Results 321-340 of 5,702 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: September?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: To go back to the Minister's point on the need for multi-annual budgeting, at a wider level the budget plugs into the national development plan. Is there an update on how negotiations are going or when we might see an update of the national development plan? We have consistently raised the need for additional funding to 2030 and there are challenges in that regard, as the Minister has said....

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Is it a question of additional funding or does the Minister see a role for other vehicles? Is it literally a negotiation within the Government between party leaders and the Department of public expenditure or how will he get something like this over the line? Will the new climate and infrastructure fund play a role in that? How does the Minister square all this?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Coming back to Connecting Ireland, the Department will not do as much this year as it did last year. Is that related to constraints on current spend? We hear from providers that this is going to be a tighter or more difficult year. As I understand, we have changed the critical skills list and opened other avenues for drivers and mechanics. What is behind the reduction?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I take the Minister's point, but the figure was €3.88 million for the first year, €8.35 million last year and just under €10 million this year, which is year three. Of a fund of €56 million, we have spent in the region of €23 million. Is that correct?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: It is going to be a big final two years.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: That is what the Minister said last year. He said projects scale up. This year, however, he is saying he is going to do less than last year.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I am not disagreeing with that-----

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I take the point, but these are fair questions. It is a five-year programme, and there is political support across the board. They are the types of projects we want. We recognise that there are challenges. I am trying to understand the assessment of the Department and the Government as to how they will grow the projects.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister would get a Supplementary Estimate.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: There is now an assembly in the North and the Minister’s portfolio crosses two or three Departments in the North. Does he have plans to meet his counterparts?

Report of Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands: Motion (1 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this report. I commend the committee on its work on it and commend the Cathaoirleach, the members and all the witnesses who presented. It is probably an exercise that could be replicated by other committees. The Sustainable Development Goals, significantly, are the only universally agreed framework with the aim of meeting everyone's needs without...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (1 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Iarnród Éireann was before the transport committee last week and it is clear it is ambitious to deliver the project in the timeline the Minister outlined, right through from design to completion. The issue is funding. This project is in the greater Dublin area transport strategy for delivery between 2031 and 2036. That is in black and white. The issue is funding. The Minister...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (1 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Construction.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (1 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: You cannot construct without funding.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (1 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 21. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the deteriorating public bus services in County Meath; the level of bus cancellations; how he plans to improve these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4448/24]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Climate Action Plan (1 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 57. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the Climate Action Plan for 2023 in respect of the transport sector; what actions are still outstanding from 2023; the timeline for delivery of these delayed actions; how he thinks delayed actions will impact on rising emissions in the sector; his plans to address rising emissions in the sector; and if he will make...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (1 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 99. To ask the Minister for Finance about the actions outlined in Ireland’s Sustainable Finance Roadmap; the progress to date to implement same; what engagement has been carried out at EU and international levels by him and his Department as outlined in the 2023 climate action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4482/24]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: European Investment Bank (1 Feb 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 146. To ask the Minister for Finance the progress to date to promote opportunities for the European Investment Bank to invest in relevant climate projects in Ireland; if a working group has been established; how many times the working group has met; if will he report on these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4483/24]

Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 Jan 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Bill, which proposes to merge two existing research funding agencies into a new entity, Taighde Éireann. It will be important that this step is matched by efforts from Government to address Ireland's poor performance in funding research and development when compared to EU standards. Making Ireland competitive in this...