Results 4,261-4,280 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pyrite Incidence (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for giving the Deputies the opportunity to have their say on this. It is across the parties and is coming across loud and clear. On the comparisons in relation to intervention and pyrite scheme costs, this scheme would be double that of the average pyrite scheme. The aim of the scheme is to help, insofar as is possible, to reinstate the average-sized...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pyrite Incidence (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I appreciate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle giving discretion to the Deputies to make their contributions, given that five Deputies brought it forward. It is very important and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is committed to meeting residents in Mayo and has met families in Donegal as well. The cracking of the external walls of dwellings in Donegal and Mayo due to crumbling of concrete...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am familiar with the Blue Towns community-led initiative to which the Deputy referred. I was a director of Kilkenny LEADER Partnership at the time it was being developed. It is a very viable prospect. I will have to double-check the programme for Government to see whether we secured inclusion of an objective of developing a similar initiative for areas not covered by the national...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, I thank Deputy Farrell. The net zero by 2050 roadmap, produced by the IEA envisions that by 2050, global energy demand will be 8% smaller than it is today but will service an economy twice as big and a population with 2 billion more people, and that almost 90% of electricity generation will come from renewable sources. Energy security will evolve on the path to net zero. Electricity...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Funchion for this question. The national broadband plan contract was signed with National Broadband Ireland in November 2019 to roll out a high-speed and future-proofed broadband network within the intervention area, which covers 1.1 million people living and working in more than 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I welcome this matter and thank the Deputy for making such a valuable contribution it. It is important that we continue to debate this issue. The recent IEA report emphasises that the energy sector is the source of approximately three quarters of greenhouse gas emissions today. Reducing global CO2emissions to net zero by 2050 is consistent with efforts to limit the long-term increase in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The case was very well made by the Senator. The funding system for local authorities is complex, with authorities deriving their income from a variety of sources, including commercial rates, charges for goods and services, and funding from central Government. Local authorities vary significantly from one another in terms of size, population, population distribution, public service demands,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I note the concerns of the Senator. Every local authority is facing similar challenges. We can look towards the budgetary process for 2022, whereby elected members can again give consideration to the LPT, which is a mechanism that can be used. I reiterate that the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, is committed to working with Galway County Council to try to resolve these issues,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: In response to the evolving needs of Irish society and its relationship with the wider Irish diaspora, the previous Government agreed in March 2017 to accept in principle the main recommendation in the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution that Irish citizens resident outside the State, including citizens resident in Northern Ireland, should have the right to vote at presidential...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Futurecommits to a broad range of electoral reforms including a commitment to the modernisation of voter registration. The modernisation includes the introduction of rolling registration; the simplification of forms and processes; the gradual roll-out of an online option for registration; a single, national database within which Local Authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wild Fires (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The national recruitment process for conservation rangers was advertised late last year and is being managed bythe Public Appointments Service. The recruitment is at an advanced stage and candidates are currently being interviewed. Frontline conservation rangers are deployed through a regional structure and assignments are determined in light of Departmental business needs and priorities. A...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Waterways Ireland is the navigation authority for the Erne System. The western limit of navigation on the Erne System as managed by Waterways Ireland is at Belleek, Co. Fermanagh where there is a marina with services. There are no plans at this time to extend the navigation farther west to the Atlantic coast at the Erne estuary.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: 433. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a significant time difference between when HIQA reports (details supplied) are shared with their service providers and when they are shared with their service users; if he is satisfied with such delays; if it is possible that all relevant stakeholders of such facilities will...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senators for putting so well the case about the physical infrastructure of the bridge and the symbolism of bridging two communities. Unfortunately, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, are not available, so I am taking this topic on their behalf. It is important to note there is a Government commitment jointly with the Northern Ireland...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I understand the Senators' frustration regarding progress on this issue. It is of great importance on both sides of the Border, as has been stated. There are many moving parts in achieving progress on this issue. As I mentioned in my opening statement, the development of the Newry southern relief road is proceeding well. This would have a major impact on the robustness of any business...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Measures (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Naughton. The relevant legislation that allows for the removal of abandoned vessels in Irish waters such as that referred to by the Senator is the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993, which gives effect to the International Convention on Salvage 1989, to which Ireland is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Measures (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I take on board fully the points made by the Senator and he is correct in what he said. Particularly as we move towards legislating for marine protected areas, there is an opportunity not only to introduce legislation but to make sure it is aligned on the protection of our marine environment. In particular regarding the MV Alta, it was washed up on 16 February 2020 and Cork County Council...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Air Services (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address the ongoing crisis in the aviation sector, particularly the recent announcement made by Aer Lingus concerning certain cost-cutting measures in light of the cumulative impact of Covid-19 over the past 15 months. First, I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Air Services (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, it is important to note that the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, chairs the aviation subgroup of the Labour Employer Economic Forum and that subgroup is continuing its work in investigating a specially extended wage subsidy scheme for the aviation sector. That work is ongoing. Specifically, in relation to the Heathrow slots, Aer Lingus still holds its portfolio slots at London...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Electoral Reform (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am conscious that I am taking this Commitment matter on Bob Dylan's 80th birthday. The times they are indeed a-changing. From a political perspective, I very much welcome the Senator bringing this issue to the House because it is really important. At the outset, it should be noted that the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future contains a broad range of electoral reforms, including...