Results 1,861-1,880 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Is the Chairman asking me that, as soon as we have decided which of the other programmes are to be depleted to fund it, we are to come back and tell the committee?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: What was the first question?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The timeframe for this is the middle of this year. The target interest rate is 3.5%. It fits into the loan category of the available green loans, and there are green loans from the post office at 4.5%. If people have a mortgage, which many do, they can refinance and probably get it at a lower rate than the 3.5%, perhaps at between 2% and 3%. It is to fit into that category of loan. The...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: It is not that I am holding back the information but it has not been decided and I am not in the Cabinet.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am being told not yet and that there is an existing legal action that is proceeding which is delaying going ahead with the funding for that remediation. Kerdiffstown is the major one at €14 million and there is another €12.25 million for other sites. It is apparently due to a legal case that Whitestown has been held up.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: Certainly, if the Deputy wants to go into private session.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy is asking about the doubling of the waste management fund under subhead C6 and where that money is being allocated to. It is the most disappointing answer. It is an accounting reallocation from three other subheads from last year, those being landfill remediation, petroleum services and waste management. They have been combined. I guess the matter Deputy Whitmore was just...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: We are in a year where from one year to the next, subheads are being combined and divided out. Thus, some of the items are not directly comparable with last year.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I suppose the waste prevention is being brought in as "circular economy" and it is part of the change of mindset on the whole division. We are not considering things as waste anymore and considering waste as a resource. We are moving away from the idea this is something we need to bury or burn towards it being something we need to reuse. I am aware my officials were already in moving in...

Freedom of Information Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank all the Members who contributed to the debate on this legislation. I also reiterate my thanks to Deputies Mairéad Farrell and Clarke for bringing forward the Bill. I have already set out in some detail my views on the legislation as currently drafted, which highlighted technical and policy issues regarding further consideration. I have, however, heard and noted the comments...

Freedom of Information Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann: — recognises that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 to strengthen and modernise the legislation; and — resolves that the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2021 be...

Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022: Second Stage (3 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I commend the Bill to the House.

Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022: Second Stage (3 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank all Deputies for their insightful comments on this emergency legislation. It is emergency legislation. We are trying to address an immediate problem within this quarter and get money into people's accounts. We are in winter. A large number of aspects of this problem were touched on by different Deputies. The problem of energy poverty was raised by many. I thank Deputy Joan...

Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022: Second Stage (3 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Having regard to the unprecedented rise in electricity prices, I am pleased to have the opportunity to commend the Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022 to the House. I will open the debate by setting the context for the actions to be taken on foot of this Bill. Although many Members will be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (3 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: Broadband Infrastructure (3 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The premises referred to in the Question are 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 peoples frustration when they are living close to a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 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 network owned by a...

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

Ossian Smyth: Further to my reply to Question No 169 on19 January 2022 (PQ2136/22) and my reply to Question 233 on 1 February 2022 (PQ4495/22), my Department does not have any additional information on the matter since the previous replies.