Results 2,701-2,720 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I move amendment No. 239: In page 5, to delete line 19 and substitute the following: “amend the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007; to provide for the repeal of certain provisions of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960; to amend the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act 1954 to alter the borrowing powers of the Electricity Supply Board and its subsidiaries; and...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the committee for having me here today. I wish to say sincerely that the committee is doing significant and meaningful work. Believe it or not, I found watching the pre-legislative scrutiny process moving. All of the members have been constructive whatever their position. It is valuable to have people from a rural Ireland perspective, former Ministers and people from different...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The goal of the legislation is to create a process that is not easy to dismantle on a whim, either by the Executive or the Oireachtas. Of course, it is possible to appeal it or amend it. The Oireachtas always retains that power. The Dáil can reject the carbon budget if the Members do not like it. There is going to be public consultation not just on the climate action plan, but also...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (3 Jun 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 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. There are 38,897...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (3 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Department has had no further correspondence with the European Commission since providing a response to the Commission on 7 May 2020 and it is not clear whether in fact there are any formal complaints open at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (3 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I have no function in relation to the regulation of the sale of such products in Ireland. The Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has established, earlier this year, a multi-stakeholder Working Group to examine issues related to the use of peat moss in the Horticulture sector.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Food Waste (2 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The strategy for tackling food waste is set out in the range of comprehensive actions focusing on food waste prevention, redistribution, infrastructure and food waste management contained in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, which was published in September 2020. These include a commitment to halve food waste by 2030. The plan is available at www.gov.ie. In...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: As stated in my reply of 11 May to a Parliamentary Question on this matter, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 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 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. Despite the challenges...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Food Waste (2 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The strategy for tackling food waste is clearly set out in the range of comprehensive actions focusing on food waste prevention, redistribution, infrastructure and food waste management contained in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, which was published in September 2020. These include a commitment to halve food waste by 2030. The plan is available at www.gov.ie. In...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Protection (2 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The issue of privacy, including online privacy, is a matter that concerns all of Government. However, the protection of personal data in terms of legislation and government policy does not fall under the remit of the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications. Rather it is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (1 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy's first question was on whether the 220,000 homes had been passed. No, but they have been surveyed. The number of homes that have been passed and are ready for connection to broadband is 4,000. The first of those was connected this year in Carrigaline. The Deputy asked whether the pandemic had delayed the deployment. The answer is "Yes". The original deployment plans for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (1 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy's first point was about how working from home underlined the need for broadband. It creates greater demand, as people working from home will need more broadband for their video meetings and so on. The Deputy asked whether there were penalty clauses. As I understand it, there are none in the current contract. The Deputy also asked about the Minister's representative on NBI. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Policy (1 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The short answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes". Today's linear economic model, which is based around take-make-waste, is environmentally and economically unsustainable. The programme for Government recognises that Ireland needs to establish a circular economy to help achieve our climate ambitions. As a first step in that process, the Minister launched a new waste action plan for a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Policy (1 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: We are at the public consultation stage. We need budgets and timelines, but we must first establish what our principles are. I agree we need to take a radical look at practices like fast fashion. Since they are cultural, they will be difficult to change. Deputy Bruton has made insightful contributions to the process so far. They are of great use to me. I thank him for putting in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Policy (1 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I assure the Deputy that I am deploying and implementing measures instead of just producing strategies or documents that go on shelves. I am keen to see things happen, knowing that my time as Minister of State is not infinite. Certainly, the idea of removing best before and sticking with use by is a good suggestion, as is the allocation of parts of retail use for people with their own...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (1 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: It will be difficult and disappointing for anybody in year 4 or year 5 who feels an immediate need and is faced with this long gap. The Deputy suggests looking at technologies like satellite or fixed wireless and he is absolutely correct. Those technologies are developing all the time. One of the things about a project like this is that the assumptions made at the start or the environment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (1 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The national broadband plan State-led intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland 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 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms, along with 695 schools. Despite the challenges presented by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Digital Hubs (1 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I do not want to misrepresent Deputy Ó Snodaigh but my understanding is that he is asking why we have to build housing on this particular site when there are plenty of other sites that could be used. He is saying that we should not build it in this place when it could be built in some other place. In fact, it is not an either-or choice. The sites the Deputy mentioned should also be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (1 Jun 2021)

Ossian Smyth: It is indeed no surprise that there are questions on the national broadband scheme. Every Deputy in the House wants to know about the acceleration of broadband provision and when it will come to their area. It is not just an issue for rural areas. Even in urban areas, there are black spots. As I outlined in my reply to Deputy Canney's question, the programme for Government commits...