Results 301-320 of 28,190 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question, which follows on very much from the question asked by his party's spokesperson. The Deputy will be aware that transport was one of the four prioritised areas for investment under this NDP review and we secured a core allocation of €22.3 billion across the next five years, with a further €2 billion allocated from the Infrastructure, Climate...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. He is advocating strongly for his own area and I believe he would agree that while a lot of progress has been made in the past five or ten years on infrastructural investment and infrastructure full stop, as our population - thankfully - continues to grow and as our economy thankfully is still in full employment because of the hard work of our people and the economic and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: To ensure balanced regional development, the national planning framework will guide that and the NDP itself. As for the commitments we have made in the programme for Government, the two parties and the Independents came together to ensure and commit to a balanced regional development and we will ensure that it happens. This morning, I met the incoming new chief executive of Iarnród...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Boland. Like the Deputy, I am eager to see next generation ticketing rolled out on the Irish public transport system. This will be across the whole Twenty-six Counties, across our whole transport system, that is, rail, bus and Luas. I look forward to seeing its introduction as part of BusConnects Dublin before ultimately being delivered across the entire public transport...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Last year we saw the highest number of public transport passenger journeys that we had ever seen. There were about 330 million passenger journeys. The good news is that in the month of August we were up about 10.5% on the comparable month last year. We want to maintain a sustainable and affordable public transport system. I advise the Deputy not to believe everything he reads in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I never turned my back on Donegal.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an cheist seo a ardú, ach níl sé ceart faoi ar chor ar bith. He is not correct at all in his assertion. We have the largest ever national development plan, with €105 billion of investment between now and the end of the decade, and €245 billion-plus in total. Those are the facts. Now it is about delivery and we are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Capital has been secured through the NDP. It is a fully funded multi-annual plan. In the coming weeks, each Department, including my own, will publish departmental NDP plans setting out specific projects. I could stand here for the next two hours listing the projects that are under way but I will give only a couple of examples. Phase 1 of the Cork area commuter rail programme is scheduled...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question on this important matter. As I have previously outlined to the House, the Chicago Convention of 1944 is the main international treaty governing the operation of international civil aviation. Article 35 of this convention provides that no civil aircraft may carry munitions of war in the sovereign territory of a state without that state’s permission....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I take the Deputy's question and statement in the manner in which it has been raised. The allegations, though, that any arms or weapons are going from Ireland to Israel are just wholly incorrect. Irish law is clear. On the examination of the draft report, we have sought legal advice. There is extensive documentation. I do not want to hide any of that but I need to allow it to be assessed...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland has led in Europe in that regard. There are others who wish to state otherwise - not the Deputy but others - purely for political points. This situation is far too serious for that.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Where complaints and allegations are made about the illegal transfer of either munitions, parts of munitions or dual goods, items that could be used for military use, that is taken very seriously. We have a process that is long-standing in Irish law. Our legislation is very clear in that regard, with domestic orders going all the way back to 1973 and reaffirmed in 1989. I take the...

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputies for their contributions here this evening. They were all constructive. Deputy Whitmore raised specific issues and made suggestions, as did Deputies Ahern, Cronin and others. Charges were made about certain things but I will leave them for a more general debate. I welcome the broad support for the Bill. I assure Deputies that as we move to Committee Stage we will...

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Referral to Select Committee (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)(b) and 188(1).

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: We banned that.

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, plays a pivotal role in protecting, improving and restoring our environment through regulation, scientific knowledge and working with others. As part of this role, there are approximately 900 EPA licences in...

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: We will get a copy of it. Apologies, we will circulate that. Tá brón orm faoi sin. Before changes that affect emissions from an existing installation can be made, the operator is required to amend or review the existing EPA licence. This is an important system overall which protects our natural environment and human health. While strong licensing procedures are critical to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question and like him I welcome the largest ever investment in our bus network and services, which is what we are delivering under BusConnects Dublin and what will be delivered under BusConnects in each of the four other cities as well. This is a transformational step change in the way bus services are delivered in Ireland and one that has been subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Disability Services (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I'm pleased to say that yesterday I met with members of the disability sector for a constructive dialogue around our shared ambition to ensure 100% transport accessibility in Ireland. The Government launched the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People on 3rd September 2025. In line with the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the UN CRPD, the...