving instructors over the past number of weeks who have been refused entry to driving testing centres. Yesterday, I was sent a video to my phone from the west of Ireland, showing female and male driving instructors in rain that was falling horizontally and they were outside with a collapsable chair and an umbrella....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: There is a better solution that what is in place at the moment.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Strategy (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 5. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the State should be involved in creating and expanding shipping routes directly to the Continent in preparation for Brexit; the engagements he has had to date with shipping companies on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35957/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Strategy (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: An estimated 150,000 heavy goods vehicles use the British land bridge every year to move goods between Ireland and the Continent. My question is about the preparations the Department is making to enable that movement of goods to continue given the challenges presented by Brexit.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Strategy (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister of State will be aware that there was a significant reaction from the haulage industry to the IMDO's report. Hauliers contested the conclusions that were drawn in it, particularly in regard to ro-ro capacity. They also pointed out that we do not have daily ferry connections. When I raised this issue previously with the Minister of State, she said that individual hauliers...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Strategy (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I attended a webinar last Friday, which was addressed by the Minister, and this was, understandably, one of the significant issues that came up for discussion. I welcome the Minister of State's further elaborations in that regard. Where are we at in terms of preparations for the checks and controls that will be required on our side, including the three-step process? What action has been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Transport Services (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: During the previous Priority Questions, I raised the issue of a route the NTA part-funded and also provided school bus transport. There is a solution on the table that will serve the rural communities of Skreen, Walterstown and Kentstown and will also provide for those schoolchildren left without school bus transport since September. Will the Minister support the proposal from Flexibus? It...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I raise the issue of the appointment of Ms Geraldine Feeney to SIPO.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I know the Business Committee has already met so there will be no other opportunity to raise this. Does the Tánaiste believe it is appropriate to appoint a former lobbyist for the National Association of General Practitionersto SIPO, which has responsibility, in the first instance, to investigate allegations of the leaking of confidential documents to that organisation? Does he not see...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: In terms of standing over whether it is inappropriate, will the Tánaiste withdraw the nomination?

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (12 Nov 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 52. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he plans to legislate for the use of e-scooters as set out in the programme for Government; his views on whether this area needs regulation urgently to protect e-scooter users, pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and other road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35766/20]