Results 2,421-2,440 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

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

Malcolm Noonan: I agree with the Minister of State. I am very familiar with Dundalk. Ten years ago my party colleague, former Senator Mark Deary, walked me through the streets of Dundalk. He was the first to suggest to me the idea of a town centres first policy.

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

Malcolm Noonan: Yes, absolutely. He was a real visionary for the town. What has happened in Dundalk is an exemplar that should be replicated in mid-sized towns across the country. The URDF and the myriad schemes the Government has brought forward over the past couple of years are critically important. They have added to the coherence and vibrancy of towns. They have increased the opportunities around...

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

Malcolm Noonan: The Cathaoirleach raised the issue of induced traffic or traffic generated by a road project. That is a planning matter when planning authorities or An Bord Pleanála are giving consideration to a project. Sometimes, induced traffic is overlooked, as has happened in the past. It is a really interesting phenomenon that is being studied globally. Having the ability to factor in the...

Nature Restoration Law and Irish Agriculture: Statements (31 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: While we are on this subject and I have the floor, I pay tribute to Michael Viney who passed away this week. Michael made his home with Ethna in Thallabawn, County Mayo. He wrote for 60 years of his experiences of living in rural Ireland and of nature. It is fitting that we pay tribute to him this afternoon. I thank our team leading the discussions on behalf of the Government and the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality (30 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Deputy raised an important and ongoing issue that has persisted for some time and is of great concern to the local community in Whitegate. The Deputy will appreciate that the operation of the Whitegate regional public water supply is a matter for Uisce Éireann, which has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services, planning, delivery and operation at national,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality (30 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The points the Deputy raised are valid in terms of consumers having to buy bottled water, the plastic waste that creates and the fact that sometimes bottled water is not of great quality, as well as the uncertainty. I will convey the points he raised about communication with Uisce Éireann. It is not acceptable that there are no conspicuous notices and the website needs to be updated...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Sports Facilities (25 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: From what the Deputy has described, I would say the work is very important and valuable to the communities, particularly to disadvantaged new communities. This is investment well spent in the context of any Government expenditure to support fantastic clubs like this. With regard to the LSSIF, there is ongoing engagement between the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Services Personnel (25 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Murnane O'Connor for raising the matter so passionately. I agree wholeheartedly with her that these are people who have found a vocation in the work they do and they love their work on a daily basis. They face huge risk in that work and it is noted. The Government has noted the contents of Retained Fire Services in Ireland - A Review of Recruitment and Retention and the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Sports Facilities (25 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Gannon for tabling the issue. It is very important. Fantastic work is going on in football clubs throughout the country. The inclusion aspect is significant and I know this from the local football club in Kilkenny. Any decision, particularly with regard to the leasing of property by Dublin City Council, is entirely a matter for the local authority in the first instance....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Relations (25 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Maybe the Deputy is. I cannot speak for myself. As I said earlier, Ireland's system of industrial relations is voluntary in nature and responsibility for the resolution of industrial relations issues lies ultimately with employers and workers and their respective representatives, as appropriate. Enterprises and their employees are at liberty to negotiate a form of collective agreement that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Services Personnel (25 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I am happy to address this issue on behalf of my constituency colleague. Like the Deputy, I pay tribute to the incredible work our fire services undertake. The pay and conditions for all public servants, including those working in the fire services and the National Ambulance Service, are set out as part of the Building Momentum public service agreement. The Building Momentum agreement...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Relations (25 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I appreciate that.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Relations (25 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: If a Deputy puts forward a Topical Issue and has done work on it, in the interests of fairness, he or she should be informed if the relevant Minister cannot take the matter. I just wanted to state that. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. This issue arises in relation to the report produced by the Financial Services Union on employee experiences of technological surveillance in...

Biodiversity Action: Statements (25 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank all Deputies for their contributions. I agree with Deputy Connolly that it would be great to have a full Chamber for these debates or at least more participation, but I welcome the contributions made by all. The most significant topic raised was the nature restoration regulation. I know we will have a debate next week, but it pertains to agriculture. It is far wider legislation...

Biodiversity Action: Statements (25 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Happy Biodiversity Week everyone. It is significant that today this House is debating the topic of biodiversity action - not loss, but action - because that is what this Government is focused on. In 2019, the Dáil declared a climate and biodiversity crisis. The 2020 programme for Government contained stronger commitments for nature than any that came before it. Since becoming...

Protection of Hares Bill 2023: First Stage (25 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: No.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The river basin management plan is nearing completion and has had valuable input from SWAN and other NGOs through An Fórum Uisce. There is a broad stakeholder group inputting to the plan. The next iteration of the plan will deal with issues around free flowing rivers and flood attenuation, in terms of using natural nature-based solutions to that. It is important we look at this in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I acknowledge the contributions of both Deputies for their respective areas. On the discretion levels, if including Dublin Region Homeless Executive area, the households in receipt of the discretionary HAP comes in at approximately 62%, and the average rate of discretion is at 25.5%. Excluding the Dublin Region Homeless Executive area, the average household in receipt of the discretionary...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Deputy Boyd Barrett referred to his constituency in Dún Laoghaire. It is one of the local authorities, across all the local authorities, with the highest use of the discretionary HAP. We are still approving 680 HAP tenancies per month. We have committed to reducing reliance on HAP, as we have stated, and that relates to delivery of supply of social, affordable and cost-rental housing....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 94 together. The housing assistance payment is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector, which should be within the HAP rent...