Results 6,321-6,340 of 6,812 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Is there a sense at a departmental level of the real scale of this problem now or its likely scale in the future? In County Meath, for example, cases recently have completed at the High Court. The expectation is there will be a responsibility to undergo remediation. It strikes me that this is a significant problem. Much of it is legacy. I wonder whether there has been an assessment of...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I refer to subhead E10 on the enforcement initiatives. This is gained from experience as a member of a local authority and the major frustration of communities, and in fairness, of local authorities, in enforcing litter management policy. Expenditure of €5.7 million on enforcement initiatives was provided for. Can the Minister outline what they were or whether there are approaches...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: On subhead E3 and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, the Minister might speak to the capital expenditure of €11.78 million and to the points regarding the national dialogue on climate action and specifically on the ambient air monitoring programme. There is a commitment in the programme for Government in relation to air quality. Has that been undertaken here? Is that part of...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: In relation to the capital expenditure, has there been expenditure on monitoring systems and devices that can expand the footprint of the EPA and its capacity?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: On subhead F6, energy efficiency fund receipts, to what does the figure of €10 million relate?

Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I am conscious that the Chamber and the Houses of the Oireachtas have approached this legislation and this type of question numerous times in the past. Those most vulnerable and in need of support have often fared poorly. The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters was never meant to be an end in and of itself. Maybe there are those who hoped...

Railway Safety (Reporting and Investigation of Serious Accidents, Accidents and Incidents involving Certain Railways) Bill 2020: Second Stage (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: The Department was in contact with us and it explained the background to this Bill, as she has done again today. I thank her for that. She outlined the nature of the time pressure due to legislative changes at EU level so Sinn Féin is happy to support the legislation. I will keep my comments brief given the requirement to deal with all Stages this week to ensure the legislation can be...

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Regional Group for tabling this important motion. Sinn Féin is happy to support it. We have submitted an amendment which we believe further adds to the motion and we hope that people can support it. The work of postmasters and workers throughout our postal service has been vital during this pandemic, ensuring that people can stay in contact, access their weekly payments...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Employment Rights (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 17. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the redundancy situation regarding travel agency workers whose employer may not be insolvent, but in view of the cash flow problems in the sector may have to make some staff redundant; the impact workers who have been placed on various State income support schemes or who have already been temporarily laid off earlier in 2020 could...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 40. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if driver instructors are considered essential workers under level 4 of the Plan for Living with Covid-19; if driver tests can take place under level 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31889/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 194. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is satisfied that Oberstown Children Detention Campus is implementing and adhering to the best Covid-19 practices; the procedures in place to protect children and staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31965/20]

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 31 – Transport (Revised) (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for the update she has given. I will pick up on some of the questions Deputy Crowe has raised. Does the Minister of State know if there are plans to increase testing capacity for driver testing? Are there plans to recruit more testers at this time? If so, when might they be in place?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 31 – Transport (Revised) (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I raise a related issue that has come to my attention. I am sure it has come to the attention of other committee members as well. Driving instructors are identified as essential workers but they have been experiencing difficulties with accessing testing centres even just to wash their hands. They have many sanitisation protocols now because there is usually a pre-runaround lesson with the...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 31 – Transport (Revised) (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Is the State considering bearing some of the costs or is it expected that it will be borne by passengers themselves, though I presume it will not be the airports or ports?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 31 – Transport (Revised) (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: We had replies to parliamentary questions about the passenger locator form to state that it was at a 70% rate of follow-up and is now only at 18%. There was a report in the media about an individual case which was probably an example of the type of thing that can happen when we do not have adequate controls and follow-up at our ports and airports. With regard to the Estimates and Brexit...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 31 – Transport (Revised) (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Regarding supports for travel agents, will they be eligible for the Covid restrictions support scheme? I am conscious of the €15 million allocated for the travel package fund. Will the Minister of State outline her engagement and supports for the sector?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 31 – Transport (Revised) (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I have a couple of quick questions. Some of them I will ask on behalf of Deputy Ó Murchú. The first is on cross-Border projects between the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister in the North, Ms Mallon, specifically the proposed Narrow Water bridge, the A5-N2 project and, in my part of the world, the Slane bypass. Are these projects on track? Is there still a commitment...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 31 – Transport (Revised) (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I commend the rapid engagement on airport testing and the work that has already been done by the DAA, which says it is ready to go with, I believe, a PCR test. Based on the information from HIQA, it might be the case following its assessment that we have to live with the PCR until such time as other technologies are proven to perform. I encourage the expedition of that process. I echo...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 31 – Transport (Revised) (21 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: No, that is fine.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (20 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 141. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the distinct characteristics of biogenic methane as mentioned in a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31154/20]