Results 2,441-2,460 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

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

Ossian Smyth: As Ireland has committed to achieving ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, with key milestones in 2030 and 2050, the Government's assessment of any new investments it is considering making should consider the impact these investments will have on greenhouse gas emissions. Including a valuation of the cost that will be borne to eliminate any emissions a project may give rise...

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

Ossian Smyth: The updated guidelines on the shadow price of carbon will be published by the end of the year. The Deputy discusses the different ways to measure the price of carbon. He is absolutely right. We could use the emissions trading scheme price, which changes all the time on international markets, or look at what the carbon tax is set at. One thing to be considered is that it is not just one...

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

Ossian Smyth: The public spending code is being revised, restructured and simplified. The infrastructure guidelines are being updated since they were last issued in 2019, the ones that relate to the shadow price of carbon. I think the Deputy is alluding to the shadow price of nature as well. Biodiversity has a value. That probably would have been a strange thing to say ten years ago but people...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (28 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Although this question is about flooding, it is not for my colleague, Deputy O'Donovan, to answer because it is a question for the consenting authority, who is the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. I refer to previous updates on this matter given to the House regarding the consent process for the River Deel flood relief scheme, prepared by the Office of Public Works under the Arterial Drainage...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (28 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I appreciate and understand the feelings of Deputy Conway-Walsh's constituents on this matter. It has taken a long time to reach consent for this scheme because it is such a large scheme and has to be done under the Arterial Drainage Act. We have to follow the law. The role the Minister is playing is similar to the role of An Bord Pleanála. We are at the stage, having received final...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (28 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I agree it takes too long to reach decisions on these schemes. It is similar to a planning application. An application is made, and there is a period of time for submissions and public consultation. If additional information is required, we have to go back out, take submissions and listen to the public again. When the public consultation periods and additional information are over, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Civil Service (28 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The current Civil Service disciplinary code applies to all civil servants. The code sets out the arrangements for dealing with disciplinary matters in the Civil Service. It is ensures that all civil servants are aware that if there is a failure to adhere to the required standards of conduct, work performance and attendance, the disciplinary procedure set out in the code will apply. Senior...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Civil Service (28 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Listening to this debate people may get the impression that Secretaries General are not subject to any kind of disciplinary framework or oversight. That is not true. Under the Civil Service disciplinary code 13 separate sanctions are outlined covering everything from verbal warning, written warning, final written warning, extension of the period of validity of a warning, deferral of an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Civil Service (28 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: If anything, the Secretaries General should be held to a higher standard than other Civil Servants because they have so much influence and because they are paid so much, and because they are people who set an example for everybody else. Often in an organisation, the personality, behaviour and character at the head of it flows down and is reflected in the behaviours of all the people who...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Labour Court (28 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The implementation of specific recommendations, awards or adjudications from the Labour Court or other equivalent industrial relations bodies, are matters for the relevant employer or Department, as appropriate, in the first instance. The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform has responsibility for the terms and conditions of civil servants, as provided for under section...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Labour Court (28 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: What the Minister would say is that this is primarily a matter for the Minister for Health, as I presume the HSE is the employer. Since the person is a public sector employee but not a civil servant, he or she is likely to be able to raise his or her dispute through the Labour Court system. The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform would not be the deciding person....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Labour Court (28 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I am glad that the Deputy is going to take it up directly with him. Everyone agrees that the Labour Court and the WRC have served us well. There are a relatively small number of industrial disputes in Ireland and those that do happen are often resolved amicably. The Labour Court plays a role in being able to decide and recommend on what is fair. It is then up to the employer and employees...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Childcare Services (29 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, and the whole of the Government are conscious of the disruption caused to a number of early learning and childcare services owing to the recent floods in Cork. The local childcare committee has been engaging with impacted services. With regard to financial supports for these services, they have been made aware that any service forced to close due to the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Childcare Services (29 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: It is the local childcare committee that should be liaising directly with these childcare facilities. I will mention it directly to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. He was in Cork at the time the flooding happened, or immediately afterwards, and he has taken an interest in it. There is a fund for continuity of service. I ask the Deputies to ensure any affected childcare services have...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (29 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputy Stanley for raising this important issue. It gives me an opportunity to outline to the House the current position on the large-scale, major devolved project under delivery at Coláiste Dhún Másc, Portlaoise. I am providing this response on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, who, as the Deputy says, is out of the country. Coláiste...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (29 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. He has made his case very clearly and very well. As he said, I am a Deputy as well and I face requests from parents for school places for their child coming up to the next school year. As the Deputy knows from the census results, every county has a growing population, so there are demands all around the country for new schools and 300 school projects are happening at...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Youth Work Projects (29 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy very much for raising this matter. I am responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Browne. Youth diversion projects, or YDPs, are community-based multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives. They primarily seek to divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in antisocial or criminal behaviour....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Youth Work Projects (29 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I agree with everything the Deputy has said. I want to underline the Government's strong commitment to youth justice services. That is shown by the fact that the budget for youth justice services has increased by 10% for next year, with an extra €3 million in the budget for same. This funding will be deployed with the assistance of the best available research and expert evidence to...

Capital Supply Service and Purpose Report Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I sincerely thank the Deputies for tabling what is a constructive Bill. This is not something they are moving for effect. The legislation actually contains some good proposals. I am happy to discuss the Bill; it is worthy of debate. To Deputy Shanahan, I must say that I love County Waterford. This is partly because it was the location of my childhood holidays in Dunmore East. When I go...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Agreements (29 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The memorandum of understanding, MOU, the Senator refers to covers co-operation on trade, transport and the export of gas to the European Union. The MOU is not an Irish MOU but rather it is between the EU, the State of Israel and the Arab Republic of Egypt. The MOU was signed at the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, of which Ireland is not a member and at which the EU is an observer. High...