Results 161-180 of 5,702 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I encourage and implore the Minister to use the opportunity of the July stimulus to be very ambitious for renewable energy. What are the plans for the inclusion of renewable energy projects in the July stimulus? I am aware there are barriers to the development of renewable energy, for example, there are regulatory barriers to offshore wind. I am particularly interested in the model of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 12. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether the quadrupling of the carbon tax over the next decade is going to disproportionately affect those who can least afford it and contribute to already high levels of fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16251/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to ask the Minister about the proposal to quadruple the carbon tax over the next ten years. Sinn Féin has pointed out consistently that without alternatives in place first, it is a punitive tax that will hit workers and families hard. It will associate positive climate change measures with a negative. Some 400,000 people are living in fuel poverty in this State. If they...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Sinn Féin agrees that we need to reduce our carbon emissions and meet our legally binding targets. It is on the approach to this that we differ from the Government, however. We believe climate action must be socially just and that we must protect people as we transition to a greener economy. It is not just Sinn Féin that disagrees on the approach being proposed by the Government....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I am not persuaded by that argument. In my experience as a public representative in Meath I have seen that there is a cohort of people who will not benefit from the measures that are being proposed, who will see these measures as regressive and who will be disproportionately affected by them. These people are vulnerable and the imposition of a carbon tax without alternatives, which they do...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 14. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the North-South interconnector; if his attention has been drawn to the considerable local opposition to the proposed pylons included in this plan; his views on an independent review of this project which will consider the undergrounding of these power lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to raise the issue of the North-South interconnector with the Minister. I am fully aware of the importance of connecting the electricity and energy grids on this island. However, this project has met with spectacular local opposition to the pylons and overhead power lines along the route. Is the Minister aware of the level of anger and opposition on the ground to this project? As a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Go raibh maith agat, a Aire. At the heart of this issue is a fundamental principle that will affect much of what we both want to achieve in terms of ambition around climate change, that is, the fundamental principle of public participation in decision-making. The Minister referenced the reviews that took place. He knows as well as I do that for every one of those reviews there is a real...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I do not disagree with the Minister on a number of those points but I believe we are not speaking to each other in this exchange. We are speaking past each other because the points I am raising are the points that have been raised by the community and it is my firm opinion that unless we address those concerns specifically we will not make progress. The Minister has responsibility for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 20. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of progress of the national broadband plan; the amount spent to date; the number of homes and businesses that have been and are yet to be connected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16068/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I raise the issue of the national broadband plan with the Minister but I am conscious that he has already handled two questions on this issue. I had thought they might be grouped. For the purpose of making this exchange a little bit useful, perhaps the Minister could focus his response on the plan as it is envisaged to roll out, the weakness of the plan from the Minister's perspective, and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I appreciate the response and understand the perspective. Very significant societal changes will come with the full implementation of this plan. During the lockdown, as RTÉ reported, one of the digital hubs in my area did not have high-speed broadband connection. The building existed, with the tables, chairs and offices, but they did not have the broadband infrastructure to make it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: In my experience information and communication on this are really important. People are really frustrated about access to information. People do a tremendous job in trying to get a forensic knowledge of broadband in their local areas. They are able to say what lines are going where and they have engaged with the different utility providers. The experience of dealing with the utility...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wind Energy Generation (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 25. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on improving the level of community ownership of windfarms here; his further views on whether the State should intervene to help support local communities establishing and running their own windfarms which can power their own local energy needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16067/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wind Energy Generation (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: This question relates to community forms of ownership and delivery of wind energy and what specific measures the Government proposes to advance this unique and significant opportunity in the time ahead.

National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I am sharing time with Deputies Seán Crowe and Buckley. The main purpose of this Bill is to amend the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 to provide for the establishment of the climate action fund on a statutory basis. It also provides for the 2 cent levy that currently funds the National Oil Reserves Agency to be redirected to support the fund. It is proposed that the climate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Proposed Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 33. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will introduce legislation in line with the provisions in the Microgeneration Support Scheme Bill 2017 that would empower persons and local communities to produce renewable energy that they can then use and sell the excess of back to the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16069/20]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Just Transition Commissioner (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 42. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will expedite the implementation of the recommendations included in the Just Transition Commissioner’s first report published in early 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16070/20]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (15 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: 82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons waiting for a driver test; the actions he is taking to clear this backlog quickly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16176/20]

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Jul 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Page 25 of the programme for Government contains a commitment regarding the future of the aviation sector. At the moment, there is contradictory and conflicting advice on travel, which is undermining confidence in the aviation sector and the public health effort. Aeroplanes are taking off but the advice is for people to avoid non-essential foreign travel. It is proposed to extend this...