Results 2,841-2,860 of 6,809 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Mar 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses for their attendance. Their collective contribution to getting us to this stage at all, which Mr. Kingston referred to, is a significant achievement. I made the same point to the Minister last week. We have still some way to go, so let us keep at it. I will pick up on a couple of points. Mr. Kingston will have heard the exchanges last week on the heads of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Bodies (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: In regard to the sequencing, I am not entirely clear. The two gentlemen have responsibility for overseeing the preparation of a review, but will they conduct the review in that three- to six-month period? Will the Department wait for the conclusion of that protected disclosure process? Will it inform the future functioning of the IFI? Are the Minister and the Department in a position to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Bodies (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 65. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will carry out a full review of the role and governance of Inland Fisheries Ireland, in light of recent revelations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9982/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Bodies (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to ask the Minister of State if he will carry out a full review of the role and governance of Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, in light of recent revelations and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Bodies (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: To be clear, are Mr. Barry and Mr. Neely conducting the governance review or are they preparing a plan for a governance review? Could the Minister of State clarify that? What is the expected timeline for the new board to be appointed? Does the Minister of State have an indication of when we might expect to see that? What is the process by which that will be conducted? The most important...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: A number of points arise. There is a significantly increased ambition regarding solar energy, with a goal of 5 GW by 2025, which was announced to great fanfare, but it will take much work to deliver on that. There is significant opportunity at a smaller scale, outside of utility scale, to realise that and to bring people along and have them play their part. There are a number of key...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: There are unnecessary barriers. It is not the Minister of State's responsibility but as I understand the targeted agriculture modernisation scheme, TAMS, 3 criteria, they are not getting paid for their excess electricity. They still cannot sell back to the grid or export. The community energy grant run by SEAI is available for businesses but there is a level of bureaucracy. We had the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to ask the Minister of State a straight question and I hope he will give me a straight answer. When will the windfall tax be legislated for, when it will be introduced, what period will it apply for and how much will it bring in? I noticed that initial estimates were in the region of €1.9 billion and the lower estimates are in the region of €200 million to €300...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 58. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he will take to maximise delivery of solar photovoltaic, PV, systems on homes, schools, farm sheds, and community/sporting, commercial and public buildings in 2023; his targets in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9984/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to ask the Minister of State the measures he will take to maximise the delivery of solar PV systems on homes, schools, farm sheds and community, sporting, commercial and public buildings in 2023; his targets in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 56. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures being taken to ensure that energy companies reduce their prices for customers to reflect the significant reduction in wholesale energy costs; if he has met with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in this regard; the date on which windfall taxes will be introduced; the amount they are expected to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I am disappointed the senior Minister is not here. It is not the first time this has happened. I think he has ten advisers at this stage and he does not seem to be able to line up his diary. We can reschedule these questions. They are rescheduled regularly. I am disappointed that he is not here and that neither he nor his ten advisers gave us the courtesy of telling us he would not be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: That is an incredible response. People will endure and will get on with it but they hate this idea of "we are all in it together". The truth is that we are not all in it together. People hate a double standard and they hate inequity and unfairness. The price of energy is being hiked, but at the same time energy company profits are going through the roof. Energy companies are reporting...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 96. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on measures he is taking to ensure sufficient electricity generation capacity for the remaining months of 2023; the estimated capacity and headroom that will be on the system for winter 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9980/23]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Poverty (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 112. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the commitment in the Energy Poverty Action Plan to introduce a mechanism to ensure homeowners have the option of paying for upgrades “net of grant”, and to explore options to support homeowners to convert from oil and solid fuel to heat pumps; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 113. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he intends to amend the legal mandate of Bord na Móna to ensure that the protection and restoration of the environment and climate action are core obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9978/23]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Projects (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 117. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on investigations into the potential of geothermal energy in the State; if it presents a possible solution to runaway heating costs in communal heating systems; the immediate solutions that will be provided for people living in complexes with these systems; and if he will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 205. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the refurbishment or maintenance works that Iarnród Éireann will carry out at locations (details supplied) for the remainder of 2023; and when each of these works projects will commence. [10172/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 206. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided to have taxi-dedicated electric vehicle charge points at both Connolly Station and Busáras. [10173/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (28 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 209. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional buses and drivers that would be required to increase the frequency of Dublin Bus route 44 to every 30 minutes in both directions between the hours of 7.30am to 5.30pm on Mondays to Fridays. [10210/23]