Results 461-480 of 12,266 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ending the Central Bank’s Facilitation of the Sale of Israel Bonds: Motion [Private Members] (11 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Chair, and the Social Democrats for bringing forward this motion today. The Green Party is pleased to co-sign this motion, which seeks to end the Central Bank's facilitation of the sale of Israeli bonds. We are deeply concerned that these bonds have, since October 2023, been marketed explicitly in the context of the ongoing war in Gaza, with statements from the Israeli...

Committee on Transport: Driving Test and NCT Delays: RSA (11 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: Is that transport legislation or Department of housing legislation ?

Committee on Transport: Driving Test and NCT Delays: RSA (11 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: Would Mr. Waide be aware of what legislation is involved here?

Committee on Transport: Driving Test and NCT Delays: RSA (11 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is an issue that came up in the early part of last year. Most of the members here would have sat on local authorities as councillors and would have had discussions with the managers for their particular areas in relation to identifying blackspots. The RSA makes the point that the Department of Transport can provide information to local authorities. How does that differ from the...

Committee on Transport: Driving Test and NCT Delays: RSA (11 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: Indeed. When did the RSA stop sharing that information with local authorities because of data protection concerns? When did GDPR concerns come to light?

Committee on Transport: Driving Test and NCT Delays: RSA (11 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: When was that?

Committee on Transport: Driving Test and NCT Delays: RSA (11 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is still unresolved, it would appear.

Committee on Transport: Driving Test and NCT Delays: RSA (11 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank our guests for their attendance here today. I note the opening statement and the apology for the unacceptable delays in the provision of driving test slots. The RSA has set out a commitment to reduce waiting times to ten weeks. It is an ambitious commitment and the witnesses have set out the means by which they will deliver that. There has been some progress, with a move from 27...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: 111. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department's policy correctly reflects the balance between energy demand for housing versus energy demand for data centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30075/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: Many jurisdictions over the past decade have been dealing with the dramatic rise in energy consumption driven by the growth in data centres. We are no different here. Our challenge is probably even greater. I believe, and it is witnessed by what has been said by the Minister, the Taoiseach and others, that there is a clear preference for increased data centres and their use. Will the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Minister used the words "disingenuous" and "red herring". I am referring to a warning raised by the Secretary General of the Minister's own Department. It is a warning and an issue. She spoke about a balance between AI, particularly the highly intensive data centres required for new AI developments, and housing. If there is a red herring, it was not I who raised it originally. I made...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Minister for his honesty about the risk of some of those projects not delivering within the 2030 timeline. Would it be the Minister's belief then that if those renewable projects are not going to deliver in that timeline, we must look at the timeline within which new data centres are brought on? There are 40 in various stages. Some have been granted full planning permission....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is important to outline that Ireland is at the most extreme end of vulnerability because of the growth of data centre demand. We host approximately 120 data centres. Today, they consume 21% of all energy we produce. Forty centres are in planning and development right now. No other country reports a higher share of domestic energy consumption by data centres than Ireland. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Minister's own Secretary General presented it that way.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Taoiseach and the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Chambers, rejected the warnings raised by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien's Secretary General that Ireland would be forced to choose between housing and AI data centres. I believe they and the Minister are far too quick to dismiss concerns by the most senior civil servant in the latter's Department. There has been positive growth...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: 138. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to outline the framework his Department uses to balance between competing energy needs of different sectors of the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30074/25]

Housing: Statements (10 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: We are facing a housing crisis of unprecedented scale. More than 15,500 people, including more than 4,700 children are living in emergency accommodation. This is not just a statistic; it is a national failure, and one that demands urgent action. At the same time there are an estimated 80,000 vacant or derelict properties across Ireland. These are properties that could and should be homes....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: 253. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when national siting regulations for biogas facilities will be published; if they will be designed with reference to international best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30214/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: 261. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to outline Ireland’s position with respect to the proposed draft fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty; if his Department will consider sending representatives with observer status to discussions about the proposed draft treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30620/25]