Results 461-480 of 6,451 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services (10 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 304. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the closure of the Laytown health centre; if there are any plans to re-open it; to provide an update on the proposed future use of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30255/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses for their opening statements this morning. They have collectively made the case that there is an opportunity to deliver a better service for workers, service users and the environment by taking waste management services under public control. I ask the union representatives about the experience of privatisation and its implications for workers' terms and conditions....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The point was made by one of the contributors that this is about raising standards in terms of employment but equally importantly, in terms of environmental outcomes. The witnesses have strongly advocated for a different model of service delivery and pointed to the area of illegal dumping as an environmental benefit. I presume in the IPA report, by international comparison, an improvement...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses for their attendance. Some of them were present for the earlier session when a number of points were raised. In the first instance, these included the terms and conditions of employment in the waste management or collection sector, the lack of collective bargaining and the relationship with the unions. What have our guests to say in response to that? Obviously a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: How many of the 25 companies that collect household waste in Ireland are unionised?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Is it a significant minority?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Would five of the companies be unionised?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: In the earlier session a point was made about transparency. Of course the charge was made that those represented by the IWMA are motivated by profit and there is no transparency in their profits. In the part of the world in which I live, that sector is well represented. We know that at least a small number of people have accrued incredible personal wealth on the back of the waste industry....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The State is eventually opting out of the energy charter treaty, which was where you could guarantee the incomes of companies into the future regardless of policy changes. The State has made a decision about the model. You can continue to argue the case in terms of the model of a deposit return scheme. Is it not perverse that the sector would lobby the Department to allow for a guaranteed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: As far as Mr. Crinion is concerned, the sector has a guarantee from the Government.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the witnesses to furnish us with a written note. It is a reasonable question to ask. If Mr. Crinion wants to push back on the unions then it would be helpful to know the detail.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I will stick with that theme, and I raise it because it is relevant to the issue of the circular economy because of the issue of the profit motive versus sustainability and delivering on outcomes in terms of the circular economy. On the lobbying done by the industry to maintain profits with the introduction of the deposit return scheme, do the witnesses see the contradiction in that from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to the Waste Sector: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: That is not the point I made.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 94. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware of warnings from an organisation (details supplied) that its members may raise prices for household recycling collection following the introduction of the deposit return scheme; the measures he is taking to prevent this; the actions he is taking to protect consumers from these prices hikes; to report on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 95. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his engagement with the waste management industry in advance of the introduction of the deposit return scheme; if any understanding was developed with the industry that it would be insulated from losses following the introduction of the scheme (details supplied); if so, what the understanding included; and if he will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 96. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has engaged with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on the roll-out of the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29091/24]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 98. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 99 and 100 of 25 June 2024, to report on the meetings that took place on 28 February, 16 April and 15 May 2024; to provide a breakdown of all attendees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29122/24]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 99. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 99 and 100 of 25 June 2024, if the steering group considered the impact of the deposit return scheme on the pricing structures for household waste collection. [29124/24]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (9 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 274. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 28 May 2024, the reason for the discrepancy between the total projects awarded; the average amount awarded; the amount drawn down as part of the Environmental Aid Programme 2020-2023; if businesses are failing to draw down awards; if so, the reasons for this; and if he will make a...