Results 18,281-18,300 of 26,320 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand the Senator's point. In large swathes of the country as well, there might be infrastructural deficits that need to be dealt with and some of that will include road infrastructure. I will not comment on Galway but people will understand the issues in Galway. The sustainable and compact settlement guidelines are very important. They need to be updated because the guidelines...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. EV charging infrastructure is crucially important. It is good to see the growth in EV sales. Something that has helped them is the grants. I would like to see the grant levels maintained for EVs as well, because people are responding to that. Local authorities have a role to play in that, and many exercise it. I have seen an increase in charging infrastructure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I will let the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, talk about the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS. In my opening statement I gave some detail around the retrofitting programme which is really important, with our local authority stock and the housing stock that we have, in order to reduce emissions. Local authorities are key drivers in their own areas to advance climate policy. They...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Táim buíoch as an cheist thábhachtach faoi mhorgáistí. I assure the Deputy that no one has their head in the sand. No one will be left alone, as the Government has proved during the cost-of-living crisis with the additional measures we have brought forward for families and individuals across the country. The average interest rate on new mortgages in April, prior to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Unquestionably, there are people badly affected by the interest rate increases we have seen in recent months. I remind the Deputy that when Sinn Féin brought forward its alternative budget, it made no mention of mortgage interest relief whatsoever. What does that show about Sinn Féin's foresight or planning with regard to the economy? Every week, the Deputy comes in with further...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----and appropriately so, as we did in the most recent budget in the context of the cost-of-living crisis. Let us remember the Sinn Féin proposed energy price caps that would have spiralled out of control. We targeted the supports for people and families. We targeted additional social protection payments for our elderly and those with disabilities. He knows what we did.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: What he did every week was come in with the last thing he heard outside the door and asked for it here in the Chamber.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this important issue. I believe, as does the Government, that the proposed regulation to which she refers provides an opportunity for transformative change with regard to achieving nature restoration in Ireland and in the EU as a whole. That is absolutely to be welcomed. She made reference to yesterday's EPA report and the challenges we face when it comes...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland has not been on the sidelines in this, nor indeed has this Government. We brought forward the most comprehensive climate action plan. We underpinned that in law.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Some parties decided to vote against it. Reversing the loss in biodiversity and tackling climate change is the single biggest challenge the world faces. Doing so is this generation's responsibility. This is probably the last generation that can actually do something about it. There will be tough choices. I want to give the Deputy a couple of examples of where we have already moved.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We have made substantial progress in delivering over 13,000 ha of rehabilitated peatlands in Bord na Móna ownership. The Climate Action Plan 2023 has committed to a further rehabilitation of 77,000 ha by 2030. There are many measures being undertaken and these are just examples. I attended the Committee on Environment and Climate Action this morning for my own Department of Housing,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I would not usually describe Deputy Barry as being happy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I see the Deputy carried out that extensive research on the list of speakers at breakneck speed and I suggest that the research and the results thereof would probably require some independent verification so I am not going to take the results of his research as gospel here this morning, if he does not mind. As a Government and as a country, we are very conscious that since Russia’s...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The nub of the Deputy’s comment is at the very end when he said that is why there will be protests at this forum. I am sure that Deputy Barry will be outside there in Cork himself with his megaphone and placards which is his right to so do if he wishes, and I respect that while I disagree with him. There is no stitch-up here. Even Deputy Barry must realise that the geopolitical...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: That is a good change in his outlook.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is right as a sovereign nation that we allow debate within the country, that we have fora such as this, particularly when we look at how things have changed on our own Continent with the largest outbreak of war on the European Continent since the Second World War. Should we just sit there silently and not even discuss what the potential issues would be and how we can strengthen our own...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Berry. I welcome Private Kedian's comrades who are here today. I had the pleasure and honour of meeting them earlier this morning. I thank the Deputy for his continued advocacy on behalf of our Defence Forces, both serving and retired. It is important that we all remember the sacrifice Private Kedian gave for his country and the UN on a peacekeeping mission in south...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I assure the Deputy that following his intervention and his question today, I will raise the matter personally and directly with the Tánaiste. I reiterate that he has asked the Chief of Staff to consider a review of the medals process, perhaps using the incidence of Private Kedian as an example of some other outstanding matters in relation to recognition of Defence Forces personnel. I...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: To get back to the matter at hand, I know many of the men and women in the retained fire service across the country. I commissioned the independent review. I was not asked to do it, I commissioned it, published it and brought it to Cabinet twice. All 13 recommendations were accepted by the Government. Much progress was made in this regard concerning rostering and minimum staffing levels...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It was obviously choreographed.