Results 1,561-1,580 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Recycling Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Indeed, at the invitation of Deputy Niamh Smyth I went up and had a look at Shabra plastics in Monaghan, one of many visits I have made to Monaghan. I could see it is importing plastic from all around the world and meanwhile Irish plastic is being exported all around the world in contravention of the proximity principle. The question is how do we address this. We are not waiting for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Recycling Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The unrecycled plastic tax on packaging waste is calculated by finding the quantity of plastic packaging put on the market and then subtracting out the quantity that was recycled. I will get the Deputy an answer for who the authorities are who calculate those statistics. If it is not my Department it is probably the Environmental Protection Agency, the Central Statistics Office or somebody....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (20 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 104 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 over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (20 Sep 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 over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.I am advised by National...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (20 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I have no role or statutory function in the matter raised by the Deputy. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is charged under statute with the promotion of the interest of users of electronic communications services, and in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(d) of the EU Framework Regulations with addressing the needs of specific social groups, including the elderly in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (20 Sep 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 over 560,000 premises, including over 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools. I am advised by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (20 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The NBP network that is being built by National Broadband Ireland will ensure that all of those living and working within the NBP intervention area will have access to a future proofed high-speed broadband network. Deployment of the network is now ongoing in every county in Ireland with the build programme reaching scale. Connectivity will continue to be available from a variety of operators...

Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (21 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, line 11, after “funds;” to insert the following: “to provide that the Minister for Finance may make a payment out of the Central Fund to the Central Bank of Ireland in respect of certain transactions;”. As the two amendments being discussed today concern the same issue and as they have a single objective, both will be dealt...

Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (21 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Opposition for its support for the amendments. I have no wish ever to confuse the House or speak in any way that is not clear. Sometimes, however, it is important that I put the exact wording on the record. By way of explanation, what we are talking about here is a 1996 initiative by the World Bank and the IMF called the HIPC initiative, the purpose of which is to provide...

Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (21 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I just want to make sure I have not said the wrong thing. Deputy O'Reilly asked about the purpose of the administration accounts for Sudan and Somalia. They were established for the purpose of clearing the arrears both countries had to the IMF. Ireland did not lend the money directly. The IMF did but Ireland has its share of the IMF fund.

Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (21 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: "Payment to Central Bank in respect of certain transactions 7. (1) The Minister may make a payment out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof to the Central Bank of an amount not exceeding €6,600,000, being the amount that was payable to the Central Bank in respect of the State's share...

Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (21 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Yes.

Seanad: Budget 2023 (Public Expenditure and Reform): Statements (27 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am pleased to have the opportunity to appear before the Seanad to contribute to the debate on budget 2023, which the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform presented to the Dáil just a few hours ago. Budget 2023 is first and foremost a cost-of-living budget. The Government is delivering a budget against an extraordinary backdrop of uncertainty and challenge. We know that many of...

Seanad: Budget 2023 (Public Expenditure and Reform): Statements (27 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: In part, this budget is a response to the war in Ukraine, as a consequence of which Russia has put us under pressure.Russia has increased the cost of our imported fuel while it has in some cases simply turned off the supply of gas to Europe in an attempt to put pressure on European citizens, divide us, make people unhappy, polarised, turn against each other, abandon Ukraine and say that maybe...

Seanad: Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (29 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and join him in welcoming the secondary school students. They have picked probably the worst time to come to the House because this is probably the most complex legislation I have had to bring in. It is a law that allows rich countries to lend money to poor countries that are in trouble and also allows us to forgive the debts of Sudan and Somalia, which got...

Seanad: Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (29 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Bill was published on 11 March and passed Final Stage in Dáil Éireann on 21 September. In the Dáil, there were two Government amendments to the Bill, which were unopposed and related to a technical matter concerning previous contributions to IMF trust funds. On 30 September 2021, the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach...

Seanad: Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (29 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senators for their thoughtful contributions, from both Government and Opposition benches. It is important to recall the challenging context in which many countries currently find themselves. The global economy and international trade have been tested by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. These events have required a substantial response by governments and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (29 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Section 29 of the Circular Economy Act 2022 provides for the introduction of a recovery levy, in line with the commitment set out in the Waste Action Plan for A Circular Economy, published in September 2020. My officials are now working on the development of supporting secondary legislation to allow for the introduction of the levy in early 2023. The final amount of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (29 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Waste Action Plan for A Circular Economy (WAPCE) sets out a commitment to 'analyse the impact of the landfill levy exemption for bio-waste and whether it should be removed’. A working group has recently been established to progress this matter and will complete its work in Q1 2023. There is currently no plan to review other landfill levy exemptions.

Seanad: Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I will begin on the broader issue of IMF lending and policy conditionality as both of Senator Higgins's amendments related to that. Conditionality has always been an integral part of IMF lending. Under its articles of agreement, the IMF is required to establish adequate safeguards for the use of its resources in order to ensure that loans to member countries are repaid as they fall due....