Results 561-580 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Digital Hubs (27 Jul 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The board of the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) will have an important role in giving effect to the Government Decision to dissolve the DHDA and to transfer the properties to the Land Development Agency (LDA). It is expected that the orderly wind down of the DHDA could be completed by mid-2022 and the wind down will address, inter alia, the needs of the staff of the DHDA, client...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Jul 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Following the completion of the Capacity Review, the Government has agreed to a range of important measures including:An increase in the staffing complement of the NCSC from 25 to 45 staff over the next 18 months, and to 70 within 5 years; - the re-advertisement of the role of Director of the NCSC at a salary of €184,000 (Deputy Secretary level) to reflect the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (27 Jul 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 140 and 141 together. Despite the unprecedented challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, National Broadband Ireland has made steady progress on delivery of the new high speed fibre broadband network under the National Broadband Plan. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that as of 21 July over 236,000 premises have been surveyed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (27 Jul 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 143 and 144 together. The NBP Contract allows National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to explore alternative technologies if they are deemed necessary to assist delivery of the contract requirements. In doing so NBI must ensure that any alternative technologies utilised do not negatively impact on having a reliable and robust network available for all...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (27 Jul 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Despite the unprecedented challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, National Broadband Ireland has made steady progress on delivery of the new high speed fibre broadband network under the National Broadband Plan. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that as of 21 July over 236,000 premises have been surveyed across all counties. Main Fibre Build works are underway in 25 Deployment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (27 Jul 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Local authorities are responsible for municipal waste collection within their functional areas. The obligations on local authorities in relation to collecting household waste are set out in section 33 of the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended. In summary, it provides that each local authority shall collect, or arrange for the collection of, household...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Jul 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has a broad remit across the cyber security of Government ICT and critical national infrastructure. The Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) is the key cyber security response entity within the NCSC. The CSIRT acts as a central contact point in the event of a government or nation-wide cyber security incident affecting...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (9 Sep 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: Telecommunications Services (9 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The telecommunications market is regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, including in relation to operational issues such as detecting or monitoring scam calls.  I understand that scam call numbers can resemble normal, familiar geographical or international numbers encountered on a daily basis, and the Regulator has published information for consumers in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (9 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. I am advised by NBI that,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (9 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The telecommunications market is regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, including in relation to operational issues such as detecting or monitoring scam calls.  While I understand that it is not possible to identify scam call numbers in advance, which can resemble normal, familiar geographical or international numbers encountered on a daily basis, the Regulator has...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (9 Sep 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: National Broadband Plan (9 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network and currently include primary schools, community centres, sports centres and agricultural marts. To date most of that activity has focussed on community halls, sports centres and schools. While schools are now...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (9 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network and currently include primary schools, community centres, sports centres and agricultural marts. To date most of that activity has focussed on community halls, sports centres and schools. My Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (9 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: As I outlined in my response to Question Number 202 of 13 July last, the National Broadband Plan (NBP) contract with National Broadband Ireland (NBI) contains a number of targets and milestones to be completed by NBI in order to deliver the rollout of high-speed broadband services to all premises in the Intervention Area by 2026.  NBI is only entitled to claim the payment of relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Government Communications (9 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The National Cyber Security Centre does not comment on operational matters relating to the security of Government Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The security of the ICT systems of Government Departments is the responsibility of individual Departments.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Government Communications (9 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Department has no knowledge of the Minister’s phone being compromised or of any attempt at compromising the phone.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Communications (9 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Officials in my Department currently use or have used in the past 18 months the software referred to in the Deputies question for official internal communications. I can confirm that accounts with both services were created on my behalf, to facilitate Green Party rather than Departmental business. The use of one of the specified services pre-dates my appointment as Minister, and I have not...

Freedom of Information: Motion [Private Members] (15 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank all of the Members who have contributed to this debate this evening. It has highlighted the timeliness of the review of FOI legislation my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, began in June 2021. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will undertake a comprehensive and careful review of the Freedom of Information Act. The approach to this review is being...

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

Ossian Smyth: While regulation of the scrap metal industry is not a matter within the remit of my Department, the regulation of waste activities is, of course, relevant to the industry. In order to improve traceability of waste received and to counter the trade in stolen metal, an amendment to the Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations was introduced in 2014 to require the...