Results 3,921-3,940 of 6,802 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the discussion and debate on each Stage of this legislation and acknowledge the Minister has taken on board some of the recommendations. There will be further discussion in the Seanad and colleagues of mine will bring forward amendments, as I am sure others will as well. I am disappointed there were not amendments on CCTV and the need for caution with it. Significantly more...

Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I will support both amendments regarding PFAS for the reasons outlined by Deputy Smith. I welcome the fact the Minister has brought forward amendment No. 19 on foot of discussions on Committee Stage. We raised previously the prospect of taking an initiative such as that which was taken in France. The Department indicated there were considerations in the Irish market that differed from...

Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I acknowledge the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, for their inclusion of these amendments, which were discussed on Committee Stage. This is a long-standing issue with regard to supports for people with medical-associated additional waste needs. It is very unfair and is one of those things that frustrates people. It affects a small number of people, is cruel and...

Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I also acknowledge the changes the Minister and the Minister of State have made on foot of the Committee Stage debate. They have taken on board some of what the Opposition and some Government Members said during that debate. That said, there is an opportunity to go further and I share concerns that it does not adequately capture the potential of the circular economy. At the moment,...

Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Deputies Whitmore and Cairns for bringing forward these amendments, which I support. They are consistent with attempts made by the Opposition at various stages, including in the debate on the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and on earlier Stages of this Bill, to enshrine the principles of just transition in legislation in Ireland. We look towards other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: That is the point. The DAA cut too deep and it is struggling to recruit quickly enough to keep up with demand. Mr. Philips said there is a resource gap. What level of search unit staff does the DAA ideally need to cope with the demand that is there at the minute? What is the gap? Obviously, the DAA is aiming for 702 by the end of the month. What would it be content with at this point?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I will come back to that argument. The DAA is 60 staff short.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: What will it be short for this weekend?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: That is where I am getting to. The DAA does not have enough suitably qualified staff to match the demand, and that is a pressure point. Mr. Philips says the DAA is running on a finite margin of error. He said that last weekend the DAA was unable to substitute at short notice. If the same scenario arises this weekend and the DAA has a little more of a buffer with its 10%, what will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: My question is what will be different this weekend compared with last weekend. Mr. Philips mentioned appropriate escalation. What does that look like? Does the DAA have an additional reserve? Has it asked staff to do-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: What about rehiring staff who were let go? There is an issue with Garda clearance and training. What is the quickest possible way the DAA can provide additional resources?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to make a point on the underestimation on the return. Mr. Philips pointed to international indicators - we have heard others point to that at the committee - but is it not the case that the DAA has failed to read the Irish market? Is it not the case that the DAA has failed to read the Ryanair factor? Is that not what has happened here? Ryanair, one of the most successful and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: In January, Ryanair said it foresaw a strong summer if there was no Covid.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: What is terminal 2 at percentage wise?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for attending our meeting. I have a number of questions to raise. Many Members around the country will have heard from their local postmasters about the need for additional supports, so this funding commitment is welcome. When will it kick in? I am conscious that the IPU asked for €12 million. How does that compare? What is the Department's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: No. The Government has committed to €10 million while Grant Thornton suggested €12 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Count it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: It is an interesting idea and there are a lot of different groups. Did the Department build new models on how to account for social impact or social value? Are those publicly available? Is this a departure from Government or the Department? There are a lot of groups that make their case based on their social impact and it can be hard to quantify.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Will that be based on a formula? Does the Minister of State know what criteria will apply?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The other question was about the additional services and the interdepartmental report.