Results 2,201-2,220 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Prices (17 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I will clarify with her afterwards exactly what figures she wants, which I am happy to do. I am also happy to give her or any Senator the updates or documents they want in this regard. Reducing demand, of course, involves smart meters and industry. We have changed the rules on data centres and how they can connect. It is very difficult to get a grid connection at this stage for a data...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Conservation (23 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Senators. The students from Kells, County Meath, are very welcome. I thank Senator Sherlock for raising this important issue and for the timely opportunity to give an update on the Government’s supports for home retrofit. In order to hit our climate targets, we will need to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a BER B2 cost optimal or carbon equivalent and install...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Conservation (23 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The Senator is correct to raise this matter. How will we upgrade stone or thatched cottages, particularly when lived in by people who are in energy poverty, cannot afford to move home and need the upgrades more than anyone else? She mentioned how difficult it was to reach the B2 standard, but it is possible to get grants that do not require people to do so. For example, it is possible to...

Seanad: National Parks (23 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator Currie for this matter. I am answering on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan. He cannot be here today. The Phoenix Park is an historic landscape of international importance. It is one of the...

Seanad: National Parks (23 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: It is difficult to install toilets in the Phoenix Park, not just because one needs wastewater facilities, but also because one needs freshwater facilities. I take Senator Currie's point on the requirement for composting, or the possibility of using composting toilets, and I will bring that to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. Senator Currie can tell me if she thinks there is a way...

Seanad: National Parks (23 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Okay. I will bring that to the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and also the Senator's question about the draft parking strategy consultation, which includes a question on a proposal which has already been ruled out, which is the large expansion of the Lord's Walk car parking area to over 1,000 spaces. This is an item which has been previously ruled out as a possibility.

Seanad: National Parks (23 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I will bring that to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan and draw it to his attention, and I thank Senator Currie for raising it in the House today.

Seanad: National Parks: Special Educational Needs (23 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The Minister for Justice believes it would not be appropriate for me to provide details on, or make reference to, the specific project to which the Senator refers. The IIP was established more than a decade ago, during a time of unprecedented economic difficulty, to stimulate investment in Ireland that would be of strategic and public benefit to the State.However, it is important that we...

Seanad: National Parks: Special Educational Needs (23 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I hear Senator O'Loughlin's sincere passion for this project and I understand she wants to get a good resolution for it. I feel the same when representing anybody. The Senator indicated that the project was already approved. I am told by the Department that projects that have already been approved are not affected. I presume this refers to an additional requirement for money, which has...

Seanad: National Parks: Special Educational Needs (23 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I will take the Senator's request back to the Department of Justice. I think she understands that not every request for funding is automatically approved. There has to be an appraisal process. As a result of the announcement of the wind-down of the funding programme, there has been a large increase in the volume of inquiries and submitted requests. Those requests that have been received...

Seanad: National Parks: Broadcasting Sector (23 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: While the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, unfortunately cannot be present due to a prior commitment, she has asked me to thank the House for the invitation to update it on the progress of the technical working group on TV licence reform and enhancement. A healthy independent media sector is vital for our society in general, our...

Seanad: National Parks: Broadcasting Sector (23 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The goal of the report is to find a sustainable and fair funding model that responds to the changing technological landscape. We have moved away from the time when there was a black-and-white TV licence and a colour TV licence, to people watching TV on their laptops or hearing it on their phones. We need a sustainable model if we are to have public sector broadcasting. A detailed analysis...

Government Commitments on Offshore Renewable Energy: Motion (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputies. I first want to welcome members of the Naval Service, who are in the Public Gallery. All of us who are here, as well as all Irish people, owe them a debt of gratitude for their service. It is a difficult job to go to sea. It is strenuous, arduous and tiring and they are confined, and yet it is vitally important for a nation like ours. This debate is about our...

Seanad: Government Commitments on Offshore Renewable Energy: Motion (31 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Acting Chair and Senators and welcome the visitors in the Gallery. On behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, I welcome this opportunity to seek the support of Senators for these long-term Government commitments on the development of offshore renewable energy in this State. With a sea area that is seven times its landmass, the realisation of...

Seanad: Government Commitments on Offshore Renewable Energy: Motion (31 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senators for their input. I will address the points that were made in the order I heard them. I will start with Senator Garvey, who pointed out that Moneypoint is facing a future transformation. Moneypoint has huge grid connection and is clearly an ideal location for future renewable energy development and hydrogen development. It will be a location for innovation, investment...

Seanad: Cybersecurity and Data Protection: Statements (22 Jun 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Chair, Senator Davitt and those in the Gallery. During the pandemic, there was an acceleration in the pace of digitisation in Ireland. Because people could not travel around and many facilities, businesses and Government facilities were shut down, they were forced to go online. As people were worried about becoming infected, they were doing things like visiting their doctors...

Seanad: Cybersecurity and Data Protection: Statements (22 Jun 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Senator Seery Kearney asked the question "Who owns your image?" It is a good question. The Senator will remember that this Government passed a law some years ago in respect of intimate images. This legislation had previously been introduced by Deputy Brendan Howlin. It is an important law and I believe it was generally widely welcomed. It prevents people from using intimate images to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Deputy Stanton asked about AI and advice on same. The National Cyber Security Centre has circulated advice to Departments and other public sector bodies on the use of AI. That advice is classified and has not been published but, in general, it advises not uploading confidential documents and not using the output of generative AI directly, for example, to reply to letters from the public or...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Second Stage (27 Jun 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to address the House on the Second Stage of the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023. As Deputies are aware, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 led to exceptionally high energy prices. The wholesale price of natural gas increased significantly from a long-term...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (27 Jun 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, has asked me to answer his questions relating to the OPW this evening. In response to the Deputy’s question and previous questions with respect to the status of the Coirib go Cósta project, I am happy to provide an update. As the Deputy is aware, major flood relief schemes involve complex engineering and construction operations that...