Results 1,361-1,380 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (25 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together. Following a public procurement process, a contract was signed with Dogpatch Labs Management DAC for the delivery of the NDRC services. The value of the contract is €3.5m per annum which covers annual investment in companies of €1.3m and the remaining €2.2m covers the cost of all activities required to deliver the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (25 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Increasing the State Aid Guidelines definition of high speed broadband from 30 Mbps would not impact on the National Broadband Plan intervention, as the State Aid decision approving Ireland's NBP was underpinned by the mapping consultation that was finalised in advance of the NBP contract being signed in November 2019. I do not believe it would be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (25 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: National Broadband Ireland (NBI) have advised that they have run a tender process for the provision of alternative solutions that would complement the NBI build, while delivering the NBP specified Broadband Product and its associated SLA's. Five providers passed the Prequalification stage and were provided with the Tender documentation to respond.  Three of the qualified bidders...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (25 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. Some 758 BCP sites have been installed by NBI to date and the high-speed broadband service will be connected in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (25 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie  The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 14 October 2022, over...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (25 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The NBP contract, which was signed on 19 November 2019, provides that a future proofed high-speed broadband network will be deployed by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to people living and working in the intervention area. It is expected that over 600,000 premises will be passed including new builds. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 14 October 2022, over...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Youth Perspectives on the Circular Economy and COP27, including Climate Justice and Energy: Discussion (21 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I will be quick. Things started to go wrong for the world in the past 60 years. Some 100 years ago, human beings did not have much impact on the planet, as far as I can see. Eventually, technology advanced to the point where we could do all kinds of things, and lift people out of poverty, but it then went too far. We got to the point where people did not have to fix their shoes any more....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Youth Perspectives on the Circular Economy and COP27, including Climate Justice and Energy: Discussion (21 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: They are all great.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Youth Perspectives on the Circular Economy and COP27, including Climate Justice and Energy: Discussion (21 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Was the almost 18-year-old going to vote for the Acting Chairperson?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Youth Perspectives on the Circular Economy and COP27, including Climate Justice and Energy: Discussion (21 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Yes, it was that group’s proposal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Youth Perspectives on the Circular Economy and COP27, including Climate Justice and Energy: Discussion (21 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I have to go UCD now. I thank the members and guests. If any of the young people have ideas about the circular economy and what we could do better, I ask them please to email me and mention that they were talking to me, and I will discuss those ideas further with them.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Illegal Dumping (19 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I sincerely thank Senator Malcolm Byrne for bringing this issue to the House and for providing the political will for it to happen. It is all very well to have strategies and theories, but it actually takes somebody to really push something, and to put a bit of effort and passion into it, for it to happen. We are very grateful to the Senator for that. Everybody wants this. Everybody has a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Illegal Dumping (19 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I have been in contact with the LGMA committee that is drawing up the code of practice. I met litter wardens in both Cork and Dublin so I could talk directly to the people on the ground who are dealing with this criminality. I have also spoken to the chair of the committee, Mr. Liam Bergin, and have constantly asked for updates. I understand the committee has now drafted its code of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Regulations (19 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: EU Regulation 910/2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market (eIDAS) sets out to harmonise digital interoperability within the EU by establishing a cross-border framework for trusted digital identities and trust services. While the Regulation has direct effect in Member States, there are a number of implementation requirements -...

Domestic Electricity and Gas Disconnections: Motion [Private Members] (18 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputies for their engagement on this crucially important issue. The passion behind the contributions is a reminder of how important it is that we have an affordable supply of energy for the economic as well as social well-being of our people. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, made it clear that the scale of the measures introduced by the Government in 2023 totalled €2.5...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Third Level Fees (13 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science thanks the Deputy for raising this matter because it gives me, on his behalf, the opportunity to set out to the House the position regarding the Maynooth student centre. Maynooth University recently informed the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science that its governing...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Third Level Fees (13 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I take the Deputy's point. Although this project did not involve Government funding and was instead funded by a student levy and the EIB, the university as a body is funded by the State. It is clear that the Minister is not shying away or distancing himself from this and saying that it has nothing to do with him. He has met the students and the governing bodies. On the three points...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cycling Facilities (13 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Senator Murphy for raising the safe routes to school programme and providing me with the opportunity to address the Seanad about this topic on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The programme for Government sets out an ambitious and wide-ranging set of commitments in relation to walking and cycling. It committed that €360 million in cross-government funding would be spent...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cycling Facilities (13 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator. Right now, money is not the problem or the constraint. Under our programme for Government, €1 million a day is available for walking and cycling improvements. What better way is there to spend that than to make it safe for children to walk and cycle to school? It has multiple benefits, but part of it is just health and happiness and not making parents have to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education and Training Boards (13 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Chair and Senator Kyne. The Minister for Education has asked me to answer this question about staffing arrangements for ETBs on her behalf. As Senator Kyne may be aware, the arrangements for the allocation of teaching posts and the allocation of special needs assistants in all schools, including ETB schools, are set down in various circulars issued by the Department of...