Results 981-1,000 of 6,769 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 39. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the lease agreement in place for temporary accommodation for a school (details supplied); when the lease is due to expire; if plans are in place to extend the lease if necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21994/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 67. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is further leave to appeal after a section 317 appeal within her Department or elsewhere; if appellants are entitled to an oral hearing to challenge a section 317 appeal refusal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21993/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Relating to Road Safety: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Garda Commissioner for his presentation. I want to talk about the round figures. In 2009 there were 1,055 members in the roads policing unit and that figure now stands at 623. The population of Ireland has increased by more than 600,000 in that period. According to the RSA, there has been a 20% increase, year-on-year, in the number of drivers on the road and possibly the same...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Relating to Road Safety: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: If the Garda got to 15,000 members, where would Mr. Harris like to see the number in the roads policing unit at that stage? That unit currently has 623 members plus 75, and, hopefully, will have another 75.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Relating to Road Safety: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I will raise an issue that is very relevant to the area where I live. It may be slightly off-topic but I hope Mr. Harris will give me some insight into it. I am from County Meath. I sit on the joint policing committee there. A major bone of contention is the number of gardaí in the county. It is the issue of resource allocation, how it is done and why County Meath fares so poorly....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Relating to Road Safety: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Commissioner for his response. He will appreciate that there is huge interest in County Meath in this. Across the political spectrum, there is forensic knowledge of recruits and where they are going. He will appreciate that. The issue of databases talking to each other comes up regularly enough. The national driver vehicle file was mentioned. It was said the Garda does not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Relating to Road Safety: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The Garda can now tell that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Relating to Road Safety: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Is the Garda getting access to it or is there a plan to get access to it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Relating to Road Safety: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Is it just about technology or does it relate to administrative issues, bureaucracy or the general data protection regulation, GDPR?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Relating to Road Safety: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: It just needs to be worked through.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Relating to Road Safety: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: It is not an issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Relating to Road Safety: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I have raised it in broad terms here, but this has been an issue. The reason I am raising it in broad terms is because I am not sure of the exact details. I know it has been an issue for years, however. It strikes me as something that needs to be resolved.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Relating to Road Safety: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: This is the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. We regularly have the Minister and departmental officials before us. It would be helpful for us to hear clearly from the witnesses, and maybe get a written submission afterwards, bout the anomalies that restrict them in the context of doing their job to the fullest extent. That would be helpful for us in the context of making the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Recycling Policy (14 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to go back to that question of whether the Minister of State is satisfied. It is positive we are seeing increasing numbers of cans and bottles on the shelves with the return logo. Is he satisfied that this transition is going to continue? There were initial problems - more than problems - with databases and barcodes not matching up and lots of teething problems. I echo those points...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (14 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister of State's response seems to be in the wrong tense because that consultation has already happened. EirGrid knows exactly the response. The Minister has a responsibility to find out exactly where that project is. Deputy Carthy is absolutely right. If as the Minister of State says, EirGrid, ESB Networks and the CRU are considering their next steps, that is a direct collision...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Recycling Policy (14 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 60. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware of ongoing concerns with the roll-out and operation of the deposit-return scheme; the measures he is taking to address these concerns; if he will report on Ireland’s experience thus far when compared with other EU states based on data he received (details supplied); and if he will make a statement...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Recycling Policy (14 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I have a similar question. I hope for the successful implementation of the scheme. I believe it has been reported that less than 1% of the machines have performance issues. Is there proper oversight regarding internal malfunction of the machines? What training regimes are in place to ensure they are operational as much as possible? People are now seeing an increasing number of bottles...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (14 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister of State is familiar with the EnergyCloud model, and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has said positive and encouraging things about it. The Minister of State spoke of “dispatch down”. He is the Minister of State with responsibility for the circular economy, and it is a waste of energy. Poor people’s hot tanks are there, waiting to be charged and store...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (14 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: To be clear, my colleagues, Deputy Ó Laoghaire and Senator Boylan, will be making our submission tomorrow. I think the deadline is tomorrow.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (14 May 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: We will clearly say we believe there is an immediate strong and positive role for EnergyCloud and, in the future, for other technologies for an improved grid, improved battery storage, and everything else that goes with that. I want to know if the Minister of State supports it. If he does support it, what needs to happen is for ESB Networks and the CRU to come together with EnergyCloud...