Results 61-80 of 2,867 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I would be happy to return on another occasion. If that meeting takes place on a Wednesday evening, I will certainly arrange a pair.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The latest annual report is for 2022 and the 2023 report is due in the coming weeks. If we are having a meeting straight after the next annual report is produced, that would help. On the two sets of numbers-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The Department is reviewing it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: In answer to Deputy Fitzmaurice's questions, the first was why there is a discrepancy between the amount that is produced versus the amount collected, or the amount that was recycled by the Irish facilities and so on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The difference the Deputy is referring to is the difference between contaminated plastic waste and clean plastic waste, in other words the volume of contaminant versus the volume of plastic. Roughly 18,000 tonnes of plastic are collected and roughly 36,000 tonnes of the contaminated share is counted. Is that the question the Deputy asked?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy asked about people who had plastic which was collected but not shifted from their sites. He asked about a particular semi-State body but without saying which one it is. If he can give me specifics for those questions, I will be happy to answer them. He asked whether there will be an independent assessment or a census of how much plastic is in licensed yards around the country....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I believe all that data is in the annual reports and that the new annual report will be available next week. I will collate it for the Deputy, if he wishes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I appreciate that. I am happy to come back in a couple of weeks. I would suggest that the period after the next annual report comes out might be a good time. I can collate that data for the committee and answer any questions that came up today that I was not able to immediately answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The first issue is in what way they are in compliance. They are in compliance with the permits that were issued to them as waste collectors. In other words, they are in compliance with environmental law and the terms and conditions that were imposed by the local authorities. There may be unsightly piles of plastic. However, the question is about whether they are in compliance within the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The engagement is defined in the approval. There are regular meetings between the IFFPG and the Department. There are annual reports and the structure of the annual report is defined in the approval.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I am a little confused because I think the Senator said that IFFPG is collecting a levy. In fact, the producers have to pay a levy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (14 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I am not sure I have the answer to the question at hand. My apologies.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (14 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I would like to give the Deputy a proper answer.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (14 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I do not think I do.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (14 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I will correspond with the Deputy and I am happy to give him a full answer. Does Deputy Ó Murchú want to make a point on the general issue?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (14 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: We spent most of our time talking about the climate action plan, the ways to reduce emissions and prevent the worst effects of climate change from happening, and the adaptation plans are what is done when it does happen, and when flooding occurs, how we build the infrastructure to prevent it from happening. There are many questions in this House on flooding. They are answered by the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (14 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I agree with everything the Deputy is saying but it is very important these questions are put not just to the Minister for the environment, Deputy Ryan. He is not alone in being responsible for dealing with all of these problems. That is why there are sectoral plans that are allocated to each of the relevant Ministers. For example, there is an agriculture, forestry and seafood plan for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (14 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland's digital connectivity strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030, which is high speed and future-proofed. National Broadband Ireland, NBI, is rolling out a broadband network through its contract with the Minister. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (14 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The nature of the plan is 100% coverage. The country has been divided into 227 areas. The contractor only gets paid when it connects 100% of premises within that area. In other words, it has to pass fibre past every farm, business and home to get its payment. This is not a scheme that leaves people out. It completes by the end of 2026 and at that point 100% of the premises in the...