Results 1-20 of 1,128 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (21 Apr 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for bringing forward this Bill. We have already had one vote on it and we will have plenty of discussion and many more votes. It is acknowledged this Bill benefited greatly from the pre-legislative scrutiny at the Joint Committee on Climate Action before Christmas, which was ably chaired by the Minister's colleague, Deputy Leddin. The climate committee members worked...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (21 Apr 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I signed that Bill on behalf of Sinn Féin. The review of the North-South interconnector presents an opportunity to get this right once and for all. That opportunity should be grasped. If the review happens as outlined by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, at the committee that discussed the Estimates last night, it will not amount to a hill of beans. In fact, it will be a pointless...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Apr 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to raise the case of Anne Kelly. Anne is 86 years old and is housebound in Ashbourne, County Meath. She is waiting for her Covid vaccine and getting more anxious by the day. She feels like she has been forgotten about. She could be forgiven for this because, in this Chamber on 25 March, a month ago, the Minister said the first phase of the vaccination programme for the housebound...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Apr 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I will send on the information.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Yes. I thank the Chairman. I thank the Minister for the update and the figures he provided. To follow on from the points made by Deputy Whitmore and in terms of the targeting of the retrofit plan to areas of most need, will the warmer homes scheme be the vehicle for that or does the Minister intend to identify areas of deprivation or need through mapping or other means to ensure the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with Chairpersons Designate of Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann (20 Apr 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank all the witnesses. I would like to table questions to them all but time will constrain us. I give a huge thanks to all front-line transport workers who have served such a great and important role during Covid. I will start with a question to Ms Ross. On the pension scheme, I was looking at the figures and the figure of greater than €975 million of a deficit is very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with Chairpersons Designate of Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann (20 Apr 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: By way of a quick follow-up question, in a best-case scenario, what sort of timeline is Ms Ross looking at to be back on balance or to address the deficit?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with Chairpersons Designate of Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann (20 Apr 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: It is important to emphasise that there is a resolution for the sector, but also for the workers. It is important that a resolution is found. Moving on to Mr. Courtney and Mr. Murphy, I wish to focus on the bus sector. They referenced the climate challenges in the time ahead and the impact that will have on public transport. I ask them to address the issue of Covid as the situation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Service (1 Apr 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 45. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the suspension by the Irish Coast Guard of cliff rescue teams; the reason for this; when this will be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17792/21]

Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Prohibition of Winter Disconnections) Bill 2021: First Stage (31 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, to include explicit provision for the Minister to provide policy direction to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, to introduce a moratorium on disconnections of gas and electricity supply to domestic customers for non-payment during the annual fuel allowance season or...

Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Prohibition of Winter Disconnections) Bill 2021: First Stage (31 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (31 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 276. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person (details supplied) who has lived in Ireland since the age of four in 1972 and has held an Irish driver licence since 1998, can renew their driver licence without proof of residency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16729/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Policy (31 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 306. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has engaged with a company (details supplied) and Cork Airport regarding protecting jobs and existing routes from Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17456/21]

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, for the update. I wish to raise supports for taxi drivers with her. I will refer to a number of the measures taken. There was €150 for the suitability test. There was a one-year extension, not a rollover. If taxi drivers were at nine years last year, they got an extra year, but they are faced with a significant cost this year. Why...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State. We appreciate that funding is an issue, but my concern is how the limited budget available is directed. At this point in time I emphasise in the strongest terms that funding should be directed towards survival and recovery in the first instance. A related issue is aviation sector workers, and cabin crew in particular. The Irish Aviation Students'...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I have a follow-on question about another group of important transport workers, namely, private bus operators. Many of them are struggling to make ends meet and are dependent on the school bus transport scheme. Many operate outside of the State Bus Éireann scheme and are essentially unsupported, outside of the general schemes that are available in fairness to the Government. They are...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to make a very clear point. I raised this with the senior Minister, in fairness, and he made the same point. Bus operators the length and breadth of the country asked me how he does not understand the difference in what we are saying. The Department of Education, with Bus Éireann, operates the State school bus transport system. I am talking about school bus operators who...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: The Government has an ambitious retrofitting plan but I am concerned that it is a case of building castles in the sky. I could list many cases of families, renters and homeowners, who are pensioners in some cases, who live in cold homes that are D-rated or worse. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland was with them a decade ago so they will not see it again, such are the rules. There...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: With regard to the vaccine priority list, the Minister has said medical conditions and the magnitude of the risk they pose will continue to be monitored and periodically reviewed. There is robust evidence for poor outcomes in Covid-19 in the presence of pre-existing heart failure. This is for hospitalised patients and patients in the community. I can send the references to the Minister. I...