Results 121-140 of 1,254 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke in 'Dáil debates'

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: We have had announcements of energy price reductions this week but the fact remains that energy companies are far too slow to pass on wholesale savings. Even with these planned reductions, energy prices here are far too high. We have some of the highest electricity and gas prices in Europe. Almost 275,000 domestic electricity customers and almost 160,000 domestic gas customers are in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Dec 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: COP28 reached agreement this morning and while it fell short of saying it, we must agree that the cornerstone of climate action must be based on an end to fossil fuels and a just transition at global and national levels. A report published last week by Dublin's energy agency, Codema, concluded that the poorest communities cannot afford to give up fossil fuels and risk being worse off via...

Increased Fossil Fuel Divestment: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Dec 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Deputy Pringle for tabling this motion and for hosting a briefing in the audiovisual room in this general space a number of weeks ago. I know that ActionAid Ireland is an important contributor and works hard in this space. At the Oireachtas climate committee we also heard from Trócaire, Christian Aid and Oxfam, as we do in advance of COP every year. There are many...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Waste Management (13 Dec 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I would like to see the joint committee pick up on this issue. The Minister of State has set it out. For me, it was spelled out that there is an ideological fixation, whether it is in the Department or in the Government, which has resulted in setting out hurdle after hurdle. This is not an insurmountable issue. Based on the performance of the existing service, it is clear it is not...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Waste Management (13 Dec 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Deputy Murphy touched on the fact that performance of the system as delivered by the private sector speaks for itself. It is failing by any objective measure in terms of rates of recycling, coverage of brown bins, the perverse situation with side-by-side collections and the impact of that on efficiency and emissions. The system is failing. I commend the work of the working group set up by...

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) (No. 2) Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: In County Meath, we are living with a 12.5% increase in annual rents. Average standardised monthly rents are €1,501 but there is huge variation across the county. Today on Daft.ie, there are no one-bedroom properties in Ashbourne, Ratoath, Dunshaughlin, Dunboyne and surrounding areas. Two-bedroom properties rent at €1,850 in Ashbourne, €2,000 in Ashbourne,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wind Energy Generation (6 Dec 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: This report is appropriately entitled Act Now. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, is at COP28, engaging in diplomatic efforts on climate change but there is a long way to go there, as we can see from the strength of the fossil fuel lobby. At home, the path is very clear on renewables, albeit not so much in other areas. It is very clear that we have the tools, the know how and the ability to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wind Energy Generation (6 Dec 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: There is no denying that the Government is doing a lot, as is acknowledged in the report. The question is whether it is doing enough to deliver on the targets set out. The answer to that question is clearly "No". The Government is further away from our renewable energy targets this year than last year. There is a serious problem with planning. No onshore projects have come out of the...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Planning and Development Bill. It will not come as news to anyone here that the current planning system is not fit for purpose. Decades of mismanagement, under-resourcing and an utter failure to future-proof policies by successive Governments led by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have brought us to this point. As a result, the State is at risk of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (30 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 155. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the memorandum of understanding between the European Commission and Egypt at the Mediterranean Gas Forum; if he is further aware that this does not include a clause to exclude occupied Palestinian land which contravenes Irish and EU policy that all agreements with Israel should be explicitly inapplicable to territories...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Flight paths on the north runway at Dublin Airport have not been appropriately assessed in terms of noise pollution and mitigation. Since the runway opened, more than 138,000 flights have departed and landed. In Ratoath, Ashbourne and surrounding areas, 30,000 people are being impacted. That was never intended to be the case. Will the Government and the Department of Transport ensure that...

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: Waste Management (16 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Momentum is building for the re-municipalisation of waste collection. I commend the work of councillors on Dublin City Council. My colleague Daithí Doolan has been working with unions. They have a working group to identify the barriers to this and they gave a presentation in the audiovisual room. We have now established an Oireachtas cross-party working group on the...

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

Darren O'Rourke: 6. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way the Government is preparing for COP28; the extent of the State's commitment to loss and damage funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50246/23]

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

Darren O'Rourke: The purpose of this question is to ask the Minister the way the Government is preparing for COP28 and the extent of the State's commitment to loss and damage funding.

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

Darren O'Rourke: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. In fairness, I recognise the part played by him and the Irish officials in advancing the case for loss and damage. That is important. A further issue has been highlighted from an Irish perspective by environmental NGOs and those working in the climate justice space. The Minister will be aware that the report published by Christian Aid and...

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

Darren O'Rourke: This is a really important departure. It is clear that RESS more broadly, as it has been applied, has not been successful in delivering community projects. There is a further priority question on the same issue. Under RESS 1, seven community projects were successful and only four are still in play. There is a question now as to whether all four of those projects will go to generation....

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...

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

Darren O'Rourke: 3. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment about the small-scale renewable energy support scheme, SRESS, and the date on which it will be launched; how this process will differ from the renewable energy support scheme, RESS auction; what, if any, additional supports will be put in place as part of this process; if there are revised targets for the number of...