Results 121-140 of 1,109 for at speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses for their extensive contributions. They are very useful for us and very well set out in terms of the specific asks. I have a question on an issue that a number of people have raised. There is a sense that there are clear asks at this COP. There are question marks over the COP, and the media coverage it has got in recent days has focused on oil deals and everything...

Science Week: Statements (16 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome this debate and the fact that we are having it. I too commend Deputy Denis Naughten, who is the chair of the Oireachtas Friends of Science group, on the work done in this regard. I am happy to also be a member of the group. As the Minister of State has said, sometimes the focus and the idea of science is people in white coats working in labs or dealing with CERN. I welcome...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Negotiations (16 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. There has been some commentary and critique in relation to the text on loss and damage to be discussed at COP28 in the context of, for example, the role of the World Bank, the extent of the funding and how it may be distributed - in the form of grants versus loans, etc. Is the Minister confident the text will be agreed? It seems apparent that there is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: There is a spectacular opportunity for bottom-up climate action to empower, and power, communities. People are up for it. At the conference last week, I spoke to colleagues in the sector from across Europe. Our energy communities are based on a retrofitting programme. In most other European countries, they are based on energy generation, which creates the money needed to deliver...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: From the Seanad (15 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: That does not answer the question I asked. When will people see the benefit of this legislation? The Minister of State should bear in mind that the Government is among the slowest in Europe to move on this matter. It was decided at European level last October and November. Many European countries have already moved and implemented legislation. When will people see the benefit of this...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: From the Seanad (15 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: We have been a long time waiting for this legislation. When I saw this Bill in our office this week, I presumed it was the legislation relating to energy credits. I find it amazing that we are still dealing with this Bill, but we are, and with these amendments back from the Seanad. It must be a month at this stage since we dealt with this Bill here previously. It must be borne in mind...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Ms Donnelly is right that it is not the same. There is an issue there in terms of community acceptance. There is the idea that we are delivering renewable energy in which citizens have a stake and from which they are benefiting, compared with the idea of building renewable infrastructure in their communities that is offsetting data centres owned by multinational corporations. There is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Of the one data centre that is connected and the 11 that are contracted, is there any room for manoeuvre? It may not be in Mr. Gannon's gift to answer this. Can CRU impose any obligations on those centres, or at least encourage them, to move to alternative sources, avail of a CPPA and move away from gas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Do Mr. Gannon or Ms MacEvilly want to add anything to that? Do they feel the CRU's own mandate should be looked at? Is it for the commission or someone else to keep an eye on all of that and to ensure consistency with carbon budgets and climate action plans?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (15 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I apologise for being late as I had commitments in the Dáil Chamber. I have questions from the two ends of this transaction. The first concerns the roll-out of the NBP. In fairness to National Broadband Ireland, it is clear with its information. We had extensive engagement with the company over the Covid period at this committee. It has good interfaces on its website for members and...

Escalation of Violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion [Private Members] (14 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Over the past month and more, the world has watched in absolute horror as the Gazan people face annihilation. Missiles rain down on 2 million people who have been denied food, fuel and water in one of the most densely populated areas in the world. We are bearing witness to a cataclysmic event. We are bearing witness to war crimes. We are bearing witness to genocide. Israel acts with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses for their contributions so far and for their presentation. We are here to discuss the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. One of many substantial proposals focused on structure, governance, individual Departments and a new national independent agency. We heard at previous sessions about the challenge of almost contradictory...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I refer to the two-year period to 2026, the piece Mr. Ó Donnchú says might keep him awake at night and the building blocks, data and information in that regard. This was hinted at in terms of the assessment and our land use strategy. Regarding carbon farming, how we might account for it, how we might reward it and how it might be measured, what are the information deficits that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: A number of contributions concerned Brú na Bóinne national park. It is an incredibly welcome addition to my county and constituency. I have a young family and every weekend we spend time in nature by visiting some of the amenities in my county such as Balrath Woods, Littlewood Forest in Slane or the life project at Girley Bog, which is wonderful. There is also some really...

Defective Dwellings Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome this legislation and commend Deputy Duffy on bringing it forward. It contains a number of important provisions. I refer to widening the parameters in this context where they are needed, particularly in terms of the area of responsibility and the statute and the existing limitations in this regard. Turning to the existing schemes, I represent the constituency of Meath East, and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (9 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Go raibh maith ag an Aire Stáit for that response. It immediately raises the question of timelines and how soon a decision will be made. It is important in advance of that to reiterate the case. I welcome the fact and I am not surprised at all that submissions have been made. It is important this debate is reflected on in the considerations that will be made. It should be a positive...

Energy Charter Treaty: Statements (9 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the opportunity to address the statements on the Energy Charter Treaty. I acknowledge my colleague Senator Boylan who has done a significant amount of work on the Energy Charter Treaty, including a master's thesis, which very much informs our party policy and these statements. For a long time we have been advocates of withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty. It is a relic of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (9 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 190. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline the support and resourcing for renewable energy communities; to provide a breakdown of staffing to support these projects at the SEAI in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49207/23]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (9 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 192. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment about support and resourcing for renewable energy communities for energy generation; to provide a breakdown of staffing to support these projects at the SEAI in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49209/23]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (9 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 188. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline the support and resourcing for renewable energy communities for energy generation; to provide a breakdown of staffing to support these projects at all relevant departments in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49205/23]