Results 3,781-3,800 of 6,812 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (6 Jul 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: We certainly would not do what the Minister is doing. He is coming to this committee to reallocate what were described as ring-fenced carbon taxes to deliver on retrofitting and agricultural schemes and to reduce fuel poverty, and redirect them towards funding emergency electricity that successive governments have created the demand for through the proliferation of data centres. People are...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (6 Jul 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: We are going to disagree.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (6 Jul 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I will take the note and give it to Deputy Ó Murchú.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (6 Jul 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I will make the point that the autumn will be important for the aviation sector. I am interested in seeing what those levers are. I do not think they will be enough as regards connectivity. We have a very liberal aviation market. We will consider how that can be influenced to try to deliver on the regional balance we all want to see, but it needs to be more than that. NTA...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (5 Jul 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 115. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated annual cost that will be added to household electricity bills to cover the cost of acquiring 450 MW of additional electricity generation capacity, as per the provisions of the EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36182/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (5 Jul 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 236. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 368 of 10 May 2022, the number of the eight staff sanctioned by his Department for An Bord Pleanála’s new marine climate unit who have been recruited and are in place; to name the posts that have been recruited and are in place; the number of these roles that have been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (5 Jul 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 351. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which a community of parents who wish to alter the existing patron of a local primary school, other than by targeting their local primary school with a campaign to persuade it to change its ethos from Christian to a multi and non-denominational patron in circumstances (details supplied) can do so. [35882/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (5 Jul 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 352. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the routes and alternatives available to a community of parents who wish to have their children educated in a multi and non-denominational school excluding boarding school options and unsustainable commuting distances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35883/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Jul 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 353. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the precise details of the charging lease in respect of a school (details supplied); if the charging lease included a provision for present and future advances or a like provision; the amount that she decided to forgo to the Exchequer by agreeing not to seek repayment of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35884/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Jul 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 354. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason she did not insist on the provision of an independent valuation in respect of the proposed disposal of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35885/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (5 Jul 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 355. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the policy and provision that is in place which sets out the practice and procedure for ensuring that a consultation process is undertaken when a school patron proposes to close a primary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35886/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Anaerobic Digestion: Discussion (5 Jul 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. I will start on a similar theme to Dr. Beausang relating to sustainability. Following from the last question on the role of anaerobic digestion, the use of biogas, and which sectors they would be useful for, do those include sectors which are hard to decarbonise or heating homes? We hear that those are not included. I am interested in her perspective on that. In...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (30 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 116. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the staffing levels of the Bus Éireann station in County Sligo; if he is concerned that low staffing levels are resulting in cancelled services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35038/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (30 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 117. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will commit to improving the Local Link bus services to and from Collooney, County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35039/22]

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Will the Minister come back to the point about the prospect of an economic, environmental and energy security impact risk analysis for current and planned data centres? All the issues that have been raised need to be addressed and such an analysis would be a suitable vehicle to address them.

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to put on the record, as I have done before, an issue that is a cause of frustration. When I raise issues with the Minister or the Department, I am often pointed towards a body at arm's length, whether that is the CRU, EirGrid or some other organisation with responsibility. Especially in the context of the CRU, there is always a line in the response that the body is not responsible...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Within those considerations, and as the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, said last night, some may be distillate and some may be gas, all things being equal, the State and EirGrid must surely go for the lower emissions alternative. I hear the Minister's point but it is important to state that the lower emissions alternative must be given priority, and if there is an option to go for...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I echo many of those comments and sentiments from Deputy Smith. We have an amendment grouped with this. I entirely agree that the suggestion that data centres are not a significant part of the issue is complete spin and nonsense. It is disingenuous for anyone to make that statement. In fairness to the Minister of State who was here last night, he pointed to three main reasons we are where...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to come back to the question of which Vote the funding is coming from and under what heading. I understand the Minister will present before the Committee on Transport and Communications for this reason. Is this for the full €350 million that is estimated? What impact will that have in regard to the communications budget and from where is this money coming? Are there projects...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, line 35, after “thereto” to insert the following: “, with priority given to renewables, zero or low carbon electricity generation options or those most easily retrofitted into zero or low-carbon alternatives in the future”. What I want to do in this amendment is to ensure there is a commitment to consideration of the types...