Results 141-160 of 1,260 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke in 'Dáil debates'

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...

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

Darren O'Rourke: I want to ask the Minister about SRESS. On what date will it be launched? How will this process differ from the RESS auction? What, if any, additional supports will be put in place as part of this process? Are there revised targets for the number of contracts to be awarded to renewable energy communities and for the number of projects that complete all milestones?

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

Darren O'Rourke: 1. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the date on which the energy security review and the McCarthy report will be published; if both have been presented to the Cabinet; how the environmental impact of proposed energy security options will be assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50447/23]

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

Darren O'Rourke: When will the energy security review and the McCarthy report be published? Have they been presented to the Cabinet? How will the environmental impact of proposed energy security options be assessed? I ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter.

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

Darren O'Rourke: It is welcome that we have this comprehensive review. Several proposals it makes are of particular note. With regard to the strategic gas emergency reserve, a report is due in the middle of next year but it seems to be indicated this will take the shape of a State-owned floating storage regasification unit, FSRU, gas reserve. In terms of the assessment of alternatives in that regard, is...

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

Darren O'Rourke: In terms of the timeline for this later report, will this be a floating offshore LNG facility? Does that require a change in legislation or policy? Are there inconsistencies with the approach taken to Shannon LNG? Does this comprehensive document confirm that commercial LNG is not the way forward but, rather, it should be State-led? On the McCarthy report, does the Minister accept that if...

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 are paying out on the energy credit. Tomorrow, the Select Committee on Environment and Climate Action will meet to agree the additional moneys to transfer. The Minister of State should not tell people it is going to be funded out of this legislation, which has not even been passed. When will people see the action of this windfall tax? Is it next September, as was originally intended?...

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...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (15 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: The British Government has succeeded in uniting every party on this island in opposition to its so-called legacy Bill. The Bill is not about legacy or in any way endorsed by people on this island. It will be devastating for families and unilaterally close the door on them getting truth and justice. It is contrary to the Stormont House Agreement, which states that processes dealing with the...

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...

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: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue and the Minister of State for being here. I will be sharing time with Deputy Kenny. I was prompted to submit this issue due to an unprecedented level of bus service cancellations in my county over recent weeks. It was particularly acute the week before last when approximately 20% of services on the busy 103 route serving...

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...

Road Safety: Statements (26 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Continuing on the theme of encouraging people onto public transport and making it safe for them, I have to raise the deteriorating standard of public bus services in County Meath. We are at a crisis point in my county. On the 103 service, which services big and busy towns like Ashbourne and Ratoath, 20% of services were cancelled on Monday, more than 10% were cancelled on Tuesday and 15% of...

Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 9: In page 8, after line 40, to insert the following: “(3) Electricity suppliers shall remove any arrears limits placed on pre-pay meters until the Minister directs otherwise.”. In the interest of brevity, and given the Second Stage debate, I withdraw amendments Nos. 9 and 15 with a view to perhaps reintroducing them on a further Stage.

Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 10: In page 9, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “6. (1) Where an electricity supplier refuses to make an electricity costs emergency benefit payment then the final customer may request the electricity supplier, on or before 30 June 2024 to review its refusal. (2) The request under subsection (1) shall state the reasons why the person making the...

Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 12: In page 14, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: “Reporting 14.(1) The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on the application of the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme III and the Submeter Support Scheme to address high electricity costs. (2) The Minister...

Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2023: Second Stage (25 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: There is a palpable sense of déjà vuin the Chamber. Here we are, debating for the third time an almost identical Bill to the ones we debated in both February and October of last year. In fact, the only difference between this year’s Bill and those that have passed through the Houses is that the Government has incorporated several proposals Sinn Féin tabled last year,...