Results 6,901-6,920 of 7,192 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (28 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 293. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated average cost of providing hot school meals per child in primary school; the cost of providing dinner club per child in post primary schools; and to provide the cost of breakfast club, lunch and school club per child in other organisations, respectively, in 2023 -2024 and to date in 2024-2025, academic years,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (28 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 409. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Meath will get an appointment at Beaumont Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28346/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (29 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 14. To ask the Minister for Finance if he intends to reduce the VAT rate on hospitality; the factors considered in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27336/25]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (29 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 207. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the withdrawal of the EU from the EU-Israel Association Agreement; the efforts he is making to advance that case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27334/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (29 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 340. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that the HSCL will be funded and operational for all DEIS schools in the State; and if she will ensure that every rural school without a HSCL scheme will be provided with one as soon as possible. [28429/25]

Committee on Transport: National Transport Authority: Engagement (28 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: In respect of public bus services in County Meath, there are significant concerns about services 109, 109a, 103, 105, 105X. Is there any update on the NTA's engagements with service providers in Meath, largely Bus Éireann, regarding challenges with drivers and mechanics? I know there are long-term issues with congestion but they require a longer term fix. On active travel projects, it...

Committee on Transport: National Transport Authority: Engagement (28 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: There were particular pinch points but there are ongoing issues.

Committee on Transport: National Transport Authority: Engagement (28 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Is the NTMA involved in the design manual for urban roads and streets, DMURS, or is there an option to review that at some stage, because there are questions over it?

Housing: Statements (10 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: In my two minutes, I want to focus on the issue of affordable housing in Meath East for working people to buy and rent. I looked at daft.ie before I came to the Chamber. Four-bedroom second-hand properties are €535,000 to buy, on average, with three-bedrooms €430,000 and two-bedrooms €240,000. There are no properties at all to rent. Not a single affordable unit has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 108. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on the North-South interconnector project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30279/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Will the Minister provide an update on the North-South interconnector project?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I am firmly of the opinion that this project will never be delivered at the current rate and if the current approach is maintained. I do not say this with any degree of satisfaction. I accept the points made by the Minister in terms of the strategic importance of it and need for it and everything that goes with that but there have been incredible delays. I foresee this continuing because...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: We are talking past each other, which has been the difficulty. I am being straight with the Minister. It is my firm belief, as an elected Member who knows these communities, that this project is not going to proceed as currently planned. The only way I see it being delivered is underground. The 2021 review said that in the future, not only qualitative but more quantitative elements and...

Proposed Approval of the Agreement Between the European Organization for Nuclear Research and Ireland: Motion (11 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I am sharing time with Deputy McGettigan. This a good day and a positive day. It has been a while coming and I know the Minister will agree with that, but it is welcome. There is significant opportunity with it for Irish scientists. There is an opportunity to collaborate, connect and lead of their own volition. That is there now and that is to be welcomed. I encourage the Minister to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the establishment of the committee. It is important. From a health sector point of view, I have a background in biomedical science. I have worked with large data sets, gene sequencing for targeted therapies, bioinformatics and the potential opportunity in diagnostics and patient management. Examining the potential of AI in health services, hopefully in an ethical way, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Dr. Leavy mentioned that to some degree we might be a standard bearer in terms of regulation and it was a case of implementation. I have heard the counterargument that the Digital Services Act is light touch. The devil is in the detail as regards what companies are captured by it. For instance, it does not capture Roblox and YouTube. Specifically, on the issue of recommender algorithms,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: My understanding is that there were earlier drafts of the Irish legislation that included it and the final Act did not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Okay. My next question has an eye to a conversation on leaving certificate reform. There is some indication that the third level sector is already dealing with additional assessment components, something leaving certificate reform is dealing with, which is essentially continuous assessment, some of which would not be classroom-based. The human involvement would be in the loop, which deals...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: A related question is relevant to the witnesses. How do we ensure the integrity of the research being produced by funded PhD scholars, for example, is their own work and not AI generated?