Results 2,301-2,320 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Negotiations (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: It is a question of the extent to which we target the funding. Should we target the funding towards those who need it most or should we make it more universal, spreading it more thinly among a larger number of countries? Clearly, somebody has to draw a line at some point and decide which countries are developing countries and which are countries that require finance. Ireland's financing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Under the Climate Action Plan 2023, the Government has committed to a new demand-side strategy for electricity and gas being put in place. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, commenced work in this area by publishing a call for evidence and consultation paper in June 2023. The closing date has now passed. The CRU is currently analysing all responses received. In addition to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: We had a data centre policy in 2018 which did not refer to security of supply, to the climate challenge or to emissions. The new data centre policy, as issued in 2022, does refer to such matters. It is important that any new data centres that are built are contributing to security of supply and helping us to meet our climate targets. That is not impossible to do. In order to build a data...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I compliment Deputy Ó Murchú on doggedly pursuing this issue on a number of occasions in the House and outside it. Progress is being made. Generally, schemes such as those at Carlinn Hall are localised, involving apartment complexes or residential housing estates. In the Government's plans for district heating, based on international best practice, we are focusing on larger-scale...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: A community heat system such as this provides heating and hot water for an entire development, typically an apartment block or an apartment complex. It means there is one component to be switched out so that all of those apartments can be decarbonised. The reality is that this is a great opportunity. It is much easier to switch out one large heating system than to go into 100 boilers where...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The SEAI has a history of supporting community grant schemes. It has good outreach operations. It has been a successful and popular programme. It is more efficient than the administration involved in individual grant schemes. There is the administration of one large scheme. There is a large benefit for it. It contributes to a community getting switched over with buy-in from many people...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Policy (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: To ensure that Ireland's future economic development is on a sustainable footing we have taken a number of ambitious measures, including the adoption of the 2021 Climate Act, carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings. The ceilings and budgets underpin Ireland's ambitious commitments to tackle climate breakdown, while also increasing our energy security, and putting us in a strong...

Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023: Referral to Select Committee (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Environment and Climate Action pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Earlier this week, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, announced the provisional results of the third onshore RESS auction, RESS 3. The successful projects, mostly solar PV projects, represent a 12% increase in Ireland’s renewable energy capacity from current levels. This is a positive result for the climate, for security of supply and for maintaining our ambitious programme to support...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The Department's assessment is that auctions are not the best option for renewable energy project support. For this reason, the Department is moving towards supporting community energy projects through a non-competitive renewable energy support scheme. This will take community projects out of the auction practice. If the Deputy wants more details about the results of the auctions beyond...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Production (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: All the correct procedures were followed. As the Deputy is aware, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is a prescribed body for making submissions on planning applications and it is natural on such a large planning application that the Department made a submission. The decision for An Bord Pleanála was straightforward and it followed the correct rules. I do...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy for her comments. I am glad to hear she acknowledges that we need data centres. I heard the same from Sinn Féin when Senator Boylan said that we absolutely need data centres. There is an understanding that we are not just going to shut down all of the data centres or prevent them from being here. The Deputy's question is on the quantity of data centres which we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Policy (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputy Durkan. The core point is that Ireland is reducing its emissions at the same time as it is growing its economy. We are not the only country to do this. Britain went through approximately a decade when it was reducing emissions while at the same time growing its economy. I am not sure if that is still the case, but it is certainly possible. We should never assume that in...

Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputies for their contributions. This Bill, as we know, is technical in nature and provides for the integration of Ervia into Gas Networks Ireland, GNI, so that it can become a single entity called Gas Networks Ireland. The Bill provides for amendments to the Gas Acts so as to facilitate integration and the transfer of functions, assets, rights, liabilities, staff and records from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151, 147, 148, 149 and 150 together. In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028;all populated areas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (3 Oct 2023)

Ossian Smyth: In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, anddigital connectivity will...