Results 3,201-3,220 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (15 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 1: In page 11, line 5, to delete “the Electoral Commission” and substitute “An Coimisiún Toghcháin”. These amendments relate to the Irish language and to the commission itself. I thank the committee members for their suggestions and contributions on Committee Stage. I have reflected on the views expressed in tabling these...

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Instruction to Committee (15 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 187, it be an instruction to the Committee to which the Electoral Reform Bill 2022 may be recommitted in respect of certain amendments, that it has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing provisions of the Bill, in relation to the insertion of a new Part 8 and amendments to the long title for the purpose of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Development (15 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I welcome the pupils in the Gallery. I am not sure what school they are in but they all very welcome to the Seanad Chamber. It is fantastic to have schools visit these Houses. I thank Senator Boyhan for his question and for citing the example of Kilkenny. He is correct. It is a very good example but we always do things well in Kilkenny, as he would know well. Rural nodes are the lowest...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Development (15 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: There has been significant investment by the Government in Irish Water and much of that will, excuse the pun, trickle down into local rural communities. We see it as being vitally important that small-scale water and wastewater treatment plants are upgraded to meet the needs of local rural areas. The funding is directed through local authorities. They are responsible for the local road...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (15 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The maintenance and management of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority.  It is the duty of each authority to ensure, as far as possible, and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. The Electoral Reform Bill, which is currently going through the Houses of the Oireachtas, provides for the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I am coming to this debate from the last session. The whole point of substitute consent is to seek regularisation and to protect the environment. It is a key point that the developer in a parallel application must show bona fides. The substitute consent application is assessed as per the section 177K criteria for exceptionality. I hope that clarifies the matter. The Senator mentioned she...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Before I come back in on the scripted response, I will raise a couple of quick points. Senator McDowell is always a rock of sense and he always makes sensible points. Specifically, I will not make any reference to the Derrybrien case particularly. It is subject to an ongoing planning enforcement and I am not going to give any feedback specifically in relation to it. I will just say that...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: To clarify, in terms of section 13, Senator Higgins has withdrawn amendment No. 9.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I am sure Senator McDowell will appreciate that I cannot comment on a specific area. Again, a substitute consent is an application for consent by a developer and a developer cannot be forced to launch a subsequent consent application.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Senator's opposition to this section concerns a technical drafting amendment in respect of remedial environmental impact statements as a result of the substantive changes being made by the Bill. I cannot accept the Senator's opposition to this group of amendments, which comprise technical amendments that are necessary as a result of the repeal of section 177D and ancillary provisions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Postal Voting (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I can confirm that my Department has not received correspondence from An Garda Síochána on this matter. The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, Returning Officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Strategic Action Plan for the renewal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the accompanying reports were published in full on 4 May 2022. The complete documentation, including the submissions received during the Public Consultation, are available at www.gov.ie/en/publicationsand at www.npws.ie/news.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme was established in 2011 for active domestic turf cutters arising from the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation and was extended in 2014 to include raised bog natural heritage areas. This scheme is applicable to turf cutters who have been affected by the designation of raised bogs as special areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Insurance Coverage (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I am aware of the challenges facing owners of thatched buildings in respect of 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 is to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Welfare (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: During 2021 the Wildlife Licencing Unit within the National Parks and Wildlife Services of my Department has issued licences to individuals associated or affiliated with University College Cork under various sections of the Wildlife Act 1976 to 2018. Section 22(9)(a) & Section 23(6)(a) permits me, as Minister, to grant a licence to a person at any time to capture or humanely kill...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Promotion (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: In line with UNESCO advice that World Heritage Tentative Lists be reviewed at least every ten years, my Deartment launched a call for applications in January 2019 to update Ireland’s World Heritage Tentative List. The Tentative List is essentially an inventory of potential sites that Ireland intends to nominate for inclusion on the World Heritage List.  My Department's...

Urban Regeneration Report: Motion (2 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank all contributors to the debate. It has been hugely useful from our perspective and I will give a commitment on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and Minister of State, Deputy Burke, that we will take on board the recommendations and work with the committee. We will work across the Houses of the Oireachtas to try to implement them. As I said, there is a significant...

Urban Regeneration Report: Motion (2 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this discussion and thank the committee Chair and members for their consideration of this very important report to inform Government policy. The topic of urban regeneration is central to solving many of the challenges that face our country. Urban decay, retail vacancy and depopulation are unwelcome symptoms of the challenges we continue to face...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Supports (2 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Housing for All plan sets out the Government’s commitment to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade, including an average of 10,000 new build social homes, which we are on track to deliver. As I said, that is where part of the solution lies, but not the entire solution. It is our ambition to reduce dependency on HAP by increasing...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Supports (2 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The housing assistance payment, HAP, is a flexible and immediate housing support available to all eligible households throughout the State. At the end of quarter four of 2021, more than 100,000 HAP tenancies had been set up since the scheme commenced, of which more than 61,900 households were actively receiving HAP support. Under HAP, tenants source their own accommodation in the...