Results 81-100 of 2,737 for speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Invasive Species Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1178, 1180, 1257, 1259 and 1262 together. Asian Hornets pose a significant threat to biodiversity in Ireland as even a single nest can devastate honeybee populations. My Department responded rapidly to a confirmed sighting of an Asian Hornet in Cork last month. The Asian Hornet Management Group is a rapid interdepartmental response resource mobilised...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: My Department recently conducted a public consultation on proposed designations of Heavily Modified Water Bodies (HMWBs). The consultation was not concerned with proposed amendments to water quality standards. The purpose of the HMWB consultation was to gather the public’s views on the proposed designation of Heavily Modified Water Bodies, where they have been physically modified in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I refer to my reply to Questions No's 252 of 22 May 2025, 526 of 17 June 2025 and 246 of 10 July 2025, which sets out the position in this matter. To progress this application under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme, my Department issued further correspondence and a map to the applicant on 26 June 2025. The applicant made contact with the Department on 11 August 2025 and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1216, 1220 and 1221 together. The National Peatlands Strategy 2015-2025 was established in partnership between relevant Government Departments, State bodies and key stakeholders to provide better overall direction to Ireland’s approach to peatland conservation. A mid-term review of the strategy was published in 2023 following extensive public...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: In 2021, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, with support from the Intel Corporation, commenced preparations for the restoration of approximately 60 hectares of blanket bog at Liffey Head in the Wicklow Mountains Special Area of Conservation. 18 months of technical baseline investigations were undertaken. Due to the complexity of the ground conditions encountered during...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Horticulture Sector (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for the implementation of legislation around invasive alien species including the new European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 which were introduced in July 2024. These regulations give full effect to the EU IAS Regulation (1143/2014) in the national context and also update and strengthen the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) entered into force on 18 August 2024. It sets out a framework for EU Member States to restore nature, with binding targets for the restoration of a wide range of ecosystems including rivers, forests, oceans, urban and agricultural areas, as well as protected habitats and species. Ireland has until 1 September 2026 to submit a draft National Restoration...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1224, 1225 and 1226 together. Under my remit as Minister of State, my Department convened a meeting of officials which included, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) along with Wexford County Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) to establish an oversight group for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Welfare (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1229 and 1230 together. Under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive, Member States are required to report to the European Commission on the National Conservation Status of all habitats and species listed in the Annexes of that directive. This reporting cycle is every six years and Ireland has just submitted the fourth assessment to the Commission. As the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: My Department funds a range of grant schemes for the repair and conservation of protected structures and monuments, which may be of relevance to assist in the conservation of these historic sites. The National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) provides financial support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through the Built Heritage Investment Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: My Department does not keep a record of qualifications held by all staff members, and accordingly there may be staff working in various roles who have a qualification in entomology but are working in other areas. The entry grade for recruiting technical and professional staff to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is Wildlife Inspector Grade III. The recruitment process for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Projects (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: National Heritage Week is funded and co-ordinated by the Heritage Council, which is a body under the aegis of my Department. I understand that National Heritage Week 2025 was very successful, with over 2,500 projects and events held nationally between 16 and 24 August. Over the next few weeks the Heritage Council will be correlating data related to National Heritage Week, such as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1295 and 1297 together. My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, gives primary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1296 and 1298 together. The Community Monuments Fund (CMF) is administered through the Local Authorities by the National Monuments Service (NMS) of my Department and has a strong focus on community and voluntary groups. The CMF supports a range of initiatives to conserve, maintain, protect and promote local monuments and historic sites. This investment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1306 and 1307 together. The EU’s Birds Directive requires all Member States to submit reports to the Commission on bird population status and trends, the pressures and threats acting upon them, the implementation of national provisions taken under the Directive, and the contribution of the network of Special Protection Areas to the objectives set...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS) is Ireland’s national programme for monitoring population trends of wintering waterbirds and the habitats they use. The survey has been running for over 30 years. The I-WeBS count surveys are completed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), by professional staff of the survey service provider (under contract) and by a network of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question no. 503 of 1 July 2025 and confirm that the position remains the same.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The Narrow Water Bridge, when complete, will connect Cornamucklagh near Omeath, Co. Louth with Narrow Water near Warrenpoint, Co. Down, providing a direct link between the Mourne Mountains and the Cooley Peninsula. The project has a strong public profile and strong support from stakeholders on both sides of the border and is entirely funded via the Shared Island Fund. My Department is the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The selection process and criteria for projects to receive Shared Island funding are a matter for the Department of the Taoiseach, who manage the Shared Island Fund. My Department, through the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), is the lead on three nature restoration and biodiversity projects supported by the Shared Island Fund. They are Natura Communities; the Shared Island...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Register of Electors (17 Jul 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank the Senator for raising the general issue of fraudulent voting. He will understand and will not be surprised to hear that I cannot comment on individual cases, but I will make some general comments because I agree with him that fraudulent behaviour in the voting process strikes at the core of democracy. There are other issues as well. We all, as the Senator said, have put ourselves...