Results 81-100 of 2,744 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: As the Deputy notes, the Minister of State has visited Limerick city and other areas where flooding has occurred. I thank him for raising the question of the status of flood relief schemes in Limerick city and its environs, including Coonagh, King's Island and Castleconnell. As the Deputy knows, the Minister of State is very familiar with the areas in question. On 15 September, in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I apologise as I am replying on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, who has good reasons for not being here. I am really not qualified to answer the Deputy's question so I will need to revert to him directly if that is all right.

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2020)

Ossian Smyth: As Deputy Howlin has said, this budget is in the context of twin challenges to our economy, the enormity of which we have not seen before, namely, the pandemic and the challenge of a Brexit that may lead to the UK attempting to trade with the EU on WTO terms. This budget represents the biggest investment in the history of our State. It is coming at a time when we need it most to protect...

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I welcome this debate and I am glad to hear the contributions of my colleagues on this topic. As the Minister of State with responsibility for eGovernment, I am keen to see as many public services put online as possible, not least because people expect it. People are now used to conducting their commercial and social lives online, and there is no reason that the Government should not...

River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020. Its purpose is to establish a River Shannon management agency on a statutory basis within the OPW with overall responsibility for the assessment and management of flood risk and flood defences along the River Shannon. I can sense the sincere passion in the voices of those who have spoken on this...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Transport Infrastructure Provision (18 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the House for inviting me to speak here for the first time. I am impressed by the passion and coherence of the question the Senator put forward. The Government is committed to a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland. We believe that to deliver on this commitment, we need a whole-of-system perspective for all modes of transport, whether active travel, bus or rail....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Transport Infrastructure Provision (18 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: As I said, it is whole-of-system approach. The route in the south west is not fixed. It is not decided yet. It is not even decided whether it will go south west. The south east is also being considered in a feasibility study as are other sections around the city. All the different proposals that are made for where we should expand our rail network will have to be prioritised according to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Procurement Contracts (18 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: The Senator acknowledged there are legal and regulatory hurdles to what we are trying to do here but I share his enthusiasm for what he is trying to achieve. Public procurement in Ireland is governed by EU and national law, and national guidelines. The EU treaty principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination, transparency, mutual recognition, proportionality, free movement of goods...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Procurement Contracts (18 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: In 2017 the Office of Government Procurement, OGP, prepared an information note about how to deal with Brexit and what was ahead. It has updated that every year since then and is about to produce the latest version. Obviously events are changing very quickly and it is a huge challenge. We also have the Brexit funds coming in from Europe and there will be more news about that shortly. On...

Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputy Mairéad Farrell for introducing what is her first piece of legislation. I hope it is the first of many. I also thank all the other Deputies who contributed to the debate. The Bill before us provides for the amendment of six sections of the 27 sections of the Act. They are section 5 on the meaning of carrying on lobbying activities, section 11 on the details to be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (25 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising the matter. In the first instance I wish to express my sincere condolences to the borrower on her recent bereavements. In this case I assume the Deputy is referring to a borrower whose mortgage is held by the entity to which he referred in the details supplied. This entity in question is authorised on a transitional basis on the Central Bank's register of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (25 Nov 2020)

Ossian Smyth: As I mentioned, there is a strong consumer protection framework in place to protect mortgage and other loan borrowers. Borrowers have a suite of protections and lenders have a range of responsibilities to discharge when dealing with borrowers in arrears. There are also a number of public supports available to borrowers in debt difficulty, such as MABS and the Abhaile service for mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (3 Dec 2020)

Ossian Smyth: 343. To ask the Minister for Health if he will introduce Covid-19 testing for hospital inpatients upon discharge from hospital in view of the risk of introducing Covid-19 into a private household. [40891/20]

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Dec 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Senators for having me here today. The Appropriation Bill 2020 is an essential element of financial housekeeping that must be concluded by both Houses of the Oireachtas before the end of this year. The Bill serves two primary purposes. First, the Appropriation Bill is necessary to authorise in law all of the expenditure that has been undertaken in 2020...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Dec 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Senators for their comments and for supporting the Bill. I also thank Senators on all sides for the acknowledgement of the great expenditure that went into protecting people and businesses this year. The pandemic unemployment payment was a significant innovation and rapidly delivered by the Department of Social Protection. Impressively, most people got this payment online. For...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Flood Risk Assessments (14 Jan 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputy Naughten. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, has asked me to apologise on his behalf. He cannot be here to contribute to this debate in person for reasons related to the pandemic. I understand that he has been in contact with the Deputy regarding this matter on a number of occasions since 4 January. The Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Flood Risk Assessments (14 Jan 2021)

Ossian Smyth: My party leader is indeed here beside me so I am being watched but I will take Deputy Naughten's six suggestions back to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. The Deputy clearly cares very strongly about this issue and it is clear that he has engaged extensively with a number of Ministers on this matter. He has also been talking to Deputies Fitzmaurice and Kerrane and Senators Dolan and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (17 Feb 2021)

Ossian Smyth: 342. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8859/21]

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy for raising the question. The first thing to say is that the Office of Government Procurement is not a policing or regulatory body. It is a policy body that provides advice on how State money should be spent along with guidelines and suggestions for suppliers that have been vetted to contracting authorities. I understand that the body that purchased these ventilators is...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The total volume of goods or services that were obtained outside of a contract or normal procurement rules is known by each of the contracting authorities. The OGP does not keep track of each individual procurement contract that is taken out. Even in the case where an emergency procurement is done because the contracting authority is in an emergency situation, they are still required to...