Results 5,361-5,380 of 6,816 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: There is real concern among workers in the sector and in Aer Lingus that, notwithstanding the real and acknowledged difficulties of Covid-19 for the sector and Aer Lingus, there is an element of strategy in this regard. There has been a criticism, and we heard it clearly in this committee, that with regard to Shannon there was no engagement with staff there in the way there might have been...

Regional Airports and Aviation: Statements (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the fact that the House has made time for statements on international travel but it is more than statements that we need. We have had statements on the matter on several occasions, not least in recent weeks. There are many people interested in this sector. More than 140,000 people across the State are dependent on it, directly or indirectly, and to a man and to a woman they are...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: A number of weeks ago, I raised the proposed acquisition of Smurfit Kappa News Press in Kells by KIP Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corp. The matter is currently with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. At that stage, I told the Tánaiste there were concerns the terms and conditions of employment and redundancy would be under threat and he said he would ask...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 4. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the ongoing review of the Navan rail line; the date on which the review will be completed; the date on which the results of the review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32459/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to ask the Minister about the status of the ongoing review of the Navan rail line, the date on which the review will be completed and the date on which the results of the review will be published.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Last night, my party and almost all of the Opposition supported the climate Bill. It is not easy for the Opposition to support the Government. Our party did that because the Bill states that this State is taking climate action seriously and that it recognises climate change as a challenge. In addition, targets for 2030 and 2050 are enshrined in the Bill. How we get there will be contested...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Meath County Council and the people of Meath are doing everything right with this project. They are putting their hands up and preparing plans. The focus on Dunshaughlin and Navan for compact and transport-led development is entirely consistent with existing policies. The people of Meath, the local authority and the representatives are doing the right things and they should be rewarded for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I have a question about the ten-year rule. I hear what the Minister is saying about the moves that have been made but there has to be NTA consultation before a decision is made and in the meantime, taxi drivers have experienced 15 months of no work and insufficient supports, whatever way it is cut up, and are losing money every day. The prospect of breaking even is a long way off, yet the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister. There is very serious frustration in the aviation sector with the Government. Ground workers, airport employees, cabin crew and pilots feel abandoned by the Government and despair at the lack of a plan for their sector. They recognise that Covid-19 is devastating but they have argued for the best of public health and public confidence in aviation. I have been critical...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: It will be hugely frustrating for people to hear that this was recommended in April and we still have no action on it. I listened this morning to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science speak on the radio about an argy-bargy on the issue of antigen testing and the need to properly assess. We heard yesterday there is no evidence base. We could have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 2. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will extend the ten-year rule for taxis, acknowledging the severe financial pressure taxi drivers remain under as a result of the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32823/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Will the Minister extend the ten-year rule for taxis, acknowledging the severe financial taxi drivers remain under as a result of the pandemic, and will he make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: The response from taxi drivers to the full package of measures announced last week is that they are underwhelmed. They are frustrated and angry at the extent of the engagement they had with the Minister, Taoiseach, Tánaiste and various backbenchers and with the support package, which amounts to a sum total of a couple of hundred euro for each individual taxi driver. That is completely...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 1. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he is taking to support the aviation sector (details supplied); the discussions he has held with the Minister for Health and members of the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, regarding the use of serial antigen testing to aid the sector’s recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32822/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister for Transport what actions he has taken to support the aviation sector, noting the collapse of Stobart Air last weekend with the loss of hundreds of jobs. What discussions has he held with the Minister for Health and members of the National Public Health Emergency Team about the use of serial antigen testing to potentially aid the sector's recovery and will he make a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 18. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the significant discrepancy in the reported funding level of the CIÉ 1951 scheme; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that it was reported on 28 May 2021 that the scheme was 93.8% funded at 1 May 2021 and six days later on 3 June 2021, it was reported that the scheme was 92.3% at...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 28. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the problems still facing many hauliers with Transport Manager CPC qualifications (details supplied); his views on whether this residency requirement undermines the Common Travel Area rights of citizens to be able to live and work freely on these islands; if he will work with his counterpart in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 78. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has held with public transport operators to discuss measures to curb antisocial behaviour on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32460/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has engaged with travel agents and discussed the need to provide travel agents with continuing business supports with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment given the ongoing challenges the sector is facing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32457/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (17 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 227. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of providing a rebate directly to airlines of all Dublin Airport charges and air navigation charges as recommended in the Taskforce for Aviation Recovery report from July 2020. [32793/21]