Results 1,201-1,220 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (8 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland’s digital connectivity strategy aligns with EU priorities, under the Digital Decade 2030. Providing telecommunication services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. Mobile coverage obligations are set out in licences granted by ComReg,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Building Regulations (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and for giving me the opportunity to give him an update on the Government's supports for home retrofit. In order to hit our targets we need to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a building energy rating, BER, of B2 and install 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by the end of 2030. This...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Building Regulations (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I will take the Deputy's comments to the Minister and discuss this with him. I take the Deputy's point there is a real problem for these stone houses. As he says, they are likely to be lived in by people who could be in energy poverty, people who are older, people in remote locations in rural areas and so on, and this needs to be addressed. That is why the guidelines are being worked out....

Energy Security: Statements (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am pleased to have this opportunity to discuss energy security with the House. Energy security and the current energy crisis are having a significant impact on people's day-to-day lives. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has caused a humanitarian catastrophe and displaced millions of Ukrainian citizens. Even before the invasion began, Russia had been reducing its gas...

Seanad: Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senators for the opportunity to present this Bill. Having regard to the unprecedented pressures on the energy sector, I am pleased to have the opportunity to commend the Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022 to the House. I shall open the debate by setting the context for the action to be taken on foot of this Bill, which will provide for emergency measures for...

Seanad: Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Senators for their engagement in respect of this Bill. I welcome the broad range of contributions. I will keep my comments focused on the content and purpose of the Bill. If I have time, however, I will address each of the statements that were made. The most immediate factor affecting security of electricity supply in Ireland in the coming years is the potential generation capacity...

Seanad: Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator. As Senator Boylan is aware, the EIA directive continues to apply fully. We cannot pass legislation in this House that overrides the directive in any way. It must be compliant with the legislation. I understand the concern is that the proposal may appear to be open-ended or that it could be used to approve other developments or projects. To be clear, what I am asking...

Seanad: Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: One of the criteria is that we have sufficient grid capacity to attach new generation capacity, so we can distribute and transmit the electricity from the site. Another is that we must have a brownfield site that already has a power station on it. We are looking for sites that have had recent environmental assessments carried out, which can help us with our future assessments and give us an...

Seanad: Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am going to respond to amendments Nos. 2 and 3 together. They relate to the insertion of an additional Oireachtas approval between the assessment of An Bord Pleanála and the approval to be issued by the Minister. I propose to reject these amendments as they would add an unnecessary step to the process that could delay the commencement of on-site works. The second amendment requires...

Seanad: Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Political accountability is extremely important, and the Senator's proposal seeks to ensure the Minister is answerable to the relevant committee regarding progress on foot of the passing of the Bill. I agree with this but the requirement to report to the committee within a specified timeframe is not necessary. This is a project of critical national importance and every endeavour will be...

Seanad: Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I absolutely agree. Energy security is a critical issue and will continue to be the subject of debate in the Oireachtas. I am happy to facilitate such debate, which we will see in the joint committee, the Seanad and the Dáil.

Seanad: Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: It might be unexpected but I like this proposal. However, I question its relevance to the provisions of the Bill. This Bill is to provide for an exemption from the provisions of the environmental impact assessment, EIA, directive and for an alternative streamlined consenting process rather than determining particular types of storage technology. The Senators appear to be proposing a policy...

Seanad: Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am quite happy to look at the Australian model. It is very important to look at what is happening in other jurisdictions. That is cutting-edge technology and we will certainly look at that. Senator Boyhan should make those suggestions known when he is contributing to the public consultation, which I am sure he will.

Seanad: Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: We have not determined how long it will last.

Seanad: Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Very shortly. It will be real soon.

Seanad: Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I just want to say something about the storage we have in Ireland at the moment. The Senator will be familiar with Turlough Hill. In total, in Ireland, we have 792 MW of storage. Of that, 500 MW is from battery. Therefore, we already have some battery storage in use. Those batteries have an average duration of less than one hour providing system services. In addition to that, there is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Emergency Services (27 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Following a competitive procurement process, BT Communications Ireland Limited (BTCIL) holds the contract to operate the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS). The Contract provides a comprehensive set of Key Performance Indicators centred on the availability and quality of the service and BT’s performance against these metrics is closely monitored by my Department, including...

Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I request that the rest of my speech be read into the record.

Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Deputies for the opportunity to present this Bill. Having regard to the unprecedented pressures on the energy sector, I am pleased to have the opportunity to commend the Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022 to the House. I shall open the debate today by setting the context for...