Results 1,561-1,580 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Mobile coverage obligations are set out in licences granted by the independent regulator, ComReg, to mobile operators. ComReg advises that the current minimum coverage obligations in those licences are being considerably exceeded by all operators. Capital investment by telecommunications operators over the last 5 years was in the order of €3.3 billion for both fixed and mobile...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 148 together. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that as of 20 May 2022, over 327,600 premises have now been surveyed and over 175,300 premises are under construction or complete across 26 counties, demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. I am further advised that almost 67,700 premises are now available to order or pre-order a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, published in September 2020, sets out a clear roadmap for the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans. The scheme will be launched later this year. My Department has established a Deposit Return Scheme sub-group of the Waste Advisory Group with representatives from the producers, retailers,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 135 together. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that as of 20 May 2022, over 327,600 premises have now been surveyed and over 175,300 premises are under construction or complete across 26 counties, demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. I am further advised that almost 67,700 premises are now available to order or pre-order a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that as of 20 May 2022, over 327,600 premises have now been surveyed and over 175,300 premises are under construction or complete across 26 counties, demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. I am further advised that almost 67,700 premises are now available to order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 23 counties,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) contract with National Broadband Ireland (NBI) contains a number of targets and milestones to be completed by NBI in order to deliver the rollout of high-speed broadband services to all premises in the Intervention Area by the end of 2026.  The contract contains a comprehensive set of protections and legally binding obligations, as required under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 to 182, inclusive, together.   The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode. Premises in the AMBER area will be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in almost 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (2 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland’s national digital strategy contains goals for the digital transformation of our economy and society which align closely with that of the European Union’s Digital Decade. Specifically, the targets for digital connectivity include that all Irish households and business will be covered by a Gigabit network by 2028 and all populated areas covered by 5G by 2030.   ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cost of Living Issues (1 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Providing electronic communication 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. While as Minister, I do not have statutory authority to influence the prices set by the commercial companies concerned, I understand, that competition in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (1 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 20 May 2022, over 327,600 premises have now been surveyed and over 175,300 premises are under construction or complete across 26 counties, demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. I am further advised that almost 67,700 premises are now available to order or pre-order a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (1 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022 (‘the Bill’) aims to support Ireland’s transition to a circular economy by providing the necessary legislative basis for several key measures including the Circular Economy Strategy; the Circular Economy Programme; the National Food Loss Prevention Roadmap; and the...

Transport, Accelerating Sustainable Mobility: Statements (31 May 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank all Members for their contributions. It is clear we are all committed to improving and increasing sustainable mobility throughout the country. Transport is central to Ireland's decarbonisation efforts. In 2020, road transport alone accounted for 94% of transport emissions. Road transport also contributes to increased levels of noise, collisions, congestion and pollutants that...

Transport, Accelerating Sustainable Mobility: Statements (31 May 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Minister is at a Cabinet meeting.

Transport, Accelerating Sustainable Mobility: Statements (31 May 2022)

Ossian Smyth: He is at a Cabinet meeting.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (31 May 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy 2020 - 2025 commits to examining measures to support increased use of recycled materials in packaging including the possible introduction of a virgin plastic levy.  Any intervention in the market must be carefully assessed and my officials are engaging with Repak, the national Extended Producer Responsibility scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (26 May 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in almost 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.I am advised by NBI...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (25 May 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am pleased to present the Bill to the House. This Bill provides for significant enhancements to the statutory framework for the protection of whistleblowers in Ireland. It updates the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 to provide for the transposition of the EU whistleblowing directive into Irish law, the establishment of a new office of the protected disclosures commissioner and to...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (25 May 2022)

Ossian Smyth: That is absolutely fine.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (25 May 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank all Senators for their contributions. I will continue my contribution where I left off by describing some of the main provisions of the Bill. I had been discussing Chapter 3, section 14, which inserts the new sections 10C and 10D into the principal Act. These sections concern the handling of disclosures made or transmitted to the commissioner. In the first instance, the...