Results 2,141-2,160 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (16 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The interim procurement reform board was appointed by the then Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in May 2017 to provide oversight of 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. The board meets quarterly and presents an annual...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (16 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Government has a huge capital investment programme and the OGP oversees roughly €16 billion in expenditure on goods and services. The idea of that is to centralise that spend to achieve three main objectives, namely, value for money, quality and transparency. Added to that, in looking at strategic procurements, we seek social conditions and green procurement. The Deputy asked...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (16 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Data collection is essential and I am glad the Deputy will, I believe, support the forthcoming planning and procurement Bill, which I hope will achieve cross-party support along with social conditions and green public procurement. As for her own Bill, I am happy to engage with her and see what she is trying to achieve. I am absolutely committed to open data and transparency, which will help...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (16 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together. The NBP contract address NBI’s funding arrangements and set out that all funding commitments had to be in place for the NBP contract to come into effect. Total funds committed to the Project from Metallah Limited equate to €223m. This committed funding by Metallah Limited is in the form of Shareholder Loans to NBI and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (16 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 over 554,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. In July 2019, in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (16 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 to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (16 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: Illegal Dumping (16 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: National Broadband Plan (16 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...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Appointments to State Boards (11 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Chair for inviting me to address this Commencement matter. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 sets out the process for appointing members to the Climate Change Advisory Council and the qualifications and experience that members must have. The four appointments made in October followed these requirements scrupulously, and I am fully confident that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Appointments to State Boards (11 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator. As I have explained, the proper process was followed in making these appointments. This has ensured that an exceptional group of members has been appointed to the council to allow it to fulfil its crucial functions. That process is outlined in the climate legislation passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas earlier this year. I believe it was the most important...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (11 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: Legislation relating to Planning and Development is a matter for the Minister for Housing. Local Government and Heritage.     I assume that the Deputy is referring to Circular Letter PL 07/2021 issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 18 August 2021. The purpose of that circular was to bring to the attention of all Local Authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (11 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy sets out a clear roadmap for the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and aluminium cans in the third quarter of 2022. The legislative framework for the scheme will be put in place shortly. The scheme will look to recover only its operational costs by way of fees and will operate on a not for profit basis. 

Rising Costs and Supply Security for Fuel and Energy: Motion [Private Members] (10 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “notes: — the increase in energy costs and their impact on households and businesses; — that the increases in wholesale and retail energy prices in Ireland and across Europe are predominantly related to international wholesale gas prices; —...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (10 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. This issue was the subject of discussion last week during a Topical Issue debate and I welcome the opportunity to debate it again. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications published a notice of intention to grant two mineral prospecting licences in north Leitrim in local newspapers on 7 October 2021. Submissions on these...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (10 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: We should be aware that there are 432 active prospecting licences which cover about 21% of the country's land area. It means that 432 teams are actively prospecting, in many cases for gold, in different places all over the country. Some of those sites are within the Deputy's constituency in Sligo. It is this particular instance in Leitrim that has drawn considerable attention, not just...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (10 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 64 together. The compliance scheme for tyres and waste tyres was introduced in 2017 and is operated by Repak ELT. Under the scheme, any tyres which have incurred the visible environmental charge (vEMC)  are collected free of charge by Repak Elt through registered waste collectors.   I understand Repak Elt has no records of tyres...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (10 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I refer to the reply to Question No. 60 of 9 September 2021. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Sector Staff (9 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: A competition for the post of Director of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was held in 2020. The job specification for that competition was sent to the Public Appointments Service (PAS) 6 August 2020 and the position was advertised by them on 18 September 2020. No candidate was appointed from this competition. A new competition at the level of Civil Service Deputy Secretary...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (9 Nov 2021)

Ossian Smyth: In December 2016 my Department issued a competitive Call for Proposals inviting community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations to apply for a grant to deliver basic digital skills training under the new ‘Digital Skills for Citizens Grant Scheme’. In responding to the Department’s call for proposals, it was a matter for each entity to determine the number of...