Results 761-780 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Energy Policy (3 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The position of successive Governments for almost 20 years has been that competitive energy markets result in greater choice for consumers and businesses in terms of suppliers, products and prices, support competition and drive down prices. Operating within an overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of electricity and gas markets is solely a matter for the Commission for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Energy Policy (3 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. As he rightly stated, I have not previously heard the statements he put forward today and they are not in documents I received before this, but I will try to address them. On procurement, the Deputy raises a question about whether additional energy generation capacity was correctly procured. There is the possibility under European and Irish law to procure things in...

Credit Union (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: On behalf of the Government, I thank all Deputies for an engaging discussion on the issue of strengthening the credit union sector. It is clear that there is agreement on the importance of the credit union sector and the vital role it plays in providing much-needed funding to local communities. The role is even more important given the impending withdrawal of Ulster Bank and KBC Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Nov 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: Cybersecurity Policy (2 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCoE) was established by NATO member states to develop and enhance capabilities to counter cyber threats. The Centre is based in Tallinn, Estonia. The Centre is staffed and financed by its participating states which include both NATO members and non-NATO members including Austria, Finland, Sweden and Ireland. The Centre does...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (2 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I take it that the question refers to a consent system for peat extraction. Commercial peat extraction is subject to a dual consent process requiring planning permission and, for sites over 50 hectares, an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). There has been a history of widespread non-compliance with this dual consent process, with many...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Question refers to an area located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on 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 network but cannot get a connection to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (2 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 148 and 164 together. Directive 2014/61/EU (‘the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive’) on measures to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks requires operators of communications, district heating, electricity including public lighting, gas, transport and waste water networks to negotiate agreements...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Nov 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 network but...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Nov 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. National Broadband Ireland has advised that the premises referred in the Question can...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Nov 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 network but...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (2 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: At a recent hearing of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks, NBI advised the Committee that it is currently engaging with the market in relation to this matter through a procurement process which is ongoing. I am advised that if suitable solutions are identified through this process, they would be provided by third party licensed operators but would be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Nov 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 some 699 schools. There are over 32,000...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together. The Questions refer to 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together. The Questions refer to premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Nov 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 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 network but cannot get a connection...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Grid (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Yes. I am the Minister of State with responsibility for the Environment, Climate and Communications. I have delegated authority from the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to be here to answer questions. I have represented my-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Grid (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, has statutory responsibility to monitor and take measures necessary to ensure the security of electricity supply in Ireland. The CRU has advised it has identified specific challenges to ensuring continued security of electricity supply. These challenges include lower than expected availability of some existing power stations, anticipated new...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Grid (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: A number of actions were recommended by the CRU, and each of those has been accepted by the Government and addressed. Providing emergency generation is just one of them, but more important than that was getting two other gas-fired power stations back online and ensuring everything recommended by the CRU was done. I met with the CRU during the summer and its position was this was a serious...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Grid (4 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: If Deputy O'Rourke has specific allegations or information given to him which he believes shows some kind of wrongdoing on the part of the ESB or EirGrid, I am happy to investigate that. However, if it just a vague feeling, suggestion or rumour that something untoward happened, there is not much I can do to advance that. Yesterday, Deputy Cowen presented and said he felt something that was...