Results 101-120 of 1,260 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister about the eligibility criteria for the warmer homes scheme, whether he will extend the scheme to people on invalidity pensions, and how he targets it?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister very much needs to review this scheme and extend its eligibility. The Minister did not touch on how the Department identifies homes to be prioritised. Is his Department identifying the coldest and oldest homes? What way does his Department go about that? A point was made earlier that those with particular medical needs should also be prioritised.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I am happy to move on, Chair, if you want to take the next-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Usage (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 93. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware of EirGrid’s recent warning that capacity deficits have been identified in the ten years to 2032; what steps he is taking to address the structural features of the electricity market which contributed to the electricity market crisis as noted in the recently published McCarthy report; and if he...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Usage (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Is the Minister aware of EirGrid's recent warning that capacity deficits have been identified in the ten years to 2032? What steps has he taken to address the structural features of the electricity market which contributed to the electricity market prices, as noted in the recently published McCarthy report? Will he make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Usage (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The EirGrid report notes that steps need to be taken to avoid shortages and those steps may include keeping older power plants open beyond their scheduled closing date. This has particular implications for the use of fossil fuels and emissions. Will the Minister outline if that is the intended strategy? An alternative is, of course, to deliver on and go beyond our renewable energy targets....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Usage (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I will ask about demand management and reduction in light of EirGrid's projections in respect of the significant expected increase in demand, especially for data centres, to 2032. I am sure the Minister is aware that the International Energy Agency stated that EirGrid has underestimated. That agency predicts that data centres in Ireland may double electricity consumption over the next two...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I asked about heat pumps.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: What about heat pumps?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I am not for a second suggesting we should ignore it but we need to provide a pathway for those hard-to-reach households. We cannot ignore them. I would look at the number of heat pumps that have been installed and consider how many are in the poorest, coldest homes. How many are in homes where people are burning turf and sticks? I would say it is a tiny fraction because those houses are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 90. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment about heat pumps, what solutions are available for those whose homes are not suitable or who cannot afford heat pump installation; if biofuel boilers in the residential sector are being considered as part of the solution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3488/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister to set out what solutions are available for homes that are not suitable for heat pumps or for householders who cannot afford heat pump installation; if biofuel boilers in the residential sector are being considered as part of the solution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister's response reflects the current position. With regard to the targets for heat pump installations - 45,000 existing and 170,000 new dwellings by 2025, and up to 400,000 existing and 280,000 new dwellings by 2030 - it has to be said that the Government is missing a lot of targets. It is missing this target by an absolute mile. Just 9,469 heat pumps have been installed since...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 88. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment about the ongoing high cost of energy in Ireland, his plans to identify underlying factors for this; his further plans to address them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3487/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I am asking the Minister about the ongoing high cost of energy in Ireland, his plans to identify underlying factors for this and his further plans to address these costs. Will he make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: There is no doubt that workers and families are really struggling with their energy costs. We can see that as presented in the numbers in arrears, those contacting St. Vincent de Paul, for example, and others struggling with energy bills. Almost one in four domestic gas customers are in arrears at this stage. Therefore, there are real challenges there. However, my question specifically...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: We are getting into some of the key issues there. The Minister mentioned the distributed nature of the population, and we hear that regularly, but there are many distributed populations across the European Union and far geographically bigger countries than Ireland that pay half the price we do for electricity and energy. Therefore, where is the evidence base to that point? On planning and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 19. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade about the situation in Palestine; what legal advice he sought before deciding not to join South Africa's case at the ICJ; about progress on the occupied territories Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3344/24]

Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I agree with Deputy Murphy. I feel the tune has changed since Committee Stage. At worst, I thought we would hear tonight an acknowledgement of a problem that would be addressed at some stage in the future, and we had hoped to hold the Government to account for that. Instead, we are hearing there is nothing to see here, which is a change of tune. That is deeply concerning for the reasons...

Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I fully support these amendments and thank Deputy Murphy for tabling them. The points are well covered and these issues were raised, not just by me and others in the Opposition but also by the Minister of State's party colleague and Chairman of the climate committee, Deputy Leddin. We have the opportunity again this evening to go over that ground. It is absolutely essential that public...