Results 5,301-5,320 of 6,816 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Broadband Infrastructure: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. I want to pick up on where the Chairman left off. Our previous discussions on this issue focused on the gap areas. We have already touched on the frustration of people in terms of the service they are being provided or the lack of service and the piece in terms of the information in that they do not know whether they are two months or seven years away from a good...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Broadband Infrastructure: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: If I may interrupt Mr. Campbell, does he have a sense consumers are widely aware of the services already in place from providers such as his company and others or are they following the roll-out of the national broadband plan, mindful of when they will be connected and frustrated waiting for that in the interim? I sense there is not widespread understanding of the services available outside...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Broadband Infrastructure: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: If the State were to intervene to support and secure a space on a satellite service, does Mr. Ftizpatrick think the technology might move quickly beyond where the State has invested and would that have to be considered?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Broadband Infrastructure: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Fitzpatrick for that response. It might be a case of there being a broader benefit in taking this step and if it was done in a co-ordinated way it might align well with a number of interests. I note Ms Cullen O'Reilly has her hand up. I do not know whether she wants to come back in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Broadband Infrastructure: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I am happy to facilitate her during the reminder of my time.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Bodies (6 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 129. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the establishment of the mobile phone and broadband taskforce; the members and objectives of the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36444/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (6 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 130. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he consulted or will consider consulting the OPW to compile a register of State sites and assets that may be suitable for telecommunications infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36445/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (6 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 131. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the implementation of the EU connectivity toolbox; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36446/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: No, that is fine. We may have a second round, but I am happy with those responses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses for the presentation and the update. Much of the media coverage in the last number of weeks has flagged concern about the prospect of blackouts and the number of system alerts, with six in the last 12 months compared to 11 in the past ten years. It is reported, and I am not sure if it was scheduled, that Huntstown in Dublin and Whitegate in Cork are down. I am not...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I refer to the digital Covid certificate, which went live across the EU today. Ireland is the only country that was not in compliance with the regulations. We have missed this deadline, although it was not a deadline for us. There are many who are concerned we will miss the deadline of 19 July. We are told we will be emailed our vaccine record but nobody submitted their email address...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: We are heading into another summer when very many school secretaries will have to go on jobseeker’s allowance again. A commitment in this regard is contained in the programme for Government. This commitment was made by the Minister’s party when it was in opposition and by the Tánaiste last October. I welcome the engagement but school secretaries and their representatives...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Go raibh maith agat, a Aire. It is important to state there are issues of equality and fairness and regarding the rights of workers. In addition, there are also real issues of potential hardship. Therefore, time is important and of the essence. I reiterate the frustration - and it is frustration - felt by school secretaries and their representatives regarding the rate and speed of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask Minister for Education how she will address the long-standing shortage of school transport places across the State, if she is engaged in capacity planning, and her views on whether it will be possible that each child who wants a place in the bus will receive one.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Each year parents are faced with the same problems, when it comes to the school bus transport scheme. It is fair to say the scheme is popular, but it is over-subscribed. The question arises in terms of who is eligible and who is excluded. I would like to know the Minister's assessment of those who are excluded. What percentage of people are on concessionary tickets? What number of people...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: The scale of the ambition is not nearly where it needs to be. In the last 20 years, we have seen a 6% decrease in the number of people who avail of school bus transport, and a 31% increase in the number of children travelling to school by car. That is inconsistent with where we need to be going in terms of our modal shift. There are many compelling reasons to move people from the private...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister the steps she has taken to achieve pay equality and pension entitlements for school secretaries, in accordance with the commitments given by Government.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 200. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process for persons to obtain the EU Digital COVID Certificate; if persons will receive their certificate in advance of 19 July 2021; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35633/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Minister for Transport (30 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for his opening statement and the notes he provided. I have a question on the master licence record and the motor third-party liability database. The committee sought advice from the Data Protection Commission, DPC, in this regard. I do not know whether the Minister has had sight of it. The advice outlined a number of observations and comments that are important and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Minister for Transport (30 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. O'Leary. A somewhat related issue was brought to my attention by another good Cork man, Deputy Gould. It concerns the sale of vehicles to people who either do not have a licence, perhaps because they are under age, or have a licence that is suspended for whatever reason. There was at least one example of a tragic outcome in such circumstances in Cork. I want to flag this issue...