Results 1,921-1,940 of 6,781 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. On local authorities' annual reports and capacity, could the witnesses reflect on some of their findings? Do they draw conclusions or get feedback from local authorities on their capacity? Is it a case of capacity, the deployment of resources or the lack of resources, or do the witnesses have an indication one way or another? A major topic of the citizens'...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Is it a similar picture in terms of inspections of septic tanks?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I assume Dr. Cotter would be supportive of the increased grant for people to have their septic tanks improved.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Where does Dr. Cotter think such a policy should sit in terms of Departments?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I have two questions and will try to keep them short. The first is for Mr. Callanan. If the European Union agreed in the next 12 months to significant investment in a nature restoration fund to reward farmers for restoring nature, would this State be in a position to administer schemes? Have we schemes ready to go? Are we designing schemes? Have we the accounting mechanisms in place?...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Change Policy (26 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 24. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures his Department is putting in place to decrease climate- and-or biodiversity-harmful spending in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46909/23]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Change Policy (26 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 52. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date on green budgeting analysis and on the development of a standardised, evidence-based approach to assessing the climate impact of policy proposals, as noted in the climate action plan’s annexe of actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46908/23]

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,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (25 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 39. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how many solar panels were installed under the warmer homes scheme in each of the years 2020 to 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; how many were standard B2 or above; the post-retrofit BER of solar panels installed under the warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46857/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (25 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made in relation to the submission to build an ASD unit in a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46845/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for being here. Picking up on that point about the default baseline, I think many people's starting point is that there are a range of anomalies in the speed limits, and I agree that they are perceived as targets in many people's minds. There are lots of anomalies now. One of the ways in which this has been presented is that it will be a standard across the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: As regards the overall policy on road safety and the direction of travel as regards transport policy, it is about making it safe for walkers and cyclists and encouraging the use of public transport. I want to raise something while the Minister of State is here with us. There has been a very significant uptake in public transport in County Meath. However, in recent weeks there has been a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 82. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if time spent acting as a carer can be applied when calculating illness benefit; if time spent caring for children can be applied when calculating illness benefit; if it is possible to apply this retrospectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46366/23]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Data (24 Oct 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 138. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how much revenue was earned from the levy paid by holders of Maritime Area Consent in 2022 and in 2023, in tabular form; how much is estimated to be earned in 2024, in tabular form; how the proceeds from the levy have been distributed; whether proceeds are ring-fenced for any specific purposes; whether revenues raised...