Results 721-740 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The better energy, warmer homes scheme delivers a range of energy-efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households that are vulnerable to energy poverty and it is a top priority for me. The scheme is very popular. Some 20,000 applications were received over the period from January 2022 to the end of August 2023. The scheme is delivering deeper and more complex upgrades in recent...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I agree that we need to go further. This history of this scheme is that there was a time not that long ago when it was difficult for the SEAI to get sufficient applications and interest from people and they were advertising it. They do not have to advertise it now. People understand what retrofit is and they want it. There is no cost to this scheme. It is targeted at people in energy...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: From memory, I believe that at least one of these schemes was changed to allow for part works to be done and then to have work done in stages, so people would not be excluded if they had done some of the works and then got more of the works. My understanding is that these schemes are quite comprehensive. The average cost is €24,000 which is quite a deep retrofit. I think in general,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Earlier this week, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, announced the provisional results of the third onshore RESS auction, RESS 3. The successful projects, mostly solar PV projects, represent a 12% increase in Ireland’s renewable energy capacity from current levels. This is a positive result for the climate, for security of supply and for maintaining our ambitious programme to support...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Generation (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, has statutory responsibility to ensure security of supply and has the duty to monitor electricity supplies and to take such measures as it considers necessary to protect the security of supply. It is assisted in its role by EirGrid, the electricity transmission system operator, and my Department. The CRU has a programme of actions under...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Generation (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The temporary energy generation involves four peaking plants in four different sites around the country. One is coming on line in October, another in spring and the other two next year. I can give the Deputy a more detailed time line outside of this reply. The McCarthy report looks at the reasons for the capacity generation shortfall, that is, the reasons we are in this situation. It...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (28 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151, 147, 148, 149 and 150 together. In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028;all populated areas...

Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (27 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to address the House on the Second Stage of the Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023. As Deputies are aware, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications is the Minister with responsibility for gas policy and all legislation relating to gas and energy policy. The European natural gas directive - directive 2009/73/EC...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (26 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and Directive (EU) 2018/1972, and repealing Directive (EU) 2016/1148, also known as the NIS 2 Directive was agreed last December and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 27...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Referral to Select Committee (21 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Environment and Climate Action pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Second Stage (21 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputies for their contributions today. I particularly thank all the parties, comprising virtually every party, and many Independents who have welcomed the Bill. The Bill is to be welcomed because it is to recoup excess income that was received by these energy-generating companies as a result of the war in Ukraine. There is significant financial pressure on households and...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Second Stage (21 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to address the House on the Second Stage of the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023. As Deputies are aware, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 led to exceptionally high energy prices. Although wholesale prices have reduced in recent months, they are still significantly...

Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I ran for election first in 2014 in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and one of the issues on which I ran was that there were 100 vacant properties along the main street and in the town of Dún Laoghaire. I looked into this problem and later on I became the chair of the corporate policy group in the council and I was able to effect the budget. What we found was that people were making a...

Seanad: Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The text of Senator Boylan's amendment refers to a report "within two months of the passage of this Act", rather than two weeks, so I want to clarify that this is what is intended by the Senator. I thank the Senator for the amendment. I appreciate that Senators are seeking transparency on the distribution of proceeds collected from the temporary solidarity contribution, TSC. Article 17 of...

Seanad: Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: How the money is spent will have to be decided in the budget, and the budget is in October. The amendment calls for a report to be published two months after the enactment, which would be September. In other words, the amendment calls for a report saying how the money will be spent from the TSC a month before it is decided in the budget in October. That is the problem I have with the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (6 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I note the views of the Ceann Comhairle and the Deputy on the meaning of the Act. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has asked me not to refer to the specific development but to speak in generalities. We can manage this case-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (6 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: -----by sticking to the generalities of the case. As the Deputy said, there is devolved power in this case. It is a devolved power to take in charge, following a majority vote from the residents of the estate. Second, there is the power to set budgets. Fingal County Council sets its own rates and it has a large rates base, including the airport. It also sets its own property taxes. In...