Results 21-40 of 67 for 5 million speaker:Ossian Smyth

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: The Circular Economy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...whether it could be involved in a centre of excellence. I have dealt with SETU in a very positive way. Its representatives came to me with a proposal for funding for quantum computing. It got €5 million from Europe and we matched that with another €5 million. SETU is now a centre of excellence for quantum computing and networking in Ireland. I was very impressed by the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Waterways Issues (14 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...economic and social development in these areas. The rural regeneration and development fund is pivotal in delivering on the objectives of Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, which sets out an ambitious blueprint for realising the enormous potential in our rural towns, villages and communities. To date, funding has been allocated to projects in the areas of town and...

Seanad: Budget 2022: Statements (Resumed) (13 Oct 2021)

Ossian Smyth: ...these support measures be withdrawn in a phased manner. Therefore, €7 billion is being made available to continue our fight against the pandemic. In reflecting on this year's experience, where the €5.5 billion that was set aside in contingency funds in budget 2021 was ultimately all required following the resurgence of the virus, the Government is holding €4 billion...

Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Mar 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...Bank which is laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas each year, in accordance with section 10 of the Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Act 1999. Moving on to the trust funds element of the Bill, section 5 provides for the payment of grant contributions by the Minister for Finance to the IMF's Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust, CCRT, up to an aggregate total of €50...

Carbon Tax: Motion [Private Members] (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...: — the annual rate of consumer price inflation, as measured by the European Union's (EU) harmonised index of consumer prices, has picked up sharply in recent months, reaching a multi-decade high of 5.7 per cent in December before moderating somewhat to 5 per cent in January; — the recent increase in inflation is partly a result of temporary factors related to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution (15 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 202 together. A Circular issued to local authorities on 5th May 2021 informing them of the additional €5 million to be provided in support of their anti-litter efforts in the context of the easing of Covid 19 restrictions and the consequent need to provide additional anti-litter facilities in support of a predominantly  outdoor...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: State Bodies (15 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: ...the capacity review and it was completed in June of this year. Following consideration of the Capacity Review and its recommendations, the Government in agreed in July to an expansion of the NCSC from 26 to 45 staff over the next 18 months, and to 70 within 5 years. The associated budgetary increase for the NCSC for 2022 is estimated at €2.5 million. The Government also...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputies for these amendments. This Bill provides for a surcharge to be applied to overdue payments. The surcharges currently provided in this Bill are a 5% surcharge on returns not delivered between three and six months of the specified date, and a 10% surcharge on returns delivered within six months of the specified date. These surcharge percentages and timeframes are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Local Authorities (1 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I recently announced the provision of an additional €5m in funding for litter prevention and clean up in 2021, as the country prepares for an outdoor summer due to the ongoing Covid situation. This additional funding will support inter alia:- the provision of quality litter picking materials such as litter pickers, gloves and bags; - immediate mapping of existing levels of on-street...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environmental Schemes (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...retrofit. The programme for Government and climate action plan set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector from 7 megatons of carbon dioxide in 2018 to between 3.5 megatons and 4.5 megatons in 2030. A comprehensive retrofit programme will be a key measure to support the achievement of this target. We will need to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (21 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...final works phase. It is the largest project of its kind in the State and it will transform from being an illegal landfill into a recreational park. The total works contract awarded was €19.6 million, and, of that, €7 million is for 2023. There are sites around the country. So far, €6.4 million has been allocated in 2023 for closed landfills. That covers 120...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (5 Mar 2021)

Ossian Smyth: ...sought to assist individual musicians, commercial venues, producers and promoters to provide income and employment opportunities for workers in the creative sector. The pilot LPSS awarded €5 million to 59 projects, providing thousands of days of employment to hundreds of musicians, actors, crews and technicians at a time when no other opportunities were available. Artists and...

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

Ossian Smyth: ...Waterford Walls project, the beautiful streets and the medieval buildings that we can only dream of having in Dublin city. It is fantastic. My Department has had the pleasure of contributing €5 million to the quantum research endeavours under way in the South East Technological University, SETU. I do not know if the Deputy is aware that Waterford is at the forefront of quantum...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (23 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...approximately two thirds of Ireland's carbon stock. The peatland rehabilitation measures set out in the Climate Action Plan 2023 provide for the rehabilitation of 33,000 ha of Bord na Móna peatlands by 2025 and will contribute significantly to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions for the land use sector. The commitment by the company to formally cease harvesting peat has...

Seanad: Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (29 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...into the annual report on Ireland's participation in the IMF and World Bank, which is laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas each year in accordance with section 10 of the Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Act 1999. Section 5 relates to IMF trust funds. Specifically, it concerns an existing trust fund called the catastrophe containment and relief trust, CCRT, which allows the IMF...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (22 Mar 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...a product is. I can see the advantages. The challenge for me is that such a scheme, as far as I am aware, is not commercially operating anywhere. I am bringing in a scheme which will operate for 5 million people in one go. I need to bring in something I know will work. I know the industry has carried out a pilot scheme in one area, which is a good first step. There were 200 people...

Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (11 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: .... I will open the debate by setting the context for the action to be taken on foot of this Bill, which will establish an electricity costs emergency benefit scheme II, under which a total of €550 will be paid to domestic electricity accounts in three payments between November this year and March next year. The House will be familiar with these issues, particularly in light of...

Measures to Assist with Household Bills: Motion [Private Members] (14 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...further action will be needed. In April and May, 99% of domestic energy accounts were credited with the electricity costs emergency benefit payment. The total cost of the scheme was just under €377 million. This was of benefit to an extraordinary number of households and is in addition to increased funding for supports such as the fuel allowance and funding to reduce VAT on gas...

Seanad: Communications Regulation and Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (8 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...going then. In respect of the amendments relating to high-risk vendors, these amendments will set out how a risk assessment will be conducted, aligned with the principles of the EU toolbox for 5G security. Recognising the functions exercised by certain Departments and agencies in respect of national security, the risk assessment will be conducted in consultation with relevant...

Communications Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...changed since 2002 will not be a controversial contention. This proposition is arguably more accurate for the electronic communications sector than for any other. In 2002, there were fewer than 3 million mobile subscriptions in the State but, by 2021, that number had ballooned by over 4 million, bringing the total number of mobile subscriptions to over 7.3 million. What mobile phones...