Results 1,821-1,840 of 6,781 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

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...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Centres (16 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 15. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware of concerns raised by the Climate Change Advisory Council on islanded data centre policy, specifically the connection of 11 new islanded data centres to the network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50249/23]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 18. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way he intends to address the increasing concerns that Ireland will not reach the 2030 target for renewables and the key barriers to delivery such as grid capacity and delays in planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50250/23]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (16 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 38. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures that are in place to support the reduction in residential emissions for households currently using kerosene but who cannot afford a heat pump or whose properties are not suitable for heat pump installation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50247/23]

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...