Results 381-400 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Just Transition Fund (23 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Yes.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Just Transition Fund (23 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy is right that the ESB has a key role, and it is important that my Department engages and continues to engage with the ESB on the future of the midlands. I will address specifically the Shannonbridge and Lanesborough power plants and what their future is. The just transition commissioner made a recommendation in the first progress report in May 2020 that a study be undertaken...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The goal of the legislation is to create a process that is not easy to dismantle on a whim, either by the Executive or the Oireachtas. Of course, it is possible to appeal it or amend it. The Oireachtas always retains that power. The Dáil can reject the carbon budget if the Members do not like it. There is going to be public consultation not just on the climate action plan, but also...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (23 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Waste collectors operate under waste collection permits. Conditions attached to these permits require collectors to separately collect segregated waste and to deliver this waste to suitable treatment facilities. Permit conditions are enforced by local authorities.   Waste treatment facilities operate under a waste facility permit from a local authority or a waste licence from the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (23 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The NCSC budget allocation for 2021 is €6.9 million of which €1.8m relates to salaries. The Government has trebled the capital and programme funding for the NCSC from €1.7 million in 2020 to €5.1 million in 2021. The funding and resourcing of the NCSC has been increased over the past five years. The Programme for Government included a commitment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (23 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Programme for Government included a commitment to undertake a Capacity Review of the NCSC in order to expand the NCSC’s ability to monitor and respond to cyber security incidents and developing threats. The Capacity Review will inform decisions to be taken on the future of the NCSC, including with respect to its statutory mandate.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (23 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The landfill levy was introduced under the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 and came into effect on 1 June 2002. The purpose of the charge was to effect behaviour change regarding disposal of waste to landfill and this has been successful with just 3 landfills currently in operation in the State, a reduction from 31 in 2008. In addition, our landfill rate for municipal waste was...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Environmental Policy (24 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I welcome the Deputy raising this matter. I agree with his assertion that it is possible to achieve both goals of maintaining a sustainable agrifood sector and achieving very ambitious carbon reductions. The programme for Government contains a commitment to an annual average 7% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 2030, representing a 51% reduction over the decade. To meet these...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Environmental Policy (24 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I assure the Deputy that engagement is absolutely key and necessary, and that we cannot achieve what we are trying to do here without the engagement from the farmers. The farmers are the environmental experts. They have been watching climate change happening before their eyes. They know better than anyone else what is happening. They have also seen their incomes under threat. It is so...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (24 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I welcome this question. I understand the significance and I acknowledge the importance of these routes to the Deputy's county and to the public he represents. These routes are under consideration and have not been finalised, and this is the right time to raise these concerns. Once funding arrangements have been put in place through the Department of Transport under the Roads Act...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (24 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. He will know the area better than I do. I take his point that there is a serious bottleneck and that Tipperary town needs a bypass. A bypass can, of course, be transformative. I know the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is keen to provide towns with that relief so that they do not have trucks and cars trundling through them and can instead become more vibrant. The Deputy is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (24 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The premises referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (24 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The regulations referred to can be found in S.I. No. 149 of 2014 - European Union (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2014.Schedule 6 of these Regulations outlines the requirements for distributors of electrical and electronic equipment to display  a notice in accordance with the provisions of regulation 30(3), regarding end of life products. The EPA leads...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (24 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.187  and  188  together. The premises referred to in the Questions are located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as...

Seanad: Public Service Pay Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Senators have come all of this way so I believe I should say a quick few words. I thank all Members, both in the Dáil and in the Seanad, for helping this Bill to progress and to pass today. I particularly thank the Opposition for taking a co-operative approach. This Bill does not affect the conduct of industrial relations, nor does it place any...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (29 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention. I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (29 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, launched last September, sets out a clear roadmap for the introduction of a Deposit and Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and aluminium cans in the third quarter of 2022. This process began with the launch of a public consultation on the design of a DRS for Ireland in October 2020. A second consultation seeking views on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (29 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together. While waste management planning, including with regard to infrastructure provision such as civic amenity sites, is the responsibility of local authorities under Part II of the Waste Management Act, 1996 (as amended), the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, which was launched by Minister Ryan in September 2020, contains a commitment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (29 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The premises referred to in the question is located in the BLUE area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State Intervention Area covered by the NBP  as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (29 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: In May 2020, ComReg issued a decision whereby eir was no longer required to publish a printed telephone directory.Eir had previously been designated by ComReg to do so under the Universal Service Regulations, 2011 (Electronic Communications). The designation required eir to provide printed directories on demand rather than mass printing and production. This obligation ceased on 31...