Results 5,401-5,420 of 6,809 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Yes, but not as part of the protocol for international travel. That did not happen on a mandatory basis until 2021.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Could the witnesses answer my question on who makes the decision around pilot studies? How does one go about establishing a pilot study? Why have they been done in the meat industry, which is appropriate, and in the third level sector but not in the aviation sector? This committee wrote to various Ministers on 5 May recommending that a pilot study be undertaken in the aviation sector to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Sorry to interrupt but who takes the lead in that? We heard from Dr. Niamh Power last week or the week before and she specifically outlined how she proactively established the antigen testing process at the airports here. That strikes me as the sector putting its hand up and saying it was ready to play a role. Is it the Department that takes the lead or the Minister?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: In Dr. Holohan's experience, would there be a role in this for the Department of Transport, the Department of Health or another Department? I am sure the sector is watching this meeting. It has been publishing reports as far back as last July calling for the implementation of such a testing regime. From its perspective, this is about aligning the interests of public health with public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: But we could create or generate that evidence. There is considerable experience around NPHET's table and within the various Departments to design a suitable study that compares performance. Now is an opportune time when there is limited travel and there is PCR testing in place. We have not had such a pilot study since 5 May. Are there other resistances to a study?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I wish to make a final point. I fully appreciate all of the work that has been done, including on the report, but if we had started earlier, we would be further down the line. We could have started this work last November if we had made that decision and we would now have a different evidence base. We are talking about pure science, including randomised controlled studies. No one knows...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: That was not the point I was making, but I understand that these are not RCTs. I just mean that we were talking about pure science and controlled studies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Dr. Holohan.

Pyrite and Mica Redress Issues: Motion [Private Members] (15 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I too commend Deputy Mac Lochlainn and Deputy Doherty for bringing forward this motion. It is timely and very important. I extend my solidarity to the people of County Donegal who came in such great numbers today and commend them for everything they have gone through to fight their corner. It is clear the scheme in place is not fit for purpose. Deputy O'Reilly referenced how the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to raise the crisis facing our aviation sector. The collapse of Stobart Air last weekend came as another major blow for the sector and for our regional economies. The announcement followed the recent Aer Lingus base closures in Cork and Shannon. After 15 very difficult months, hundreds of workers have been made redundant. It is now reported that Nordica, the Estonian state-owned...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (15 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 144. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Enterprise Ireland plans to open a new office in Vancouver, Canada. [30715/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (15 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 177. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the implications for Ireland of the recent cyberattack on a pipeline system (details supplied) that resulted in a state of emergency in the United States of America from Florida to Virginia; the actions that have been taken to protect Ireland’s imported gas supply that comes from Britain through an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (15 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 178. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is an emergency response plan to deal with a potential cyberattack on an interconnector (details supplied) which supplies Ireland’s imported gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30774/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (15 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 179. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has evaluated the loss of a day’s gas supply to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30775/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Centres (15 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 180. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way he plans to deal with the growing energy needs of data centres with Eirgrid’s generation capacity statement of 2020 to 2029 projection that demand from data centres could account for 27% of all demand in Ireland by 2029; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30776/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (15 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 198. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes retrofitted in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form on each retrofitting programme; the spend to date on each scheme in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31256/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Plan (15 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 214. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding currently contained in the Climate Action Fund; the projects that received funding from the fund to date in 2021; the amount of funding each received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31902/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Oil Reserves Agency (15 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 215. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding currently contained in the National Oil Reserves Agency Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31903/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (15 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 227. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of passengers that used each of Iarnród Éireann intercity routes and commuter routes in each of the years of 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [30719/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (15 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 228. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Iarnród Éireann plans to recruit undercover security personnel on its services. [30720/21]