Results 881-900 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: That is why we need the two things. We need the positive things that help people do the right thing. We also need criminal sanction and evidence against people who are criminals and who are destroying our beautiful environment.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Bodies (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: On 14 February the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, appointed Mr. Tom. Barry and Mr. Seamus Neely under section 18(5) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 to perform the functions of the IFI pending the appointment of a new, full board through the statutory appointments process, with the support of the Public Appointments Service, PAS. This ensures that the IFI is in a position to continue to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. She has described a project in Carlow which involves the restoration of a raised bog near the River Barrow and the historic site of St. Mullin's and has asked for an update on that. I do not have information to hand immediately, but I will be very happy to give her an update. I would also be happy to meet her, as I am happy to meet any Deputy, and give her a briefing on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: These projects can provide a local amenity and attraction for tourism. They preserve biodiversity and give people a sense of pride in their area. They can be part of a just transition if jobs have been lost in Bord na Móna or other organisations. Regarding wastewater treatment, I will listen to the Deputy. If she feels any projects are not getting funding, I am happy to talk to her...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. The community climate action programme will see more than €60 million from the climate action fund invested in supporting communities to run direct climate action projects and initiatives under strand 1 as well as capacity building under strand 2 of the programme. The 18 projects selected for funding under strand 2 of the programme are currently moving to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: As the Deputy said, there is a challenge with staffing. Things cannot happen without staffing. On the community climate action officers, the four Dublin local authorities are recruiting their officers on a regional basis. They expect to have staff in place by late April. The post is currently advertised on the Fingal County Council website, on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. Strand 1A is open to community, voluntary and non-profit groups that want to take part. They have to partner with a local authority. As the Deputy said, there are cross-Border projects and there have been successful connections. While the senior levels of the political system in Northern Ireland may be stuck, at local authority level we are making progress. At...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 strengthens the role of local authorities in climate action. The Act sets out a statutory requirement for each local authority to prepare a local authority climate action plan within 12 months from when the Minister issues a request to the sector to begin the preparation of such plans. The Minister issued this request last...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. She has a specific question about whether a legal direction has yet been issued. I have to check that. I know that the guidelines were circulated last Friday but I do not know whether they constitute a legal direction. I believe she asked for some history of how these decarbonisation zones were developed. She wants to know why we are issuing these guidelines.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage issued Circular LGSM/01/2021 in February 2021 to chief executives and directors of planning which provided instructions around developing zones for local authorities. Action 80 of the national Climate Action Plan 2021 required each local authority to integrate the development of its decarbonisation zone into its local authority climate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I am not sure what the idea is of asking a question and when I give a direct answer the Deputy asks the same question again. She has asked me whether a legal direction has been issued. What I told her is that I know the guidelines were circulated last Friday but I do not know whether they constitute a legal direction. I will find out and come back to her. That is really all I can say on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The draft agenda for the upcoming Environment Council indicates that the meeting will address the following matters: a general approach on the directive amending directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions; general approach on the Council directive on the landfill of waste; policy debates on the regulation on packaging and packaging waste, amending regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and directive...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: When the pandemic ended, I had a lot of opportunities to go round the country and speak to farmers. I took every opportunity I could to do that. What I took from farmers is that the drive for increased production has pushed down unit prices. It is more work for the same amount of money. Pushing up production has not worked. Fertiliser prices are a killer in that they are so high and are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputy Connolly for her very specific question for which I have a very specific answer. I spoke to the civil servant who issued the guidelines last Friday. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 strengthens the role of local authorities in climate action. The Act sets out a statutory requirement for each local authority to prepare a local authority...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: We can have all the strategies and plans in the world but they do not come to much if they are not implemented and if there is no political will. Those two ingredients are absolutely key to the difference between saying things and things actually happening. Do people want the things to happen and will they put in the work and the competence to make them happen? I have been on a local...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: She will know that there is sometimes a lot of discussions on local authorities which is not matched by action and that sometimes plans are brought forward which speak in very high terms and in noble ways about things but do not really translate into actions because the executive or the councillors themselves do not really want them to happen. For these plans to translate into actual climate...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: We absolutely should be fair to local authorities. I do not have information for Deputy Connolly on the timeline that led to the issuing of the guidelines from last Friday; what the statutory timeline was; and what it ought to have been but I am willing to talk to the Deputy about it afterwards, if she wants to find out more information. What I am referring to with regard to local...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The small-scale generation scheme will be launched later this year. The Deputy asked about legislation relating to private wire, which is to allow transmission of electricity by private sector companies without using EirGrid. I will have to come back to the Deputy with details rather than offer an answer now. There is massively increased ambition for solar roll-out. It is not just for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I want as many people to have solar power as possible so that they are taking part and have a sense that they are contributing towards climate action and generating money. I want as many people as possible to take part in this. The Deputy is right to say that the deployment of solar generation is not entirely my responsibility. TAMS is a scheme of the Department of Agriculture, Food and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (28 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I do not think anybody should scare the farming community. It is important to stick to the facts on this but also to speak honestly to farmers. The Government recently approved the first phase of the land-use review. This phase was a substantial evidence-gathering exercise, required to deliver on a key commitment in the programme for Government. A comprehensive evidence base is essential...