Results 6,641-6,660 of 6,816 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I appreciate the response and understand the perspective. Very significant societal changes will come with the full implementation of this plan. During the lockdown, as RTÉ reported, one of the digital hubs in my area did not have high-speed broadband connection. The building existed, with the tables, chairs and offices, but they did not have the broadband infrastructure to make it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: In my experience information and communication on this are really important. People are really frustrated about access to information. People do a tremendous job in trying to get a forensic knowledge of broadband in their local areas. They are able to say what lines are going where and they have engaged with the different utility providers. The experience of dealing with the utility...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 20. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of progress of the national broadband plan; the amount spent to date; the number of homes and businesses that have been and are yet to be connected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16068/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I raise the issue of the national broadband plan with the Minister but I am conscious that he has already handled two questions on this issue. I had thought they might be grouped. For the purpose of making this exchange a little bit useful, perhaps the Minister could focus his response on the plan as it is envisaged to roll out, the weakness of the plan from the Minister's perspective, and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 14. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the North-South interconnector; if his attention has been drawn to the considerable local opposition to the proposed pylons included in this plan; his views on an independent review of this project which will consider the undergrounding of these power lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to raise the issue of the North-South interconnector with the Minister. I am fully aware of the importance of connecting the electricity and energy grids on this island. However, this project has met with spectacular local opposition to the pylons and overhead power lines along the route. Is the Minister aware of the level of anger and opposition on the ground to this project? As a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Go raibh maith agat, a Aire. At the heart of this issue is a fundamental principle that will affect much of what we both want to achieve in terms of ambition around climate change, that is, the fundamental principle of public participation in decision-making. The Minister referenced the reviews that took place. He knows as well as I do that for every one of those reviews there is a real...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I do not disagree with the Minister on a number of those points but I believe we are not speaking to each other in this exchange. We are speaking past each other because the points I am raising are the points that have been raised by the community and it is my firm opinion that unless we address those concerns specifically we will not make progress. The Minister has responsibility for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I am not persuaded by that argument. In my experience as a public representative in Meath I have seen that there is a cohort of people who will not benefit from the measures that are being proposed, who will see these measures as regressive and who will be disproportionately affected by them. These people are vulnerable and the imposition of a carbon tax without alternatives, which they do...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 12. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether the quadrupling of the carbon tax over the next decade is going to disproportionately affect those who can least afford it and contribute to already high levels of fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16251/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to ask the Minister about the proposal to quadruple the carbon tax over the next ten years. Sinn Féin has pointed out consistently that without alternatives in place first, it is a punitive tax that will hit workers and families hard. It will associate positive climate change measures with a negative. Some 400,000 people are living in fuel poverty in this State. If they...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Sinn Féin agrees that we need to reduce our carbon emissions and meet our legally binding targets. It is on the approach to this that we differ from the Government, however. We believe climate action must be socially just and that we must protect people as we transition to a greener economy. It is not just Sinn Féin that disagrees on the approach being proposed by the Government....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 10. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the renewable energy projects he will pursue to help reduce the reliance of Ireland on fossil fuels in view of the Environmental Protection Agency greenhouse gas emissions projections report published recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16250/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: As this is my first interaction with the Minister in the Dáil, I want to wish him the very best of luck in his role. I look forward to working with him over the coming years in a constructive and productive manner. Both of our parties share the same desire to transition to a greener society and economy but this must be done in a fair and just manner. Climate justice must be at the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Expanding our renewable energy sources will be key to achieving our carbon emissions targets. The recently published programme for Government states that this Administration is committed to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030. However, what has become clear is that this is an average of 7%, so it seems this Administration plans to backload...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I encourage and implore the Minister to use the opportunity of the July stimulus to be very ambitious for renewable energy. What are the plans for the inclusion of renewable energy projects in the July stimulus? I am aware there are barriers to the development of renewable energy, for example, there are regulatory barriers to offshore wind. I am particularly interested in the model of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Proposed Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 33. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will introduce legislation in line with the provisions in the Microgeneration Support Scheme Bill 2017 that would empower persons and local communities to produce renewable energy that they can then use and sell the excess of back to the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16069/20]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Just Transition Commissioner (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 42. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will expedite the implementation of the recommendations included in the Just Transition Commissioner’s first report published in early 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16070/20]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons waiting for a driver test; the actions he is taking to clear this backlog quickly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16176/20]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Marine Casualty Investigations Board (14 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: This is an important judgment. The Commission raised concerns about the lack of independence and a conflict of interest and found that the State failed to comply with its obligations. It is an important and significant judgment and requires a full response from the Department and the State. I would question the approach taken by the Government in contesting the case. As Deputy Ó...