Results 21-40 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The VAT on heat pumps dropped in the budget. One reason for that is that we were allowed, under the VAT directive, to cut VAT. We are always constrained in terms of what we can do on VAT in Ireland. It is one area that is decided at a European level. We have a certain flexibility. The committee will know from getting a car serviced that there are different rates of VAT on the bill and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: It is ludicrous to suggest that bin companies are putting up their prices because of the deposit return scheme. They are absolutely capable of putting up their prices, and often did so before the deposit return scheme was brought in. People have said to me that they are not happy about the number of bin companies operating on the same streets around the country and that this is not the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (16 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: As provided for under the Circular Economy (Waste Recovery Levy) Regulations 2023, an independent expert review was commissioned to assess the continued relevance and applicability of existing landfill levy exemptions including that for bio-stabilised waste. The review recommendations are currently under consideration within my Department and as such it would not be appropriate to comment on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (16 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. I am advised by NBI...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution (15 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement, and clean-up actions in relation to litter taking account of local circumstances and priorities. My Department provides financial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (15 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. These targets will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and through the State investment in National Broadband Ireland (NBI). The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (15 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is currently rolling out a high speed and future-proofed broadband network through its Contract with the Minister. NBI...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (15 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Notwithstanding the significant progress made in improving Ireland’s waste performance over recent years, the targets we face at EU level are challenging, including targets for municipal waste recycling in 2025. In that context, I now asked my officials to commission a comprehensive study to explore the feasibility, potential benefits and risks associated with transitioning our waste...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (15 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. The premises in question is in the BLUE area on the broadband map. The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. The Department defines high-speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (15 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. The Question refers to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Control of Dogs (15 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution, including dog fouling, lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement, and clean-up actions in relation to litter taking account of local circumstances and priorities. There are no...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (15 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and aluminium cans is one of the most positive consumer behaviour initiatives to happen in this country for decades. It is doing two vital things – reducing litter and combating the scourge of single-use plastics on the environment – by ensuring that these containers get separately collected for recycling. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (15 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Providing telecommunication 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. Mobile coverage obligations are set out in licences granted by ComReg, to mobile operators who advise that the current minimum coverage obligations are being exceeded by all...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (15 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is currently rolling out a high speed and future-proofed broadband network through its Contract with the Minister. NBI are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (15 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. I am advised by NBI...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (15 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. The target that all premises in the State will have access to gigabit broadband by 2028 is on track and will be met through a combination of commercial...

South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy: Motion (10 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the draft South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 26th September, 2024. On behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, I welcome this opportunity to seek the support of Deputies for Ireland’s first forward spatial plan...

Seanad: Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2024: Second Stage (10 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Having regard to the continued high energy costs for households, I am pleased to commend the Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2024 to the House. This Bill will establish two schemes to give further support to households with their electricity bills, following the success of the previous electricity costs emergency benefit schemes in 2022 and 2023. The...

Seanad: Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Oct 2024)

Ossian Smyth: One of the things we do every year is meet with people who are representatives of those living in energy poverty and those who are directly affected by it. One of the things they say to us is that they did not want to have large arrears building up on their electricity accounts where they have prepay meters. This amendment proposes to remove all arrears limits on prepay meters. As with the...