Results 2,901-2,920 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputy Mairéad Farrell for introducing what is her first piece of legislation. I hope it is the first of many. I also thank all the other Deputies who contributed to the debate. The Bill before us provides for the amendment of six sections of the 27 sections of the Act. They are section 5 on the meaning of carrying on lobbying activities, section 11 on the details to be...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Transport Infrastructure Provision (18 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the House for inviting me to speak here for the first time. I am impressed by the passion and coherence of the question the Senator put forward. The Government is committed to a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland. We believe that to deliver on this commitment, we need a whole-of-system perspective for all modes of transport, whether active travel, bus or rail....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Transport Infrastructure Provision (18 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: As I said, it is whole-of-system approach. The route in the south west is not fixed. It is not decided yet. It is not even decided whether it will go south west. The south east is also being considered in a feasibility study as are other sections around the city. All the different proposals that are made for where we should expand our rail network will have to be prioritised according to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Procurement Contracts (18 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: The Senator acknowledged there are legal and regulatory hurdles to what we are trying to do here but I share his enthusiasm for what he is trying to achieve. Public procurement in Ireland is governed by EU and national law, and national guidelines. The EU treaty principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination, transparency, mutual recognition, proportionality, free movement of goods...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Procurement Contracts (18 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: In 2017 the Office of Government Procurement, OGP, prepared an information note about how to deal with Brexit and what was ahead. It has updated that every year since then and is about to produce the latest version. Obviously events are changing very quickly and it is a huge challenge. We also have the Brexit funds coming in from Europe and there will be more news about that shortly. On...

River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020. Its purpose is to establish a River Shannon management agency on a statutory basis within the OPW with overall responsibility for the assessment and management of flood risk and flood defences along the River Shannon. I can sense the sincere passion in the voices of those who have spoken on this...

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I welcome this debate and I am glad to hear the contributions of my colleagues on this topic. As the Minister of State with responsibility for eGovernment, I am keen to see as many public services put online as possible, not least because people expect it. People are now used to conducting their commercial and social lives online, and there is no reason that the Government should not...

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2020)

Ossian Smyth: As Deputy Howlin has said, this budget is in the context of twin challenges to our economy, the enormity of which we have not seen before, namely, the pandemic and the challenge of a Brexit that may lead to the UK attempting to trade with the EU on WTO terms. This budget represents the biggest investment in the history of our State. It is coming at a time when we need it most to protect...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: As the Deputy notes, the Minister of State has visited Limerick city and other areas where flooding has occurred. I thank him for raising the question of the status of flood relief schemes in Limerick city and its environs, including Coonagh, King's Island and Castleconnell. As the Deputy knows, the Minister of State is very familiar with the areas in question. On 15 September, in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I apologise as I am replying on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, who has good reasons for not being here. I am really not qualified to answer the Deputy's question so I will need to revert to him directly if that is all right.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Reform Review (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: The plan is that the strategy will be updated in quarter 1 of next year.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, has informed me that he has personally visited all of the areas that suffered from flooding and he would like to thank the Deputy for raising this issue. A steering group, comprising of representatives from the Office of Public Works and Kerry County Council, is already in place to progress a number of schemes in County Kerry, including the Kenmare...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: On the appointment of consultants by tender, it is scheduled to issue a request for tenders to the engineering and environmental framework in October, with the appointment of a consultant in the first quarter of 2021. On the completion of the Kenmare flood relief scheme, following the appointment of a consultant in early 2021, the programme for delivering a flood relief scheme for Kenmare...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: The programme for Government provided for a pilot programme of station reopenings throughout the country, including Bawnboy Garda station. The OPW undertook technical surveys on the building and issued a report to Garda estate management on the works required, the indicative costs involved and a proposed layout. The deliberative process between An Garda Síochána and the OPW to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: One of the problems faced in this project was obtaining approval, due to universal access requirements for building compliance, which, as the Deputy will understand, is necessary. There was also a question about whether these stations should have married quarters attached to them when operational, and An Garda Síochána has yet to decide whether such accommodation is to be part of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I appreciate the Deputy's concerns about security, particularly around the Border area. Six stations were identified for reopening as part of the pilot programme, four of which have thus far reopened, with Bawnboy and Leighlinbridge the two that remain. There has been progress on this but I appreciate the Deputy's point on the concerns of local people about having community policing in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy has asked who the stakeholders are. The OPW has had meetings with the NDFA, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice and Equality, which is funding the project on a regular basis to progress it as part of a PPP. Other agencies are involved as well. There were long negotiations with Cork County Council regarding the shared access road. Irish Water has concerns...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: An Garda Síochána has not yet signed off on the design. The project cannot be sent for planning permission until An Garda Síochána signs off on it. The Deputy asked about the form of planning application, who will lodge it and whether we will use a traditional planning application or a fast-track process. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, to contact...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I will answer the Deputy's question about Macroom Garda station on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, who cannot be here in the Chamber. Since the Garda Commissioner’s announcement of a major reorganisation of An Garda Síochána’s structures and the decision to change the new Macroom station from a district station to a regional and divisional...

Expenditure Response to Covid-19 Crisis: Statements (Resumed) (17 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I thank all the Deputies who made constructive comments and suggestions about public expenditure during this debate. It has obviously been a very difficult year. Deputy Naughten suggested that An Post should be able to deliver public services in the same way that it delivers its traditional services, which is a position that I think everybody supports. An Post and its workers shone during...