Results 5,121-5,140 of 6,809 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to raise the issue of global access to vaccines. What role will the Tánaiste and the Government play in ensuring fair and equitable access to vaccines? I am aware of, and support, the call for a TRIPS waiver. Does the Tánaiste support that call? If so, that is great; if not, how will Ireland and the EU play a leading role in that regard? I do not believe that answer is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. One of the proposals that has been raised by driving instructors and others is that we would avail of the resource of driving instructors, either to assess people they deem ready for tests or possibly give them the responsibility of testing. Have any of those types of hybrid models been considered, or does the Minister of State not see them as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 75. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on his efforts to clear the driving test backlog including the plan to hire additional driving testers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44094/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for the update. We appreciate the challenges but there is a significant backlog of tests. Some 105,000 is the latest figure I have in terms of numbers waiting for a test and at different stages of preparedness, in fairness. That is more than a year's backlog, based on last year. From what the Minister of State is saying, we hope to increase the number of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 68. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reduce the number of private cars used on journeys to and from centres of primary, secondary and third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44106/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister to outline his plans to reduce the number of private cars used on journeys to and from centres of primary, secondary and third level education and to make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: One element that the Minister did not touch on is the school bus transport system. I know that technically it falls under the remit of the Department of Education but it is very clear that there is an interdepartmental responsibility in terms of transport and encouraging people out of private cars and onto the school bus transport system. I would urge the Minister to work with his...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: In my own constituency, one of the ways we could shift students at different levels from private cars would be through a rail line to Navan. Does the Minister have an update on that? The Tánaiste and local representatives were at the old Navan train station - with photographs published in the local media this week - ahead of their party think-in. Does the Minister have an update on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 66. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of BusConnects in Dublin; if he has engaged with Dublin Bus management and unions to try to resolve the current dispute over pay and working conditions at the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44105/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I would like to ask the Minister for an update on BusConnects in Dublin, if he has engaged with Dublin Bus management and unions to try to resolve the current dispute regarding pay and conditions at the company and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Go raibh maith agat. There was a resounding rejection of the proposal that was on the table by workers at Dublin Bus, and for a range of reasons, including the impact it would have on pay and conditions. Is the Minister aware of that and has he heeded it? There was a direct call on him by the workers to intervene and get involved. I ask him to set out his understanding of that process,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: From my engagement with workers at Dublin Bus I know they are committed to delivering on BusConnects. It is about it happening in the right way, one that works for everybody. On the issue of delivering on BusConnects, while I appreciate we have the H line and the C line as early pilots or test cases, the big hurdle is delivering on the quality bus corridors as an essential part of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 64. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the aviation task force report and the aviation restart plan; his plans to sustain the aviation sector and aviation jobs over the upcoming winter period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44104/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Will the Minister of State provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the aviation task force report and the aviation restart plan and what plans there are to sustain the aviation sector and aviation jobs over the coming winter period?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for that update. She outlined well the challenges facing the sector. Covid has had a major impact everywhere. Now it is a question of how we recover. While I appreciate the extension of the EWSS until the end of the year, the Minister of State and I know that the season is over and will only pick up again around St. Patrick's Day of next year. That is what...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I wish to make a couple of follow-up points. A number of recommendations in the aviation task force report specifically targeted the aviation environment. Recommendations Nos. 5 and 6 related to rebates and a common fixed sum per passenger. Have these measures been considered? Will they be included in the budget or among upcoming supports for the sector? The issue of transatlantic...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Regulations (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 22. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on claims made in advertisements relating to carbon offsetting and neutrality by companies that provide little detail on such claims; if he will strengthen legislation in this area to prevent misleading advertisements or greenwashing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44101/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Regulations (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister his views on claims made in advertisements relating to carbon offsetting and neutrality by companies that provide little detail on such claims, if he will strengthen legislation in this area to prevent misleading advertisements or so-called "greenwashing", and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Regulations (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. There is significant opportunity. There is potential. I can see some early indications of it where, with the green movement and the positive way that it is held broadly, it might be misrepresented in a way to take advantage in a marketing term in advertising. There is a need for regulation of the area whereby, if people claim zero emissions or carbon...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (16 Sep 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: We had the NBI before the committee yesterday and it might be useful to relay some of what I heard clearly from it. Some of it has been well recounted. One of the major issues now and into the future is the piece between the engagement between the NBI and the local authorities. We heard accounts of their experiences. There has been some progress on section 24s, but one goes to the...