Results 1-20 of 2,867 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Dentistry Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (22 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I wish to make a clarification. A number of speakers stated that the recruitment embargo affected the recruitment of dentists. It does not affect the recruitment of dentists.

Dentistry Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (22 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputies across the House for their contributions to this debate. As the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, has noted, an additional €15 million in core funding since 2019 and 2020 and a further additional €17 million in once-off funding has been supporting the ongoing work to reduce waiting lists and to address access to services through policy implementation. I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cycling Facilities (22 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to discuss this project. It remains a key Government commitment to extend the greenway from Athlone to Galway city. The Galway to Dublin cycleway will be Ireland’s first ever dedicated inter-city segregated route for cyclists and walkers and an iconic cycleway of international appeal. The 106 km greenway from Maynooth to Athlone town is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cycling Facilities (22 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator. As I said in the reply the information provided to me by the Department of Transport is that contractors will be appointed for both phases of the scheme in the fourth quarter of 2024. Beyond that, I do not have information about the other stages of the project or what its likely completion date is. Projects around the country have been completed in Waterford, Mayo,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Postal Services (22 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Before I start my reply, the answer is "No". I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on the matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers. Both the Minister and Minister of State are very aware of the impact of decisions relating to changes in An Post operations have on communities and individuals in both rural and urban areas. ...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Postal Services (22 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The question is whether the Minister has consented to the sale or disposal of the An Post post office in Rathmines. The answer is that An Post has not sought such approval and would need it. It would need consent, it has not asked for it and, therefore, the Minister has not granted it. The Senator went on to ask about what the plans are and whether An Post will continue to operate a...

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements (22 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Senators for bringing forward this interesting motion. I will start by talking about the different options here, three of which have been discussed. The first is the situation we have at the moment, which is competition in the market. Anybody with a waste collection permit can go out and collect waste door-to-door if they wish, wherever they wish. Second, it is competition for the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Energy Policy (22 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: These are all reasonable points. The general problem is that Deputy O’Rourke is talking about unease and suspicion from experience he has had anecdotally from people coming to him. Of course, we all make our decisions based on constituents coming to us with issues, but we need more than that to be sure there is a widespread problem or to be sure of what kind of approach we need to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Energy Policy (22 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this important issue which provides an opportunity to have a debate on heat pumps. The National Heat Study considered potential decarbonisation options for a wide range of dwelling and business types. It found that heat pumps are the optimal decarbonisation pathway for domestic heating systems. Heat pumps are now the dominant heating technology for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the committee for inviting me to address it. This is my first time before the agriculture committee. I am the Minister of State with responsibility for the circular economy, so agriculture is not my specific area of expertise, but I will do my best to answer all of the questions from members. If I cannot, I will revert to them with answers. One of my Department’s...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I am aware of this problem. If people are collecting or storing plastic in yards, that is beyond what they are legally allowed to do. The position is the same where it is damaging the environment. The local authorities that are responsible for the enforcement of these rules were in contact with my Department today to confirm that all the relevant yards are now in compliance.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I am saying that all the relevant local authorities contacted my Department earlier to tell officials that all the relevant yards are in compliance as of today. Obviously, I have not visited those yards today. I have not seen what they are like. I stand open to correction, but that is the information I have from my Department and from the local authorities concerned.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Is the Senator asking how much is not recycled out of the total that has been put out there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: As I understand it, it is 10% of the total. We are recovering 90% of the material.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: We do not have a tally of how much plastic is being stored in each particular yard at any one time. Obviously, that changes from day to day. It is the responsibility of the local authorities to ensure that any waste collector is storing material within the terms and conditions of its permit and that it is not storing more than it should in its yard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The Department or Government is not keeping track of exactly how much plastic is in each yard every day of the year. What we are looking at is how much plastic has been produced and how much has been recycled.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: It is how much has been collected and then how much has been recycled.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: A total of 90%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Ultimately, it all has to be recycled. Where else would the material go?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I think the Senator is asking whether there is a difference between the amount of material plastic film that is collected and what is actually recycled at the end of the year. In other words, he is asking if any more material is being collected than is actually being recycled and, if that is happening, whether there is a discrepancy. He is asking if we can provide figures for both. I will...