Results 1,081-1,100 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Communications Regulation Bill 2022: Instruction to Committee (25 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 233, Standing Order 187 is modified to provide that it be an instruction to the Committee to which the Communications Regulation Bill 2022 may be recommitted in respect of certain amendments that it has the power to make amendments to the Bill which are not relevant to the general subject matter, to amend the Postal and Telecommunications Services...

Inshore Fishing: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has recognised the value and importance of the inshore fishing sector and has pledged his ongoing commitment to supporting it during his frequent engagement with sector representatives. He has ensured support for the National Inshore Fisheries Forum in the developing and implementing of its own industry-led strategy to raise the profile of...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to present the Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023 to the select committee. The main purpose of the Bill is to strengthen the Government's ability to manage stocks in the unlikely event of a curtailment of oil supplies. I acknowledge the broad support the Bill received in the Dáil last week. ...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The Bill provides for a consultation period before changes are introduced. That is the period in which to carry out an assessment or allow for a public examination or debate before anything is introduced.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I will talk to my officials about that and come back to the Deputy.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: There are a number of different ways of measuring what are critical infrastructure. It is already provided for in the network and information security directive from the EU which is being updated. The Deputy will remember that during the pandemic a list of essential workers was compiled and decisions were made about essential services. There is an oil emergency response plan which has...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for the amendment. I have looked carefully at the proposal to see its implications. I can appreciate what the Deputy is trying to achieve here but I do not propose to accept the amendment. The primary purpose of the amendments to section 3 of the Act of 1971, the Fuels (Control of Supplies) Act 1971, is to provide for a timely response by Government to an oil...

Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Referral to Select Committee (19 Jan 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).

Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The Bill is about the security of supply of oil. Members will be aware of the continued importance of security of oil supplies. While we continue to transition to the increased use of renewable fuels and electrification in both the transport and heating sectors it is vital that we maintain our oil supplies. It is worth highlighting that the main purpose of the Bill is to strengthen the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The important principle is that the contracting authorities are responsible for their own budgets and responses. The Accounting Officer in each case is responsible for monitoring its own expenditure. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform does not operate as a monitoring agency at a micro-management level to make sure that each contracting authority operates within its own budget....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: The objective of the inflation-supply chain delay co-operation framework is to safeguard public projects that were under construction or tendered in advance of the onset of the exceptional inflation in the price of construction materials, fuel and electricity. The framework facilitates both parties to a public works contract to engage with one another to address the impacts of exceptional...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: As the Deputy said, we looked at fuel price inflation, as well as at materials, the dramatic increases in construction prices, material inflation and supply chain disruption. In many cases, builders could not get the materials required. We are not centrally collating the increase in the cost of these contracts. We have said each contracting authority is responsible for paying for its...

Climate Action Plan 2023: Statements (18 Jan 2023)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the invitation to provide a statement on the Climate Action Plan 2023. I also thank all Deputies for their constructive and insightful contributions today, which are always welcome. In closing, I wish to restate the significance of the climate action plan, which sets out the steps we must take to achieve our climate objective and to evolve into a more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Ossian Smyth: There are 81,507 premises located in County Cork that will be passed by National Broadband Ireland, NBI, with high-speed gigabit fibre broadband as part of the State intervention under the national broadband plan, NBP. NBI has advised that 15,711 premises in Cork are passed by the NBP high-speed fibre broadband network and are available for immediate connection. Some 11,196 premises were...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The first question is on how many schools have not been connected. I do not have this data to hand but the final schools to be connected across the entire country are to be completed by June 2023. The next question was on the number of homes that Eir will not connect, because they are in the intervention area, or is "not allowed to" connect as the Deputy said. Eir can connect a home...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Ossian Smyth: There is a financial disincentive to connect within a rural area for a commercial operator. It is because it has to compete with a State-subsidised provider. National Broadband Ireland has to provide 25 years of fibre broadband to people for the same price in a rural area as it would cost them in an urban area and we have State-aid approval from the EU to do that because of the market...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The architecture of the network design for the national broadband plan is specifically based on the design of the National Broadband Ireland network coming from the Open Eir exchanges or the metropolitan area networks managed by Eir. It is based on an engineering design that allows NBI to get to every premises as quickly and as efficiently as possible working within the confines of how fibre...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Dec 2022)

Ossian Smyth: This is the third year in a row in which I am presenting the Bill and I am pleased to do so in Seanad Éireann today. The Bill is a key component of the annual budgetary process that must be concluded by both Houses of the Oireachtas before the end of the year. While it is a technical item of legislation, it is one of fundamental importance. It serves two key purposes. First, it is...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Dec 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Senator Buttimer for his kind words on my precarious position. I believe what will happen if a new Taoiseach is appointed, and presumably he or she will be, is that I will cease to be a Minister of State at that point. I will start by addressing the points made by Senator Kyne. He mentioned the public spending code. There has to be a balance between the number of stages that it...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Ossian Smyth: In keeping with our Programme for Government commitment, the Government is introducing a deposit return scheme in Ireland in respect of plastic bottles and aluminium cans. The Scheme will help ensure that we meet our legal obligations under the Single Use Plastics Directive to collect 90% of plastic bottles for recycling by 2029 and incorporate recycled plastic to a minimum of 30% in all...