Results 1,181-1,200 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (15 Feb 2022)

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. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network...

National Retrofitting Scheme: Statements (17 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I welcome the statements made today by Members of the House. The changes announced by Government last week represent the most significant reform of the SEAI schemes since their establishment. However, these supports are just part of our overall national retrofit plan and I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some other aspects. As mentioned by the Minister for the Environment,...

Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Minister has asked me to thank Members for an informed and thoughtful discussion. He is grateful for the broad support the Bill has received. While he expects there will be some areas where we will have to agree to disagree, he also thinks there are opportunities here for all of us to work together to make this Bill as good as it can be. Before I respond on his behalf to some of the...

Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Referral to Select Committee (17 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

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

Ossian Smyth: It is important that I put everything on the record as well having a chat. I thank Senator Davitt very much for raising this issue and giving me a timely opportunity to give an update on the Government's support for home 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...

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

Ossian Smyth: The Senator rightly identifies that electricity has a key role to play in decarbonisation. He is right to ask about the refit tariff. This is the money that is paid to people for selling their electricity back to the grid. That process is in train as fast as it can be done. It will be ready within a small number of months. Regarding the deep retrofits, our analysis says that...

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

Ossian Smyth: An Post has offered a one-stop-shop service. Electric Ireland is also doing so. Its service is called Electric Ireland Superhomes. The credit unions will also offer one. They are three trustworthy bodies across Ireland and I expect to see others.

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

Ossian Smyth: I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — 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...

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

Ossian Smyth: The answer to a 50% increase is not a 2% cut.

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

Ossian Smyth: Deputy Doherty said the retrofit scheme is a transfer of money to the rich. I heard that from another Deputy also. I really take issue with this. Our scheme will see an historic amount, €352 million, being spent to make people's homes warmer. That will reach nearly 30,000 families. Of the €352 million, €203 million is being given to families who are either living on...

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

Ossian Smyth: -----and massive increases including in the fuel allowance and the living alone allowance, and so on. He knows that those payments have been introduced. He knows that it is part of a package. He is also aware that carbon tax has to be there. He shows that in the purest way that he can, by retaining it in his party's alternative budget and paying for its programme with carbon tax. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Waste Management Act states that a person may not:- Cause or facilitate the abandonment, dumping or unauthorised management or treatment of waste, or - Hold, transport, recover or dispose of waste, or treat waste, in a manner that causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution. The enforcement of waste legislation is a statutory function of local authorities.  Under section...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (22 Feb 2022)

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 close to a fibre...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (22 Feb 2022)

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 554,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools. I am advised by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (22 Feb 2022)

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 (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth:  The Circular Economy Bill 2022 aims to support Ireland’s transition to a circular economy by providing the necessary legislative basis for several key measures including the Circular Economy Strategy; the Circular Economy Programme; the National Food Loss Prevention Roadmap; and the Circular Economy Fund. As Minister of State for the Environment, Climate and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The purpose of the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS) is to provide support to projects which work in the Circular Economy space, with the aim of advancing the Circular Economy in Ireland and raising awareness of the need to transition to a Circular Economy The successful projects allocated funding under the 2021 funding round of the CEIGS are set out in the table below. All...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI) was introduced  in 2017 to encourage a collaborative approach between local authorities, communities, and other State Agencies to tackling the problem of illegal dumping. Funding of over €12 million has been provided by my Department under the Initiative, which has supported the delivery of over 1,250 projects nationwide. Details of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (22 Feb 2022)

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 554,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools. The NBP roll out is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The National Cyber Security Centre, which is located within my Department, was established in 2011 with a broad remit  across the cyber security of Government ICT and critical national infrastructure. The NCSC has three main roles: national incident response; information sharing; and Building Resilience. The NCSC supports Government Departments and other public bodies to...