Results 3,821-3,840 of 6,812 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Martin. My first question was for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine really, just in terms of the policy vacuum, the opportunity that exists and what might be needed to realise it. I am hearing that commercial viability is a challenge at the minute.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: How does that work in practical terms? Does the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications present a line Minister with a set of options and he or she then goes off and negotiates with Cabinet colleagues, who have similar options? For example, if the transport sector has a target of 52% and the energy sector has a target of 82%, what is the starting point for the relevant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: My question follows on a similar theme. I would appreciate a comment from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine officials on policy around biofuels. It seems to me there is contradiction, permanent anxiety and a general sense of not being entirely sure of where the State is going. What is the officials' sense of where policy is in that space and where the opportunity is? What...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank our guests. I wish to touch on a number of points. I will emphasise the point that there were approximately 4,000 submissions, 2,000 of which came from County Meath. There are issues which include Navan rail. Will our guests give the committee an update on Navan rail, where it stands and what the next steps will be? I am conscious that a number of the submissions related to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Yes, please.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: How much is allocated?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: There should be sufficient funding.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Talk me through that process. We have had our consultation and the project is now in the draft document. This is to be adopted. What decision-making gate does the project go through? If my interest is to try to support this to move as quickly as possible, what are the next steps? Does the NTA make a decision? Does Irish Rail? Does it fall to the Department or the Minister? How will it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: When will that decision be made?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: That is welcome. I am seeking a short update on another big issue. I note that a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting supported a proposition for fare parity between Balbriggan, Gormanston, Laytown and Drogheda. Where are we in that regard, particularly in the context of the broader fare review on which I am keeping a close eye?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I heard it reported on LMFM. That is what we go for.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I will move on to the issue of taxis, the late-night economy and public transport availability during the night, particularly at weekends but also more generally. I saw the NTA respond to some of those issues on RTÉ's "Prime Time" last week. There are a couple of specific issues I wish to raise. The NTA has done this review of maximum fares, which will kick in during August. Ms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I will come in again later but for now I will finish on these points on the ten-year rule. In my opinion, 2011 was a different time. Vehicles will still have to be tested for suitability and their standard maintained. Many of these vehicles have been off the road for an extended period because of the Covid pandemic. The price of second-hand vehicles in 2022 is very different from what it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses for their responses. Following on from that last question and regarding the modelling being undertaken, is that being done in the context of the 20% fare reduction built in or is it based on a situation where that reduction is not carried on?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042: National Transport Authority (28 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Both scenarios are being modelled. That is fine. Turning to a few things that have come up, and again concerning the modelling, is there any decent study or information of which Ms Graham is aware that explores the relationship between service frequency and demand? If a service runs more regularly, does that increase the demand for it? Is that something the NTA sees?