Results 1-20 of 1,183 for speaker:Ossian Smyth in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Measures (20 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: In June 2023, I launched a public consultation to help inform Ireland’s environmental response to disposable vaping devices. Disposable vaping devices present several challenges to our current waste collection and recycling system, and they can and should be recycled in a responsible manner. Over 3,000 submissions were made by individuals and organisations, including retailers, and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (20 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 to 92, inclusive, together. The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has been in operation since the 1st of February. Both the Department and Re-turn, the DRS operator, are monitoring the scheme closely and I receive regular updates on its performance. To date: There are currently 2,529 retail return points across the country. The vast majority of retailers...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (20 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy might wish to note that the Department of Social Protection has a Telephone Support Allowance currently in place which provides a weekly payment for people who live alone and are already in receipt of certain other social welfare payments. That allowance assists with the cost of communications and home security solutions. More details are available from that Department, including...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (20 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The roll-out of infrastructure for telecommunications services in Ireland is primarily a matter for private mobile network operators, operating on a commercial basis in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg is statutorily independent in the exercise of its functions in accordance with section 11 of the Communications Regulation Act...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (20 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 91 of 27 February 2024 which gives consideration to the correspondence concerning prices for broadband and mobile network services. My officials are examining the matter and will also be guided by legal advice on appropriate policy options.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (20 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: A new Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan is currently being finalised by my Department. A draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan was launched for public consultation in September 2023. Key areas of focus in the draft Strategy and Action Plan include measures to progress Green Public Procurement implementation in the Public Sector; Monitoring and Reporting;...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Measures (20 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The Government charges a levy of 22c on single-use lightweight plastic bags. The levy was introduced in 2002 as a means of reducing the consumption of such plastic bags by influencing consumer behaviour. It has proven enormously successful, reducing the use of these bags from a peak of more than 132 million in 2006 to just over 8 million during 2022 (the last full year for which figures are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (20 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that: all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028 all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and digital connectivity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (20 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: More than half a million coffee cups are sent to landfill or incineration every day in Ireland. An environmental levy on single-use cups (coffee cup levy) will incentivise people to choose re-usable cups and reduce single-use waste. A detailed consultation report, along with copies of all submissions received, were published in late 2023 on the Department’s gov.ie website. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (20 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: All retailers who sell products which come under the scope of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) are required to participate in the scheme by registering with Re-turn, the DRS operator and, unless exempt, to charge customers a deposit for every in-scope product sold, provide a take-back facility and to refund the deposit to consumers who return empty containers. The rules of the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (20 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that: all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028 all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and digital connectivity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (7 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: As telecoms technologies advance and evolve at pace, there is a need for guidelines and regulations to be regularly updated to reflect this. This is of particular importance in relation to innovative technologies like 5G, which requires infrastructure that is vastly different to what preceding technologies required and consequent different legislative treatment in some cases. The Digital...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (7 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that: all Irish households and businesses, including schools, will be covered by a gigabit network no later than 2028 all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (5 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, anddigital connectivity will be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (5 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: A national Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has been introduced to encourage more people to recycle plastic bottles and cans and to deliver on our ambitious EU targets for the recycling of those products. Under the DRS Regulations, retailers are required to charge consumers a deposit for every drink sold, to take-back empty containers (unless displaying a take-back exemption) and to refund the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (5 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (WAPCE) includes several measures to tackle packaging waste, a number of which have already been delivered, including the ending of self-compliance for packaging producers, the introduction of deposit and return scheme, and the introduction of eco-modulation and net necessary cost in Extended Producer Responsibility scheme producer fees. Since...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (5 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, anddigital connectivity will be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Seirbhísí Leathanbhanda (5 Mar 2024)

Ossian Smyth: In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that: all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028 all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and digital connectivity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (28 Feb 2024)

Ossian Smyth: As stated in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 13 February 2024, the tethered cap requirement is coming into effect across the EU on 3rd July 2024 and, from that date, only plastic beverage containers where the cap/lid remains firmly attached to the product during use can be placed on the market. The tethered cap requirement was introduced through the Single Use Plastics...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (7 Dec 2023)

Ossian Smyth: An effective transition to a circular economy in Ireland will transform the way materials and resources are consumed, and how the products that households and businesses use are designed and marketed. It will also prevent waste generation, reduce consumption, and extend the productive life of goods. Delivering a circular economy will ensure a focus and increased consumer awareness on the...