Results 641-660 of 884 for speaker:Frank O'Rourke

Dublin Transport: Motion [Private Members] (10 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and I commend Deputy Lahart on bringing it forward to the Dublin Transport Authority's advisory council. Kildare is a commuter county and I am a Deputy for Kildare North. A recent article in the Leinster Leaderreferred to the area as "a bed for the night" because at peak times on most weekday mornings, traffic is tailed back from Heuston...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - National Reform Programme: Discussion (10 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: I was not planning to contribute but it is disappointing to hear comments about bankrupting the country and what happened at the time. Fine Gael has forgotten that it was in opposition at the time and it was asking the Government of the day to borrow and spend more and all of that nonsense.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - National Reform Programme: Discussion (10 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: Now it is depending on the very same party it called "reckless". Fianna Fáil did the mature thing 15 months ago to allow a minority Government to exist.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - National Reform Programme: Discussion (10 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: This is opportunistic negative politics operating in a vacuum which I thought no longer existed. Deputy Brophy feels this is necessary, although he has spent many days in committee hearings discussing Irish Water, an entity that Fine Gael set up at a time the country was on its knees and cost the country hundreds of millions of euro. It presided over 20% pay increases for staff on an annual...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - National Reform Programme: Discussion (10 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: Perhaps the Deputy should play it back.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - National Reform Programme: Discussion (10 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: In an EU context, party politics was not necessary but it is unfortunate that Deputy Brophy feels that he has to drag it in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - National Reform Programme: Discussion (10 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: He felt it necessary to bring it in and he should not interrupt those who are trying to respond.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - National Reform Programme: Discussion (10 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: The Deputy did not make a valid point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - National Reform Programme: Discussion (10 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: Deputy Brophy should control himself and have a little respect and manners, which is lacking based on the previous comment he made.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - National Reform Programme: Discussion (10 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: Committees are meant to deal with issues and not be politically hijacked. It was not possible to invest in the capital programme for a number of years for obvious reasons. There has been an opportunity over the past 18 months to two years to invest in the roll-out of infrastructure, including public transport, broadband, education, health services, etc. The broadband programme is to be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (9 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: 485. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting spinal surgery at Tallaght Hospital; the number of persons by waiting list (details supplied); the average waiting time on each list; the number of persons awaiting spinal surgery at Tallaght Hospital who have been referred from Naas Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22021/17]

Topical Issue Debate: Motor Insurance (3 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: I took some notes while the Minister of State was speaking. One of the last things he mentioned, which is very welcome if it is the case, was that applications have been made by four other companies to operate in the insurance market in this country. If it is the case, it will hopefully help the issue we are speaking about and also help the people who need it badly. It is the...

Topical Issue Debate: Motor Insurance (3 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: I can give the Minister of State the details of a plethora of individuals and businesses that have experienced increases in the region of 25% to 30% and he, the Department or the CSO office can ring them. Those increases are on individual premiums not to mention the business that, coincidentally, contacted me yesterday evening about 5 o'clock on this issue. I am not so sure how realistic...

Topical Issue Debate: Motor Insurance (3 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: I want to use this as an opportunity to again raise the huge issue of motor insurance for individuals and companies. The difficulty is that while this is an issue that has been raised for some time and has been spoken about at length in this Chamber over the last 12 or 14 months, we are not seeing any positive impact happening on the ground. Apart from premiums being reduced, they are not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (3 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: 135. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider raising the age limit which is imposed on persons wishing to join An Garda Síochána whereby persons must be 18 years of age but not yet 35 years of age on midnight of the closing date for the competition; if she will consider extending recruitment to older persons by bringing the age limit in line with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (3 May 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: 276. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider issuing guidelines to Naas Hospital to provide free parking for persons undergoing cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21108/17]

Maternity Leave and Benefit: Motion [Private Members] (5 Apr 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: I thank my colleague, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, for sharing her time with me this evening. I thank Deputy Catherine Martin for bringing forward this motion. It is a well-timed and very important motion for many families. I compliment the Deputy and her party on bringing it forward. I acknowledge all the families and people who spoke today in AV room. They gave very powerful speeches and...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes Review (5 Apr 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for his reply. The Minister is correct that the motivation of these schemes is to help people back into full time employment and in that regard they are succeeding. However, currently there are many schemes with no participants. I would like to know the reason there are no participants on some schemes and what can be done to encourage greater participation in schemes....

Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes Review (5 Apr 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter with the Minister. I have met him and his officials regarding it a couple of times. I thank them for giving of their time over the past year or more. It was one of the first issues I raised when I first joined the Dáil. I did so because of the importance of such schemes to individuals and communities, not just in my constituency of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Catchment Areas (4 Apr 2017)

Frank O'Rourke: 268. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the policies pursued for school building capacity to cater for the increased demand for school places that is emerging, in view of the increase in the number of housing units being developed in the towns of Maynooth, Celbridge, Kilcock and Clane, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16438/17]