Results 2,121-2,140 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution (24 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: My Department published the General Scheme of the Circular Economy Bill 2021 on 15 June 2021. It is my intention under the Bill to facilitate not only the use of CCTV, but also the use of a broad range of Audio Visual Recording (AVR) equipment in order to assist local authorities in their efforts to combat litter and illegal dumping. Drafting of the Bill is well advanced, as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (24 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Question refers to premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available at 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 so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to...

Climate Action Plan 2021: Statements (23 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the climate action plan. We should take these opportunities to the maximum whenever we can. The recently published report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, as part of its sixth assessment, sets out the most up-to-date physical science basis for our understanding of climate change. The report confirms, among other things, that we...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (23 Nov 2021)

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 at 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 so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (23 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: As set out in the recently published Climate Action Plan, the public sector has been set ambitious 2030 targets of 50% energy efficiency improvement (increased from 33% by 2020) and 51% emissions reduction. To support the achievement of these targets, my Department provides a range of supports via the SEAI which includes:  - the SEAI Energy Academy which provides online training...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (23 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The National Broadband Plan contract provides that the contingency funding element of the NBP subsidy can only be drawn down in 14 specific circumstances, where National Broadband Ireland (NBI) can demonstrate that additional, unanticipated costs have been proven to have occurred relevant to these specific circumstances. It would not be in the public interest for the Department to disclose...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (23 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together. The Question refers to premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available at 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (23 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway. Given...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Local Authorities (18 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: My Department published the General Scheme of the Circular Economy Bill 2021 on 15 June 2021. It is my intention under the Bill to facilitate not only the use of CCTV, but also the use of a broad range of Audio Visual Recording (AVR) equipment in order to assist local authorities in their efforts to combat litter and illegal dumping. Drafting of the Bill is well advanced, as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (18 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, published in September 2020, contains some 200 measures which will be delivered on a phased basis over the 5 year lifetime of the Plan, including a number of specific measures to address the need to improve our waste segregation and recycling practices, such as standardising the colour coding of bins across...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (18 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 NBI...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (18 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: National Broadband Ireland (NBI) has not applied for or drawn down any contingency subsidy in respect of encroachment by another operator in the Intervention Area.The Department has engaged extensively with industry since 2013 through multiple public consultations to determine as accurately as possible where commercial operators have existing high speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (18 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. My Department has now prioritised primary schools with no high speed broadband and continues to work with the Department of Education in this regard. An acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan will see...

National Standards Authority of Ireland (Carbon Footprint Labelling) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: “(a) Dáil Éireann resolves that the National Standards Authority of Ireland (Carbon Footprint Labelling) Bill 2021 be deemed to be read a second time this day twelve months, to allow for further consideration and analysis, including a Regulatory Impact Assessment, of how...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Horticulture Sector (17 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I have no function in relation to the development of the horticultural sector nor the sourcing of peat for that sector.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (17 Nov 2021)

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 at 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 so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (17 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 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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (16 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The interim procurement reform board was appointed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in May 2017 to provide oversight to the delivery of the procurement reform programme, advise the Government on national public procurement strategy and advise on the objectives and business plans of the Office of Government Procurement, OGP. The board meets quarterly and presents an annual...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (16 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: One of the best ways in which procurement can be strengthened is through training. The Office of Government Procurement has a skills academy where it trains and teaches staff responsible for purchasing across government how to procure successfully. It is important that we have a good e-tenders platform. The platform is being replaced and a new tender has been placed to get a new software...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (16 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The e-tenders system has been in place for a long time and requires to be updated. We asked bidders and suppliers what they would like the tendering system to do differently and we have determined that we need a new tendering system. It will be the best we can get. We are being careful and this is not being tendered for on the existing e-tenders system so there is no advantage to the...