Results 2,101-2,120 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The short answer is "No". We are not excluded from any of them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Ossian Smyth: As I understand it, the idea is a state agency would have to allocate a certain percentage of its ICT budget to cybersecurity. This is similar to the rule whereby NATO countries have to put 2% of their budget into defence. It is being promoted by Estonia, which sought and supported it when I visited, and it also supports the NATO approach. The downside is that it is an input measure, which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Yesterday's announcement of the baseline security standards is a first step. After that, there will be a compliance framework to ensure all the public sector bodies comply with those rules and meet all those standards. Cybersecurity is not an optional area to invest in for any public sector body or something that is just nice to have. It is critical that every public sector body protect...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the committee for taking an interest in this. I am dealing with my European counterparts at a ministers' Council meeting. I also met digital ministers in Luxembourg last month and travelled to Estonia to meet people from outside the EU. While it is important we work closely with our European partners, we need also to co-operate with countries outside the EU that share our values....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Regarding the novel approaches, I am talking about novel platforms for information sharing, such as the joint cyber unit, JCU, and so on. As for whether there are any areas we are excluded from, was the Deputy referring to those at a military level?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Vice Chairman asked about the minimum investment in cybersecurity of ICT budgets throughout the EU.

Seanad: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I very much thank Members for their contributions and for passionately making the case for projects in their areas. I welcome all their contributions and Senators' ongoing engagement with the revised national development plan. Some important issues were raised. I welcome the opportunity to clarify and elaborate on these in particular. Now that the NDP has been published, this is a critical...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (30 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 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 Department defines high speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution (30 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The annual 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. Details of funding, broken down by local authority and individual project, for each of the years 2017 - 2020 are available at the link below....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I am here to answer on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Rabbitte. The Government decided to close the motorised transport grant and mobility allowance administrative grant schemes in 2013. That was on foot of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The work we all do in speaking to constituents and members of the public who suffer as a result of their situation or policies is vitally important. I accept that one can understand an issue better after speaking to a 34-year-old man with motor neurone disease who lives in Bandon than from just reading a report. I closely work with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and I will convey...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I am answering questions on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, who is appearing before a committee. She sends her apologies. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the issue of additional beds in Galway university hospitals, GUH, raised by Senator Kyne. While additional beds are an important part of the solution to emergency department overcrowding and waiting...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The safety net arrangements are being used to utilise capacity within the private hospitals in Galway and a number of other beds are in train for next year. The health service capacity review was clear on the need for major investment in additional capacity in acute and community hospitals combined with a widescale reform of the manner and location of where health services were provided....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Senator Keogan for raising this important issue and for the opportunity to give an update on Government action to lower the average waiting times for applicants to the better energy warmer homes scheme. The programme for Government and the climate action plan have set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a building energy rating of B2, cost optimal or carbon equivalent and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I will take the Senator's proposal with regard to reducing VAT rates to the Minister, Deputy Ryan. The Senator will know that there are two parts to the major retrofit scheme, the better energy warmer homes scheme, which is free, and a further scheme for people who are owner-occupiers and outside of that. To help people to afford it, there are two parts to that, one of which is a grants...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Schemes (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley. I thank the Senator for raising this issue about DEIS schools. Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools is the main policy initiative of this Government to tackle educational disadvantage at school level. Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18 million for 2022 and €32 million for 2023 to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Schemes (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator. Her question is about timelines. She asked when the model is going to be ready and when additional schools are going to be added. I would need to ask the Minister, Deputy Foley, for her response to that and I can come back to the Senator through my office if she contacts my office directly. I have no problem with that. As she has seen, there has been a huge increase...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (25 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 554,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 699 schools. I am advised by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: We are exploring the background to this case for our own purposes.  The issue involves 2 poles in private land (wayleave permission granted) deemed by NBI not to require S.254 licences, i.e. it is exempt development.  Exploring the validity of that view with external experts. 

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (25 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: My officials have advised that the Department has received one enquiry from a member of the public and two enquiries from members of this House in the last 3 months requesting an update on measures to support persons with long-term incontinence with respect to the disposal of medical incontinence wear; the matter has also been the subject of five Parliamentary...