Results 6,341-6,360 of 6,812 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Budget 2021 (20 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 147. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the retrofit plans announced in budget 2021 including the target completions, the total budget, the source of this funding and the cost per house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31480/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 405. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the weekly income taxi drivers can earn in addition to claiming the pandemic unemployment payment, in light of the collapse of their industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31478/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 406. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the income support schemes of which taxi drivers can avail; the new schemes that were announced in budget 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31479/20]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (20 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 531. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 of 15 September 2020, the number of cases prosecuted and e-scooters confiscated in each of the years 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 for illegal use of e-scooters on public roads and in public places; if she will provide a breakdown of same on a six-month basis, that is, January to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Aviation Industry (15 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister has not addressed the issue of testing. We have for months been listening to a debate about what are false negative and false positive Covid-19 tests and the performance of different diagnostic assays. There are international examples. The DAA is ready to go with 15,000 tests a day. What are the Minister and the Government doing in that regard? The game has changed around...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Aviation Industry (15 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: This is a serious issue and I will approach it from an overarching point of view in relation to aviation. Testing has been an absolute dog's dinner and the State needs a plan for aviation for many reasons, including connectivity, regional balance, employment and climate. There are huge groups of workers and areas affected. The airlines themselves, maintenance and repair, leasing and...

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome some of the positive announcements in the budget in the areas of climate action and transport. Investing in our public transport system, active travel options and improving the quality of our roads and rail lines are all vitally important in addressing our emissions obligations and improving the quality of life of our citizens. Unsurprisingly, I also want to address a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme (15 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 101. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 of 6 October 2020, if he will provide a breakdown of the over 8,000 homes on the scheme waiting list by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30843/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applicants for the school bus transport scheme for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, by the categories of concessionary and eligible. [30844/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (15 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 228. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the staffing crisis in the early years sector in County Meath; the steps he is taking to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30845/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (15 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 288. To ask the Minister for Health the date on which a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [30849/20]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (14 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I am sorry, but like some previous speakers I did not have the opportunity to hear some of the earlier contributions so I apologise if I repeat anything. I have a specific query on the objective of public involvement. What is the rationale behind the approach, the overarching governance framework and the membership of the advisory council? For example, was it considered to use a Citizens'...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (14 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to speak on the same point. There is considerable concern that there is not enough that is concrete in the legislation. Mr. Carroll referenced flexibility. The concern people have is that the flexibility will go the other way with a future Government and that we have missed an opportunity in the legislation. I am interested to hear what Mr. Carroll has to say on this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Sector: Discussion (14 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Will the witnesses outline the experiences of travel agents during Covid? Particular aspects of their business model such as cash flow are unique to the sector. I have heard from travel agents about negative revenue, some of whom have remortgaged their homes to keep their businesses running. Senior Ministers tell us there are protections and there is a suggestion that travel agents are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Sector: Discussion (14 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: There is a perception that the sector is buffered because of the notion that there is protection at European level. Is it the case that does not kick in until companies are at the wall?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Sector: Discussion (14 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I support that fully. I have heard this from hundreds of ordinary consumers who are dealing directly with Aer Lingus and Ryanair in particular. Their experiences have been very difficult going back to March. Have the travel agents a similar experience or is it better or worse?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Sector: Discussion (14 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Travel agents estimate that between €25 and €30 million is owed via themselves to customers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Sector: Discussion (14 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: That is an important point that the committee should follow up. Finally, what do travel agents want the committee to put to the Government for a support package?

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise - Mineral Oil Tax (13 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: This carbon tax is brutal, punitive and a lazy cop-out. It is a failure by the Government to take the hard decisions and to tackle the root causes, the big polluters and the issues of poverty, including energy poverty. It is also a failure to provide alternatives. There is the equivalent of a two and a half-year wait for the warmer homes scheme. Were one to join the queue today, 8,000...

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise - Mineral Oil Tax (13 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Transport workers in particular, including taxi drivers and private bus operators, will feel the pain of this. It is disproportionate and unfair.