Results 2,201-2,220 of 6,781 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (6 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 370. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to recommend that minimum standards for the provision of funding for PhD researchers in Ireland, including minimum standards of pay, such as the national minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33337/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (6 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 371. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the matter of employee status for PHDS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33338/23]

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 14: In page 15, after line 17, to insert the following: " Return not delivered after 6 months from the specified date 50 per cent ".

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 13: In page 15, to delete line 17 and substitute the following:" Return not delivered between 2 and 6 months from the specified date 10 per cent ".

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 12: In page 15, to delete line 16 and substitute the following: " Return delivered between 0 and 2 months from the specified date 5 per cent ". Amendment No. 12 states that if a return is delivered between zero and two months from the specified date, companies will pay a surcharge at a rate of 5%. Amendment No. 13 states that if a return is...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I do not accept the Minister of State's argument. In fact, I spelled it out there. Sinn Féin's proposals are to bring these measures, in the first instance, in line with the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. Why should there be preferential treatment in this response for energy companies? The 50% rate would really be a statement of intent from the Government that it is very serious...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I support this amendment. It is imperative that the TSC is applied and distributed to provide urgent relief to households. This amendment would provide for important oversight of the Minister's application of the TSC and the distribution of its proceeds. A report could provide critical insights into how effective the measures were in providing urgent relief to households and how robust...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, line 37, to delete “23 September” and substitute “28 July”. Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 seek to speed up the process of providing relief to households by legislating for the temporary solidarity contribution, TSC, to be paid to the Revenue Commissioners on 28 July, as opposed to 23 September. They push forward the date on which...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I accept the Minister of State's arguments with regard to those timelines. However, I find it deeply concerning that the legislation might not be commenced by 28 July. Eighteen other European countries have moved on this legislation and are at a significantly advanced stage in many of those. We have had delay after delay, and we have a handful of amendments to discuss today because so many...

Nature Restoration Law: Motion [Private Members] (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the opportunity to speak to this motion and this urgent issue today, which is the EU's nature restoration law that addresses the crisis in biodiversity, and we have a crisis in biodiversity. Some 85% of Ireland's habitats are in inadequate or poor states. Despite the green image of our island, our forest cover stands at just 11%. This pales in comparison to the European average...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Pension Provisions (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 55. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding the March 2023 agreement to increase the pension of former workers at An Post, the reasons there has been a delay in payment to former workers; when they can expect to receive this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32956/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 65. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 31 of 2 March 2023, the degree to which his Department monitors the transfer of taxi licences; if he is aware of social media sites facilitating the transfer of licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32898/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 66. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question 31 of 2 March 2023, the number of section 15 nominations which have been made in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32899/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 67. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 31 of 2 March 2023, the number of enforcement actions taken for suspected breaches of Section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32900/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Driver Recruitment: Discussion (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. I echo those comments of thanks and welcome progress. It is important that the committee pursues the proposals discussed here but it would also be helpful that there is clarity in terms of the proposals. There has been some good discussion in terms of measures needed and the proposals and opening statements from Go-Ahead Ireland and CTTC. Do Bus Éireann and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Driver Recruitment: Discussion (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: It is the same. The witnesses agrees broadly with the opportunities to carve out-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Driver Recruitment: Discussion (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: -----and that maybe there are those international comparisons of how to do it more efficiently. That is fine. I will ask each of the individual groups a couple of questions. They pointed towards the labour market. Some recommendations are to look not just outside the State but outside of the continent if we are looking at the critical skills list. How is that reflected in the major...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Driver Recruitment: Discussion (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Okay. I thank Ms O'Sullivan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Driver Recruitment: Discussion (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Does Mr. Hann have anything to add on the labour market?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Driver Recruitment: Discussion (5 Jul 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I would like to come back on the issue of performance and how that has been impacted.