Results 3,101-3,120 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Insurance Coverage (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I am aware of the challenges facing owners of thatched buildings in relation to securing insurance. Both Heritage Ireland 2030, the new national heritage plan, and A Living Tradition, the new vernacular architectural heritage strategy, contain actions to address the issue of insurance of protected structures, including thatched buildings. Action 6 of A Living Tradition sets out to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Commission (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Article 16 of the Constitution sets out the overarching requirements that apply to the membership of Dáil Éireann. The constitutional provisions require that Dáil constituencies be revised whenever population change, as ascertained in a census, leads to population to member ratios in individual constituencies that are significantly out of line with the national average or the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Schemes (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 to 207, inclusive, together. My Department provides financial support for eligible conservation works towards heritage buildings, historic structures and archaeological monuments through three grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank all the Senators for their contributions. I will make a general point on the discussion we have had. I wholeheartedly support the notion of Seanad reform. There was not a commitment to it in the programme for the Government. It is a three-party programme for Government negotiated with three parties in good faith. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, gave a commitment to examine...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: There is nothing to stop the electoral commission from making recommendations on any aspect of electoral law, including Seanad electoral law. The point was made by Senator Higgins that the possibility is there. Yes, it is tasked with quite an amount of work. We have already spent five and a half hours on this. We will have had seven and a half hours in total. I absolutely respect the...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I again thank Senators Ruane, Higgins, Black and Flynn for these amendments and the sentiment behind them on improving accessibility and participation. It is important and something we all want to achieve. These amendments seek to amend existing provisions in order that, first, as part of an coimisiún's referendum functions, the statement it prepares and publishes to explain the...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: In my response to the amendments there is a strong commitment that we are already going - I will not say above and beyond - strongly in ensuring inclusivity, including referendum guides around Braille, Irish Sign Language, audio, large print format and easy-to-read format for people with intellectual disabilities. Thus, we are already doing that. The referendum commission ethos in that...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senators for their contributions. Section 51 provides for transparency on the register of political parties and it will be open to the commission to publish it on its website.Political parties have a responsibility to publish material about the party on their websites. It is something my party and, I am sure, all the established parties take seriously.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The onus on and responsibility of political parties in that regard are critical in order that people who want to look up a political party or are interested in joining one are able to clearly see on the party's website its guiding principles, founding principles, etc. All political parties should adhere to that. I thank Senators Moynihan, Hoey, Sherlock and Wall for the proposed amendments...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The friary at the referenced site is a national monument in the care and ownership of the local authority. My Department is liaising with the local authority over the condition of the monument to give archaeological advice regarding its care. The local authority would be eligible to apply for funding for conservation and repair of the friary under the 2023 Community Monuments Fund which is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (5 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future commits to a broad range of electoral reforms including the modernisation of voter registration.   The Electoral Reform Bill provides the legislative underpinning for the modernisation among other things, including the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission.  The Bill is currently making its way...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (5 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Wild Bird Declarations were extended by a period of three months to allow for the completion of the review of submissions received as part of the public consultation process, the receipt of legal advice and other internal discussions in relation to species included in the Declarations. My Department is committed to carrying out a review of all the species on the Declaration list...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (5 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future - includes a number of commitments on electoral reform including the establishment of an independent, statutory Electoral Commission.  These commitments are currently being prioritised by way of the Electoral Reform Bill 2022. The Electoral Reform Bill 2022, which is currently progressing through the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (5 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The introduction of mandatory certification training for first time deer hunters came as a recommendation from the original Irish Deer Management Forum in 2018 for reasons of health & safety. Since then, a standard training course syllabus was published by my Department and three course providers were subsequently approved by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS),...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (5 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The use of detection devices under the proposed Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill will largely mirror the system currently in place under the National Monument Acts whereby the use of a detection device to search for or collect archaeological objects is permitted under and in accordance with a licence. The existing provisions are essential for the continued protection of our...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (5 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: 879. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the issue of an organisation (details supplied) being unable to locate an appropriate premises to accommodate its much-needed outreach service; the consequent overspill to its day service centre and the negative effect of this on its capacity for intake of new individuals; the actions that he will take regarding same; and...

Seanad: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Motion (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Government amendment No. 1 in Dáil Éireann to amendment No. 48 from Seanad Éireann is moved to correct a typographical error in the new section 97 of the Bill. A technical reference to the Act of 2004, which is the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, is substituted in place of an incorrect reference to the Act of 2003.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: As Senators are aware, informed decision-making is at the heart of the democratic process and it is crucial for meaningful exercise of the right to vote. When voters are misinformed they may choose a candidate or vote in favour of a constitutional change in violation of their true preferences. Behaviours that interfere with informed decision-making can remove accountability from electoral...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Acting Chairperson. With regard to the queries of Senator Kyne, it relates to the period. It is either the period set by the commission or the three months prior to the last date for an election. I think that explains it. It is restricted to an electoral period as the electoral commission is regulating it. It relates specifically to the electoral period of which the...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Specifically on the point in respect of public consultation, recommendation No. 39 that came from the pre-legislative scrutiny arose out of engagement. There was extensive engagement.