Results 6,661-6,680 of 7,145 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

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]

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...