Results 4,161-4,180 of 6,812 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Prohibition of Winter Disconnections) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Prohibition of Winter Disconnections) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: That is perfect. I will share with Deputies Kerrane and Cronin, with five minutes each.

Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Prohibition of Winter Disconnections) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: We may not use it all. I thank the House for the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I thank Deputies Cronin and Kerrane for co-sponsoring it with me. The Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Prohibition of Winter Disconnections) Bill 2021 aims to amend the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 to include explicit provision for the Minister to provide policy direction to the Commission for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Banking Sector (28 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 18. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the current status of the withdrawal of banks (details supplied) from the Irish market and the closure of accounts and migration of their customers to receiving banks; if he has raised concerns with the banks with respect to their preparedness for this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21436/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Banking Sector (28 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to ask the Minister his views on the current status of the withdrawal of KBC Bank and Ulster Bank from the Irish market, on the closure of accounts and migration of their customers to receiving banks, if he has raised concerns with the banks with respect to their preparedness for this process and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Banking Sector (28 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister of State has said that there is a wish that this proceeds in an orderly manner, but there must be concern at this stage that this will not happen and it will not be orderly. In fact, there are approximately 900,000 customers affected. I am sure every one of us knows from being contacted by those affected what their experiences have been. They talk about being put off, not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Banking Sector (28 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: If past performance is any indication of future performance, we are right to be concerned here. It is important, rather than expecting that the matter will proceed smoothly, that measures are taken to ensure they proceed smoothly. This train has been rolling down the track and the time is getting shorter. On the commitment in terms of notification periods, continuity of service and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (28 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 207. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the establishment of the seafood offshore renewable energy working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21544/22]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for that update. I welcome the joint working group and the commitment to engagement with regard to the issue of the youth travel card. That needs to happen as quickly as possible. I also draw the Minister of State's attention to this matter. It is important to point out that there needs to be movement regarding the 20% fare reduction on non-PSO routes....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this very important issue. Private bus operators are a fundamental part of our public transport service. In the way it has evolved over the years, they are responsible for 100% of services in many places, particularly in vast swathes of rural Ireland. They provide scheduled services through the National Transport Authority. They...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I was a bit late but I have picked up on the thrust of what was said. I apologise if I go back over old ground. The two major questions are how far the commitment in the national development plan - the funding envelope - will go in light of the emerging trend of inflation. What is Ms Brogan's assessment of that? Is that ongoing? Is this what Ms Brogan is saying we will have that in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: What does the Department do to assess that? Does it engage with the sector or consultants?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: What is Ms Brogan's estimate of the type of inflation that is happening and that is projected into the future or does she have an estimate?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: It is a very significant concern. We heard from TII. It is related to the former piece. It concerns the viability of existing and committed projects based on the type of contracts that were entered into in light of this emerging trend in inflation. What is the Department hearing or seeing with regard to that? Ms Brogan does not have to give specific examples but we have specific examples...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I am not asking Ms Brogan to speculate. I am just asking her to tell us what the Department is hearing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I am just trying to get a sense of the scale of concern. Ms Brogan said it involves a small number of projects but it has the potential to have significant implications. Have certain projects been stalled? Have certain projects gone to tender and have reduced numbers of people applied for them? Have people had to pull out of commitments on certain tenders? Is it manifesting in that way yet?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I understand Ms Brogan's position in terms of what she can and cannot say. We have a sense and are hearing - not necessarily from the Department explicitly - but from a range of stakeholders that there are serious concerns. If there were serious concerns and if there was a serious problem here, what would be an appropriate response from the Departments involved - the Departments of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: It is a matter for the Government to address. I suggest that it involve a real engagement with the relevant stakeholders and a responsive reaction in terms of the Government moving the levers it has as quickly as possible because we do not want to see businesses go to the wall because of the nature of the constraints we have applied to them or, more important, projects not being delivered or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses for the statement. I do not know if they watched the earlier proceedings, when we spoke with departmental officials. What we as a committee tried to impress upon them was a degree of urgency with the matter, and we have some work to do with other Departments. Representatives of Transport Infrastructure Ireland met the committee before Easter and they pointed to a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Representatives from the Department came before the committee. It was difficult to read between the lines. They have a line they need to hold. I got no sense that a duck was paddling under the water and there was a level of urgency regarding this. They spoke about ongoing assessments and engagement. I ask the witnesses to give us a sense of the type of risk that is at stake here, in...