Results 1,461-1,480 of 6,816 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Yes, but not as part of the protocol for international travel. That did not happen on a mandatory basis until 2021.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Could the witnesses answer my question on who makes the decision around pilot studies? How does one go about establishing a pilot study? Why have they been done in the meat industry, which is appropriate, and in the third level sector but not in the aviation sector? This committee wrote to various Ministers on 5 May recommending that a pilot study be undertaken in the aviation sector to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Sorry to interrupt but who takes the lead in that? We heard from Dr. Niamh Power last week or the week before and she specifically outlined how she proactively established the antigen testing process at the airports here. That strikes me as the sector putting its hand up and saying it was ready to play a role. Is it the Department that takes the lead or the Minister?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: In Dr. Holohan's experience, would there be a role in this for the Department of Transport, the Department of Health or another Department? I am sure the sector is watching this meeting. It has been publishing reports as far back as last July calling for the implementation of such a testing regime. From its perspective, this is about aligning the interests of public health with public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: But we could create or generate that evidence. There is considerable experience around NPHET's table and within the various Departments to design a suitable study that compares performance. Now is an opportune time when there is limited travel and there is PCR testing in place. We have not had such a pilot study since 5 May. Are there other resistances to a study?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I wish to make a final point. I fully appreciate all of the work that has been done, including on the report, but if we had started earlier, we would be further down the line. We could have started this work last November if we had made that decision and we would now have a different evidence base. We are talking about pure science, including randomised controlled studies. No one knows...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: That was not the point I was making, but I understand that these are not RCTs. I just mean that we were talking about pure science and controlled studies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Dr. Holohan.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (29 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 126. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the growing cost of cargo shipping to Ireland (details supplied); if his Department has conducted an assessment of this growing cost, the reasons behind it, the future trends and the implications for industry here; if he will provide details of this assessment and outline his plans to address this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (29 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 130. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has an assessment of the practice of blank sailing in deep-sea shipping; his views on whether this practice is contributing to the increased cost of shipping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34769/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (29 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 127. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the growing cost of cargo shipping to Ireland (details supplied); if his Department has conducted an assessment of this growing cost, the reasons behind it, the future trends and the implications for industry here; the details of this assessment; his plans to address this important issue; and if he...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee
Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: It is the same point. I support Deputies Crowe and Carey on this ongoing and long-standing issue, which needs some resolution as quickly as is possible.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee
Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: My amendment No. 9 relates to the licence holders' charter. The Minister of State is likely to have seen these amendments before. She may have received them at short notice, but it would be interesting to hear back from her about the general thrust of them. She will appreciate where they are coming from and what we are trying to achieve. They are put forward in good faith. The licence...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee
Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I echo that. I appreciate the Minister of State's response. The amendments are born out of a reality that does not reflect some of what she said regarding the opportunity for stakeholder engagement. While the Minister of State is offering the opinion that the proposals are too rigid, there needs to be some sort of accommodation to improve the current state of affairs in which important...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee
Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: The same applies. I will withdraw the amendment, with leave to reintroduce it on Report Stage, if necessary.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee
Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: We did not discuss amendment No. 10.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee
Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Similarly, the peer support piece was one of the points the representatives I spoke with were quite passionate about. I also took from the conversation that there are schemes in place but they vary and, in some instances, are little more than box-ticking exercises that do not really grasp the issue at hand. A comparison was made between the employee assistance programme and the need for...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee
Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Yes. It would be helpful for the Minister of State and her Department to hear from IALPA on these issues. I know there is some engagement, but no one is better able to articulate these issues than the people who have lived them. That is also important between Committee and Report Stages.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee
Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 17: In page 52, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following: “Investigations and administrative penalties 73.The Act of 1993 is amended by the insertion of the following: “63G. (1) For the purposes of ensuring compliance with air carrier operating licence obligations (which is deemed for these purposes to include an air operator certificate)...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee
Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I am happy to withdraw the amendment to provide an opportunity for the officials to meet and discuss their concerns and proposals, and for the Minister of State to meet the committee in advance of Report Stage. If necessary, we might table amendments on Report Stage or the Minister of State might do so.