Results 2,401-2,420 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Instruction to Committee (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I move: That Standing Order 233(2) is modified to provide that it be an instruction to the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in relation to the Historical and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023, that the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing subject matter of the Bill, in relation to: (a) the Foreshore Act...

Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Report 2022: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I will try to respond quickly to so some of the points raised by Deputies. I thank everybody for their valuable contributions. Deputy Ó Broin raised the issue of septic tanks, as did a number of other Deputies. We are working on the issue of the registration issue around septic tanks. It is critically important and I agree with all that has been said there. Certainly, there is an...

Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Report 2022: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I have.

Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Report 2022: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: In its latest water indicators report, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has found that, overall, there was no significant improvement in the biological quality of our rivers or lakes in 2022. While it is welcome to see that improvements are happening in some areas, these are being completely offset by declines elsewhere. This EPA report highlights that too much nitrogen and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (27 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue in a Commencement matter. Kildare is a county I am very familiar with as I have strong family connections there. The Department acknowledges the funding pressures on local authorities generally. I also acknowledge some of the innovative work and funding the Senator outlined. Kildare County Council continues to do exceptional work. As committed...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (27 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I will conclude by referring to the Government's support for Kildare, in particular since 2020. Across all schemes and funding sources, my Department provided €151.7 million in 2020, €155.9 million in 2021 and €164.9 million in 2022 to Kildare County Council. Included in this is the unprecedented level of support provided by central government to local authorities...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Climate Change Policy (27 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Seanadóir for raising this important issue. My home town, Kilkenny, was also inundated through what can only be described as freak weather events that are happening far too consistently now. Local authorities are designated as principal response agencies and are the lead agencies for co-ordinating the local response to severe weather, including that causing flooding, as per...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Climate Change Policy (27 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Senator has made a really valid point and it is important we take on board what he proposes. The idea of a one-stop-shop and a whole-of-government approach - a whole-of-government approach is happening - and information and communication on the supports that are available are critically important. In the longer term, if we look at the vote at the EU environment committee today and the...

Local Government and Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (Carrigaline Rent Pressure Zone) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Before I come to the scripted closing remarks, I acknowledge the issues in both Clogherhead and Carrigaline. Within the comprehensive review of the rental sector, we will work with the Deputies opposite to try to address these two areas. In terms of the rental increase that Deputy Ó Broin spoke about, it is the case that landlords can charge market rents in both areas. There is the...

Local Government and Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (Carrigaline Rent Pressure Zone) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Let me begin by thanking Deputy Ó Laoghaire for tabling this Bill for Second Stage debate, which the Government will not be opposing. As I understand it, the principle underpinning the Bill is to provide affordable, stable rents and rent certainty for tenants. I, and my Government colleagues, have worked since taking office to improve rent controls for tenants living in areas with high...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: To add to what my colleagues have said, I think it is a really good suggestion. We developed a climate change sectoral adaptation plan for built and archaeological heritage, and we are one of the first countries in Europe to have done it. We are carrying out a life-cycle assessment report and a step-by-step approach to assessing embodied and life-cycle emissions involved in the retrofit of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Deputy mentioned town centre first officers and a number of Deputies have raised the one-per-county. We have taken that on board and if a request comes in for further resources, we can accommodate it. Across our local authority system, there are vacancy officers. We are looking at a scheme now through our architectural conservation officers to ensure every county has one. We see it as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: That is something we will give consideration to. On the marine environment and renewable energy, we are in the process of completing the legislation for marine protected areas. What we have in place, between the marine strategy framework directive and the marine planning, is a good regulatory system giving certainty to companies pitching for projects. We are moving into a better space in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The mitigation issue is a hugely important point. We are seeing the impacts of coastal erosion and rising sea levels across the country. It is critically important that we address the issue strategically because it is happening now. In regard to biodiversity officers, we are making good progress. We started the scheme with The Heritage Council this year. It is our intention to have a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for his question on the historic structures fund. I would love to double the fund as it has been hugely impactful. We have a number of funds. We have the built heritage investment scheme and we support the Heritage Council's delivery of the historic towns initiative. What we get out of those funds is not just the retrofit of individual buildings but perhaps even...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: It is and is not off the agenda, because it is about embodied carbon. These traditional buildings use natural materials and that in itself is low-carbon, so it is critically important. We have done considerable work on thatched properties. Unfortunately, we are loosing them at too fast a rate and we want to reverse that trend. I take on board the Deputy's point. We are in the process of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator. I will take the first question. We are progressing well with the marine protected areas legislation. It is our intention to have it brought forward before the end of the summer recess and that is the commitment we have given. On the specifics around 10% and the blue carbon issue the Senator raised. We were clear in the initial report led by Professor Crowe and from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: We want to leave that open. We want to ensure that the legislation gives effect to allowing the public to have a say in how we do this. We do not see marine protected areas as lines on maps. Absolutely, there are designations there for birds under special protection areas. We have moved to increase that from 2% to 8%, and we will be moving towards 10% this year. Critically important for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Whitmore. The discussion on the nature restoration law is ongoing. There is a distance to go yet. The Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and I will be in Luxembourg next week. Separately - and I have said this publicly as well - a lot of restoration work is already under way in this country. There are projects like the wild Atlantic...