Results 1,021-1,040 of 7,145 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Viability of and Opportunities for the Post Office Network: Discussion (16 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. O'Hara and Mr. O'Callaghan for their presentations, which outlined clearly the current state of affairs and the cusp on which the post office network finds itself. When anybody thinks of the fabric of communities and what makes them up in terms of infrastructure and institutions, the post office is high on the list and is certainly near the top. I previously served as a member...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Viability of and Opportunities for the Post Office Network: Discussion (16 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: As other members have said, the committee should speak with unanimity on this. It is a political decision in my opinion. It is about recognising the value as much as the cost of things. We should speak with one voice on this. The Government should make the decision to follow through.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Covid-19 on Driving Instructors: Unite the Union (18 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Brophy, Ms O'Dowd and the other witnesses. I will be brief in terms of my questions. Following on from some of Senator Buttimer's questions, the ask in respect of a place at the table strikes me as reasonable but what would that look like given that there is the stakeholders forum? Would it be a hybrid forum, additional to the stakeholders forum or with the stakeholders forum?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Covid-19 on Driving Instructors: Unite the Union (18 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: No. After our meeting today, we should follow up with the Road Safety Authority to let it know of the proposals made here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointment Process for Chair of Irish Aviation Authority: Engagement with Department of Transport (18 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Towey for the update. I raise the issue of the type of aviation industry the IAA will be regulating in the future. In Mr. Towey's position, does he have concerns about the future of the aviation sector? To what degree is he concerned about the decisions of Aer Lingus and Ryanair, which seem to be strategic ones? In the last 24 to 48 hours I have been contacted by scores of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointment Process for Chair of Irish Aviation Authority: Engagement with Department of Transport (18 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I just want to make the point that we had an aviation recovery task force which reported last year. However, the circumstances have changed completely since it reported. There is a need for the Minister and the Department to get their heads around the scale of the impact on this essential industry and also to look at the moves being made. We need to react to them quickly or there will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Decarbonising Transport: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I will try to be brief with my questions. It strikes me that we have well established structures for finding and delivering solutions to roads problems. Could Dr. Sloman speak about her experience in Newport and the road in Cardiff Airport, as the Chair mentioned? We have many examples in Ireland, and I presume elsewhere, of real problems with congestion on a daily basis. The solutions...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 42. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he plans to support the aviation sector in light of the necessary public health restrictions and the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the sector; if he plans to establish a new survival and recovery taskforce to plan and prepare to sustain and recover this important industry; and if he will make a statement on the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: The aviation sector is facing an unprecedented challenge. Most people acknowledge the need to suspend international travel at this time as part of the State's pandemic measures, but it is also recognised that this puts significant pressure on an already crippled sector. Aviation workers need financial support and protection during this time. The sector also needs a survival and recovery...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Aer Lingus today announced an expansion of its air services from Manchester. I saw a communication sent within the company which offered staff here the opportunity to move to Manchester and base themselves there on local terms and conditions, that is, Manchester terms and conditions. That is deeply concerning for those workers. It has been said that this is happening because there is such...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I have not gone through the other measures under consideration, such as routes potentially being moved to Belfast. I mentioned the situation at Manchester Airport. I refer to the operations at Shannon and Cork airports. I raised this issue with departmental officials at a public meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communication Networks. I am deeply concerned in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 44. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he is taking to address the backlog in driver tests, theory tests and driving lessons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15578/21]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: There is a massive problem in the area of driving tests, lessons and licences. I do not yet see a sense of urgency from the Government. There are 100,000 people waiting for driving tests and more than 80,000 waiting for theory tests. The demand for lessons is huge. It is having a major impact on workers and families and it needs to be a priority. How are the Minister and the Minister of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: We received lots of documents at the transport committee and we have heard from the RSA. I read one document we had not previously seen in the media at the weekend, which outlined the concern in the RSA about the impact the backlog will have on road safety and insurance costs. Those are real issues that need to be addressed. The limited capacity that is in place currently is not even...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister of State to go back and speak to the RSA because what she said is not actually the case. The RSA has clearly said there is spare capacity currently as essential workers cannot sit the test because they have not completed their lessons. I am not trying to make a meal out of it, but I ask the Minister of State to go back to the RSA and confirm whether what I have outlined...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 46. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the new measures he plans to introduce to reduce the 20.3% contribution of the transport sector to Ireland’s total greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15579/21]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister about his plans for the transport sector as part of our overall action against climate change. I very much welcome the revised climate action Bill published yesterday. The scale of the challenge is huge and with the transport sector accounting for 20.3% of emissions, I ask the Minister what contribution he sees the transport sector making to our 2030 target.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I have supplementary questions on two matters. One is the Connecting Ireland programme. There are particular challenges in Ireland because of the spatial configuration of our communities. We are unique in many respects, specifically the dominance of Dublin and the types of rural and sparsely populated communities we have. Connecting Ireland is essentially a BusConnects programme for the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister. On that point, at the climate committee yesterday we heard from Dr. Lynn Sloman who referred to a Swiss example of good rural public transport. Built into it were performance and service standards that were binding. That is the type of direction we should be moving in. I will let the Minister come back to me on the point on electric vehicles. I refer to the Road...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (24 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 65. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to expand the passenger and freight rail network here, including the Navan rail line and the western rail corridor, given 2021 is the European Year of Rail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15576/21]