Results 1,421-1,440 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (1 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022 (‘the Bill’) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract, which was signed on 19 November 2019, to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area (IA) which covers 1.1 million people, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.  The IA has...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Mobile coverage obligations are set out in licences granted by the independent regulator, ComReg, to mobile operators. ComReg advises that the current minimum coverage obligations in those licences are being considerably exceeded by all operators. Capital investment by telecommunications operators over the last 5 years was in the order of €3.3 billion for both fixed and mobile...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 148 together. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that as of 20 May 2022, over 327,600 premises have now been surveyed and over 175,300 premises are under construction or complete across 26 counties, demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. I am further advised that almost 67,700 premises are now available to order or pre-order a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, published in September 2020, sets out a clear roadmap for the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans. The scheme will be launched later this year. My Department has established a Deposit Return Scheme sub-group of the Waste Advisory Group with representatives from the producers, retailers,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 135 together. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that as of 20 May 2022, over 327,600 premises have now been surveyed and over 175,300 premises are under construction or complete across 26 counties, demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. I am further advised that almost 67,700 premises are now available to order or pre-order a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that as of 20 May 2022, over 327,600 premises have now been surveyed and over 175,300 premises are under construction or complete across 26 counties, demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. I am further advised that almost 67,700 premises are now available to order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 23 counties,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: 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 the end of 2026.  The contract contains a comprehensive set of protections and legally binding obligations, as required under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 to 182, inclusive, together.   The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode. Premises in the AMBER area will be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together. 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 almost 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland’s national digital strategy contains goals for the digital transformation of our economy and society which align closely with that of the European Union’s Digital Decade. Specifically, the targets for digital connectivity include that all Irish households and business will be covered by a Gigabit network by 2028 and all populated areas covered by 5G by 2030.   ...

Seanad: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I wish Senators a good afternoon. Today's throwaway take-make-waste culture is neither economically or environmentally sustainable. A circular economy would produce less waste and retain more value in our economy for longer. What does the circular economy mean in practice? It is easy to say we want a less wasteful economy but what steps do we need to take to make the transition from a...

Seanad: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Senators. I will not do justice to their contributions in the seven minutes allocated to me. I will have more time on Committee Stage to discuss issues, and I can also discuss them in the meantime with Senators. I welcome the general tone of the contributions from everybody. They were very constructive. People were genuinely trying to think of ways to make the Bill better....

Energy Security: Motion [Private Members] (15 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: notes that: - the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future sets out a clear pathway towards less reliance on fossil fuels across every sector of our society, and it specifically contains a commitment to end the issuing of new licences for the exploration and extraction of gas on...

Annual Transition Statement: Statements (15 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am pleased to have the opportunity to update the House on this matter. Climate change is one of the key challenges of this century and failure to address it effectively will result in major adverse impacts that will affect all countries. The latest climate science has observed unprecedented changes in the climate system. I am pleased to present this annual transition statement as...

Annual Transition Statement: Statements (15 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Ceann Comhairle and all of the Members for their contributions to this debate. I will address some of the points raised, starting with Deputy O’Rourke who is the last survivor in the Chamber. The Deputy said he wanted to see this debate done on a non-party political basis and some other Deputies also raised that issue. The Deputy's contribution was very constructive and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Construction Industry (16 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: As Minister of State responsible for public procurement, I will be taking this question. The public works contract was introduced in 2007 in response to significant cost overruns on public infrastructure projects and must be used for projects that are delivered under the Exchequer-funded element of the national development plan. Contracting authorities are expected to ensure projects are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Construction Industry (16 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Two major changes have been made to counter the new problem of inflation that has arisen as a result of the Ukraine war. First, the contract template is meant to take inflation into account. That is not just the consumer price index, CPI, but the sub-indices of inflation that apply to that contract. If there is a particular material involved, such as concrete or wood, that sub-index will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Construction Industry (16 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: We have a collaborative system of working with the construction companies and their representative bodies. We want to avoid an adversarial situation; that does not work for anybody. We cannot end up in court or in disputes. With that in mind, I meet representatives of the Construction Industry Federation every quarter and I am in regular contact with people such as Sean Downey in order...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Earcaíocht san Earnáil Phoiblí (16 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Ba mhaith liom Ceisteanna Uimh. 103 and 123 a fhreagairt le chéile. Mar is eol don Teachta, tá spriocanna nua earcaíochta in Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2021. Chun na spriocanna seo a bhaint amach, tá ar gach Roinn sa Rialtas comhoibriú le chéile. This is against a backdrop, in line with the July 2019 audit findings of an Coimisinéir...