Results 2,661-2,680 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act: Motion (13 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 (Appointment of Registration Body) Order 2022, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 18th November, 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (13 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department provides financial support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). My Department does not provide funding of the type outlined in your question. One option that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (13 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service is working to update the Wildlife Act. This is a multi-year project and is currently at an early planning phase. The issue raised can be examined as part of that work. This will entail an extensive public consultation phase and I would encourage everyone to participate fully in that when the opportunity arises.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (13 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Under the 2022 Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS), all 31 local authorities were allocated grant funding and asked to nominate awards to a number of heritage projects, for approval by my Department. The project at Knocklofty House was one such project nominated by Tipperary County Council and approved by my Department. As you are aware, officials in my Department were recently informed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (13 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 gives legal effect to the proposed reconfiguration of the raised bog Natural Heritage Area network arising from the 2014 review of the raised bog Natural Heritage Area network. The Bill had completed all stages in the Dáil and the Seanad, and had been returned to the Dáil for consideration of the various amendments made by the Seanad when the...

Dublin Bay Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Bacik. I congratulate her on her recent graduation. I commend her on bringing this Bill forward. It is timely and brings together many initiatives around the conversations we have been having within our Department and also with stakeholders such as SOS Dublin Bay regarding the future of the bay. I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. We all want to achieve...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will not be accepting this amendment. The independence of the board is already provided for in section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, which covers limitation on ministerial power, and provides that the Minister shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the board is or may be concerned.

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: There is a clear separation between the Minister and board members under section 30. The Government is satisfied that the independence of the board is already well-provided for in section 30.

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senators for their contributions. That is the case, as Senator Cummins said. On section 6 and the matter of satisfactory experience, while Senator Higgins called it "a general soup" of expertise, it is quite specific in that it provides for the range of expertise that will be needed on the board. Regardless of that being there or not, we have to be mindful, and the Senator...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I very much recognise the spirit of these amendments relating to the robustness and transparency of the appointment process. I take Senator Cummins's point about the accountability of the Minister. He is correct that it is about trying to ensure there is predictability in timelines and that we deal with backlogs. Decision-making certainly must be robust but there also must be a process...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will speak to the amendments. I do not accept amendment No. 9. This provision is necessary to ensure that ordinary board members can be urgently appointed, on a temporary basis, where the number of applications, appeals, referrals or other matters with which the board is concerned is at such a level so as to require the appointment of additional members. Amendment No. 10 is not being...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will respond to specifically to the issue of the civil servants. It is certainly the case in our National Monuments Service and National Parks and Wildlife Service that the civil servants are scientists, entomologists, botanists and archaeologists. Throughout the Civil Service, there are professional, relevant skills. Under section 6, the Minister shall ensure, in so far as is...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: In regard to amendment No.14, this amendment is not accepted as the basis for adding this officeholder is not apparent in terms of the relevance of their role.

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I welcome the young people to the very packed Public Gallery. I cannot accept amendment No. 18. The legislation is clear that the public service position of interim chairperson will be open to all existing public and civil servants. It is appropriate that this position can be filled, as a matter of urgency, by a person who has been previously suitably vetted by the civil and publish...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Senator used the term "opportunistic". There is certainly nothing opportunistic about this Bill. It is important to stress that this is about ensuring that there is robustness and transparency in our planning system. I will not be accepting the amendment. While it is not envisaged that this provision will be utilised, it is appropriate to provide for the reappointment of an interim...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I disagree fundamentally with the Senator's use of the term "opportunistic". That is certainly not the case and I reiterate that this is about building greater transparency and robustness in our planning system. We are responding to the concerns and this is about restoring confidence and about transparency and accountability. I refer to section 6 on skills, competency and suitability. I...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Amendments Nos. 21 and 22 are not accepted as the Government has decided to end the outdated closed system of nominating bodies deciding who to put forward for board appointments and is instead putting in place an open competitive process by which any member of the public can apply to become a member of the board of An Bord Pleanála. Section 6 refers to knowledge of community and social...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Before I specifically speak to the amendments, I would point out that there is already a committee system in place for the recruitment of a chairperson of An Bord Pleanála through an open and competitive process. The Bill provides that the Minister "shall establish a suitable, independent, objective and transparent procedure (which may include the establishment of a committee)", which...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, my response to amendment No. 30 is the same as for amendment No. 29. Amendment No. 31 is not accepted because the text in the Bill is appropriate, providing that the Minister shall establish a "suitable, independent, objective and transparent procedure (which may include the establishment of a committee) in accordance with which recommendations may be made to the Minister in relation...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will finish responding to the amendments, if I may. My response to amendment No. 34 is the same as that for amendment No. 29. I am not accepting amendment No. 35 because subsections (6) to (8) are no longer relevant following the replacement of the nominating panel process under section 106(4). Amendment No. 36 has been withdrawn. Amendments No. 37 is not accepted as it is appropriate...