Results 1,441-1,460 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

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

Ossian Smyth: Mar is eol don Teachta, tá deacrachtaí againn daoine a aimsiú a bhfuil Gaeilge líofa acu. I accept we are not at 20% yet. We are still at the initial stages. The Minister, Deputy Martin, is setting up that committee. My Department will collaborate with her and we will do everything we can to meet what has recently been agreed in the Official Languages (Amendment) Act....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (14 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the National Broadband Plan providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. My Department has prioritised primary schools with no high speed broadband and continues to work with the Department of Education in this regard. Government and NBI have agreed to accelerate the rollout...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Sector (14 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Providing electronic communication services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent regulator.While I have no function or statutory authority to influence the prices set, or packages offered by providers of electronic communications services, including television...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (14 Jun 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 am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 3 June...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (14 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, published in September 2020, contains a number of specific measures to support the expansion of the brown bin service to all households in the State including making the provision of an organic waste bin mandatory as part of a waste collection service for all households. Officials have commenced the process of engaging with the key...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (16 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 156, 157, 158 and 159 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (16 Jun 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 am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 10 June 2022,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Generation (21 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator for asking these important questions about offshore wind policy and how it affects the whole country, including her area, Mayo. Ireland has one of the best offshore renewable energy resources in the world. We have a sea area of 490,000 sq. km, which is about seven times the size of our land area. Because of Ireland's location at the edge of the Atlantic and the EU, we...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Generation (21 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: As the Senator pointed out, the west has more wind. It has faster speeds and more regular wind and, therefore, there is more to be harvested. However, it also has deeper waters and a more environmentally sensitive coastline. There are, for example, the Cliffs of Moher and many beauty spots along the west. It is, therefore, harder to develop wind there using the conventional approach,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (21 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Question refers to areas 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 am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 10 June 2022,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (21 Jun 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 almost 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools. I am advised by NBI...

Seanad: Annual Transition Statement: Statements (22 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Cathaoirleach for inviting me to this session to present the 2020 Annual Transition Statement. I am pleased to have the opportunity today 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...

Seanad: Annual Transition Statement: Statements (22 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: For which I thank the Acting Chairperson.

Seanad: Annual Transition Statement: Statements (22 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Senator should not feel bad.

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (28 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Having regard to the unprecedented pressures on the energy sector, I am pleased to have the opportunity to commend the Bill to the House. I will open the debate by setting the context for the actions to be taken on foot of the Bill. Although many Members will be familiar with these issues, it is important to take this opportunity to set...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (28 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank all the Deputies for their insightful comments on this emergency legislation. It is, indeed, emergency legislation. We are trying to address an immediate problem, the security of electricity supply, and to get more credit to people's electricity accounts for the coming winter. It is vital we deliver this legislation to enable these priorities. I appreciate the Deputies’...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Infrastructure (28 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Senator Keogan for raising this important matter. The national energy security framework published in April 2022 provided a single overarching and initial response to address Ireland’s energy security needs in the context of the war in Ukraine. It co-ordinates work connected to energy security across the electricity, gas and oil sectors and sets out a whole-of-government...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Infrastructure (28 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I fully agree that we need to accelerate our deployment of renewable energy, and with the Ukraine war, suddenly there has been a new focus whereby other countries in Europe have said they need to accelerate theirs as well. The Council of the European Union sat down and decided we needed to bring in a new package, known as RePower EU, that will involve greater ambition on the level of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (28 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together. 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...

Seanad: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: During the Second Stage debate, I mentioned that I intended to amend the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 to allow the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to consider applications for integrated pollution control and industrial emissions licences that are subject to the provisions of section 181 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and that I intended to address that issue by...