Results 741-760 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Services (6 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I can hear in the Deputy's voice his sincerity and his wish to have this problem resolved. It is a very basic thing to have a clean supply of drinking water. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, acknowledges the patience and co-operation of the residents and businesses in the Whitegate area who have been affected up to now. As I said in my opening remarks, the Minister's concern is to...

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

Ossian Smyth: Again, on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, I will answer this. I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue on the taking in charge of private housing estates by local authorities. With regard to the specific development in the Deputy's constituency, I have to emphasise that under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Services (6 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: On behalf of the Government, I extend my sympathies to the family and friends of former Deputy Cott on this occasion. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of providing safe drinking water in east Cork, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Safe and secure drinking water is an issue of both national and local importance. I appreciate...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Broadband Infrastructure (6 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The national broadband plan is the largest capital project in the State. I have the honour of being responsible for delivering it. We are connecting or passing approximately 8,000 homes per month at the moment. Half of all homes, businesses and farms in rural Ireland will have gigabit internet available by next year. The project is moving at speed. I will bring the House up to date about...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Broadband Infrastructure (6 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: High-speed broadband has become a basic utility, like having water or electricity. I am told by estate agents that it is the number one feature for selling a house in rural Ireland. It is critical to any business. I understand that. This is a seven year roll-out plan. It started in 2020 and will be complete at the end of 2026. I can imagine the disappointment of people whose premises is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (6 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I am here on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, who has delegated authority over postal policy in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (6 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Senator Craughwell will appreciate this is a complex matter. There are a lot of legal issues here and it is important I put the exact official position on the record. I am sorry if I could not address points he raised in his opening remarks. He raised very detailed and specific points which I will take to the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, for him to reply directly.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mortgage Interest Rates (6 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: At the outset, it is important to point out that the setting of official interest rates throughout the eurozone is a matter for the European Central Bank, ECB. The ECB recently announced a further 0.25% increase in interest rates, bringing its main lending rate to 4%. The Government has no role in setting official interest rates, nor in setting the retail interest rates that lenders may...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mortgage Interest Rates (6 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I am acutely aware that there have been increases in certain mortgage rates by some lenders. It is important to point out that mortgage interest rates and, in particular, fixed interest rates have fallen over the past number of years. For example, in December 2014 the average level of fixed interest rate for new lending was 4.11%. That compares with 3.54% in April 2023. In April, mortgage...

Seanad: Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Second Stage (6 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I am pleased to address the House and I thank Senators for the opportunity to present this Bill. As they will be aware, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 led to exceptionally high energy prices. The Government is aware of the resulting financial strain on households and businesses in Ireland and has introduced numerous supports for homes and businesses to off set the increase....

Seanad: Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Second Stage (6 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The main purpose of the Bill is to provide for the TSC under Council Regulation No. 2022/1854 of 6 October 2022 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices. This is an important Bill which will provide for a fair collection of surplus revenues from fossil fuel companies that have earned unexpected revenues from the high energy prices resulting from the war in Ukraine. It...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: This is a levy that we are introducing on unfair profits. These are super-excess profits that were earned by energy companies during the period of a war. We are levying them at 75% of the excess profits and we expect to collect that levy. I fully trust that the Revenue will be capable of collecting this money, as it has certainly proven itself capable. It is a very large bill. The...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputies for these amendments. This Bill provides for a surcharge to be applied to overdue payments. The surcharges currently provided in this Bill are a 5% surcharge on returns not delivered between three and six months of the specified date, and a 10% surcharge on returns delivered within six months of the specified date. These surcharge percentages and timeframes are...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Once again, this is existing EU law. It is a regulation and is in force. It requires that the distribution of these funds be verifiable and be transparent. They will be. They will be reported on according to the regulation.

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I was asked why I ruled certain amendments out of order. As I am sure Deputies are aware, I do not have the power to rule amendments in or out of order. Second, I was asked why the legislation will not apply to wind farms and solar farms. It will apply only to oil refineries and fossil fuel producers. A second item of legislation, to be published before the recess, will apply to excess...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The provision is not in Article 17 but elsewhere in the regulation, where it is specified that the proceeds’ distribution measures must be "clearly defined, transparent, proportionate, non-discriminatory and verifiable". There are reporting requirements and we are going to follow them as they are. It is important we present this information, but I do not propose to accept the amendment.

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for tabling these amendments. I am opposing these amendments on two grounds, which I will go through. The specified date in this Bill, as referred to under section 2, provides for when the temporary solidarity contribution is to be payable by an energy company and section 8, which provides for when an energy company must make a return to the Revenue Commissioners. ...

Seanad: Ban on Dumping New Products Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Senator Boylan for bringing forward a constructive environmental Bill. I am very happy to see any Senator bring forward constructive suggestions on how to make a better environment. I am going to say, for a start, that the Government shares the objectives of this legislation. I have spoken to my colleagues and we are not going to oppose this Bill for this reason. It is an affront...

Planning and Development Regulations 2023: Referral to Joint Committee (4 Jul 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: (i) Planning and Development (Fees for Certain Applications) Regulations 2023, (ii) Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. XX) Regulations 2023, and (iii) Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2023, copies of which has been laid in draft form before...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jun 2023)

Ossian Smyth: Go on. I dare the Deputy.