Results 1,901-1,920 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Weather Events (24 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I will take back that ask. A timeline for a localised approach is important. I had family members who lived in areas prone to flooding in Kilkenny city.In the past, local knowledge gave a certain indication of when a flood would breach houses. However, what we are dealing with now is vastly different. A month of rainfall was dumped in an area in 24 hours. It would be useful to have local...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Industry (24 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for raising another flooding-related issue that is also important, on whether provisional arrangements can be made to spread slurry due to the flooding of slurry storage facilities during Storm Babet. First, I take this opportunity to again sympathise with all those who have been impacted by Storm Babet. It has been devastating for communities. These exceptional weather...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Industry (24 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree wholeheartedly. The vast majority of farmers have a great duty of care to the environment. Farmers who are unclear as to whether their tanks contain slurry or soil water should contact their local authorities. Going forward, farmers should prioritise emptying their slurry storage facilities as early in the growing season as possible. That is a practical measure. It will boast...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Staff (18 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an gceist. I thank the Senator for bringing to our attention the concerns of Keadue National School in County Roscommon. Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government. The key factor for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Staff (18 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I would be more than happy to take the Senator up on his invitation. I was in Roscommon until late last evening. It is a county I love dearly and I would be more than happy to visit Keadue at some point if the Senator sends me an invitation. The difference a new family can make in a community is crucial in that it may achieve the critical point whereby an additional one or two pupils are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Office of Public Works (18 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senator Martin for raising this important issue. I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, who, unfortunately, is not available this morning. As the Senator can appreciate, this is very much an ongoing and fluid scenario and the situation locally at Castletown is changing day by day. I will provide some up-to-date information, taking note of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Office of Public Works (18 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I am sure that the Senator will support the OPW in agreeing that while it would be preferable for these lands to be reunited with the historic demesne, this will only be possible where acceptable terms can be agreed. Again, I note the letter that he has brought to my attention here today. The OPW negotiates on the acquisition of lands, leasing of properties and access terms on behalf of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products (18 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. The State acknowledged the importance of access to medicines and has made considerable investments in new medicines in recent years. This year, a record of almost €3 billion of public funding will be spent on medicines for patients in Ireland. This represents almost €1 of every...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products (18 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I appreciate the points made by the Senator, particularly in regard to the case he outlined about his own family. Certainly, that additional 18 months must have been immense comfort to his family at the time. It certainly gives a family additional time to come to terms with the loss of a loved one. It is critically important that the Mazars work is concluded and the recommendations brought...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality (18 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: In the first instance, the county council is responsible for investigating and dealing with complaints of poor air quality, including odours. I note the serious issues raised by the Deputy relating to Knock Road, Claremorris. All potential sources of the odour would need to be investigated to establish the cause and origins of the issues. The county council may be able to deal with the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality (18 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I reiterate that it is a matter for Uisce Éireann to investigate issues that pertain to its own sewer network. Certainly, we will pass on the message to Uisce Éireann with a view to resolving the issue, if it pertains to its network. My own experience with Uisce Éireann has been very good. I acknowledge that from time to time Deputies complain about the lack of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (18 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputies Murphy, O'Rourke and Ó Cathasaigh for raising this important issue. I hear loud and clear what they are saying about people not feeling supported. It is of great concern and I want to reflect this. I advise the Deputies that the HSE has developed an interim model of care for long Covid that aims to build on existing service provision in addition to establishing new...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (18 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputies and I take the points made on public awareness, ventilation and clean air. There is a winter vaccination programme and I encourage people to avail of the vaccine over the coming weeks and months. The Government continues to support the roll-out of the national service for long Covid, with €2.2 million in funding for the implementation of the model of care...

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I will. I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I agree with a lot of the points made by Deputy Pringle, particularly with regard to local government. I want to focus specifically on budget 2024 as it relates to nature. Members may recall that a vote took place here a number of weeks ago that reverberated across Europe, in my view. That was the vote regarding a debate on the nature restoration...

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (11 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: This group of amendments is straightforward. It consists of amendments introduced to retitle the Bill as a result of the new provisions added under Part 13; to update the Long Title to the Bill; to provide for standard citation matters; and to ensure that the commencement provisions are updated accordingly.

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (11 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I want to take this opportunity to thank the House for the valuable discussions that have taken place to date on this important legislation. As can be seen by the large number of items on the cream list, a wide range of amendments have been made since the Bill was initiated. Many of these are a direct result of the proposals made by Senators and of the corresponding debates. While I will...

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (11 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: On the proposed amendment to the Bill, as it stands, following Dáil amendment No. 15, including "historical" in the term "historic" is to remove any doubt that when the term "historic" is used, it relates to matters belonging to the past and not only to something that may have changed history or is considered famous in historical context. The addition of "traditional", as proposed,...

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (11 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Dáil amendment No. 28 follows a commitment I made during the previous Report Stage in the Seanad. Section 3 outlines the principles that a person performing a function under the Bill must acknowledge and consider. This amendment acknowledges the significance of, and will further an adherence to, the Valletta Convention or any treaty aimed at promoting or securing the protection of...

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (11 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Amendment No. 2 was ruled out of order.

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (11 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: This group of straightforward amendments consists of a range of technical amendments, the vast majority of which were introduced to update the names of Government Departments and public sector bodies. Some typographical errors were also corrected here.