Results 1,781-1,800 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (24 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Plastic is a valuable material in modern society however when it is not properly managed, it can have serious negative effects on the environment and human health. In 2017, the impact of plastics rose to a new level of prominence following David Attenborough’s “Blue Planet” series. Since then, there have been significant developments in plastics policy both in Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (24 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: In Ireland, the management and treatment of waste is carried out in accordance with national and European legislation, and in line with policy frameworks such as the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, 2020. These policies and laws set out a hierarchy for the management and treatment of waste generated within the country.  The preferred treatment option for residual municipal...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fuel Poverty (23 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Senator for her interesting contribution. I will address her specific questions in my supplementary response but give her my written answer first. Given the unprecedented rise in electricity and gas prices, reducing the burden of fuel poverty is a matter of serious concern for the Government. A suite of measures is being developed and deployed by the Government to help reduce...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fuel Poverty (23 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The grid is changing. The electricity system is changing because of this big transition to renewable energy. One of the things that is changing is that we sometimes suddenly find ourselves in great surplus and in great deficit at other times because of the weather. Although the weather is predictable, the pattern in which our electricity is generated is different from the way it was in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (23 Feb 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 appreciate people’s frustration when they are living close to a fibre...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (23 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Under State Aid Guidelines, Member States are required to use existing infrastructure to the maximum extent possible when rolling out high speed broadband networks. The NBP network is, therefore, being constructed through the use of existing telecoms infrastructure where possible and the construction of new infrastructure where necessary.National Broadband Ireland is using infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (23 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) works to support Government Departments and other public bodies to improve the resilience and security of their IT systems to better protect services that people rely upon, and their data, and the NCSC works very closely with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) in this regard. However, it should be noted that the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (23 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 82, 83 and 84 together. The Questions refer to 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 appreciate...

Carbon Tax: Motion [Private Members] (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: -----and massive increases including in the fuel allowance and the living alone allowance, and so on. He knows that those payments have been introduced. He knows that it is part of a package. He is also aware that carbon tax has to be there. He shows that in the purest way that he can, by retaining it in his party's alternative budget and paying for its programme with carbon tax. I am...

Carbon Tax: Motion [Private Members] (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the annual rate of consumer price inflation, as measured by the European Union's (EU) harmonised index of consumer prices, has picked up sharply in recent months, reaching a multi-decade high of 5.7 per cent in December before moderating somewhat to 5 per cent...

Carbon Tax: Motion [Private Members] (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The answer to a 50% increase is not a 2% cut.

Carbon Tax: Motion [Private Members] (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Deputy Doherty said the retrofit scheme is a transfer of money to the rich. I heard that from another Deputy also. I really take issue with this. Our scheme will see an historic amount, €352 million, being spent to make people's homes warmer. That will reach nearly 30,000 families. Of the €352 million, €203 million is being given to families who are either living on...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environmental Schemes (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: It is important that I put everything on the record as well having a chat. I thank Senator Davitt very much for raising this issue and giving me a timely opportunity to give an update on the Government's support for home retrofit. The programme for Government and climate action plan set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector from 7 megatons of carbon dioxide...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environmental Schemes (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Senator rightly identifies that electricity has a key role to play in decarbonisation. He is right to ask about the refit tariff. This is the money that is paid to people for selling their electricity back to the grid. That process is in train as fast as it can be done. It will be ready within a small number of months. Regarding the deep retrofits, our analysis says that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environmental Schemes (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: An Post has offered a one-stop-shop service. Electric Ireland is also doing so. Its service is called Electric Ireland Superhomes. The credit unions will also offer one. They are three trustworthy bodies across Ireland and I expect to see others.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Waste Management Act states that a person may not:- Cause or facilitate the abandonment, dumping or unauthorised management or treatment of waste, or - Hold, transport, recover or dispose of waste, or treat waste, in a manner that causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution. The enforcement of waste legislation is a statutory function of local authorities.  Under section...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (22 Feb 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 appreciate people’s frustration when they are living close to a fibre...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (22 Feb 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 the over 554,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools. I am advised by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The premises referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (22 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth:  The Circular Economy Bill 2022 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 Circular Economy Fund. As Minister of State for the Environment, Climate and...