Results 1,921-1,940 of 4,873 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fire Stations (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I reassure the Deputy that Offaly County council has made significant progress and indicated the current Clara fire station is located on a confined site, with an insufficient footprint preventing the prospect of an upgrade or extension works due to the current fire station site. Departmental officials have linked with the council regarding availability on the council's preferred site...

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) (No. 2) Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I will raise a couple of points before I read the closing statement. I want to thank Deputies for the points they have raised. There is nothing additional to say that is not in the closing comments. I will refer to some points that have been raised by Deputy Cian O'Callaghan. In Housing for All, there are measures to enhance family support, prevention and early intervention services for...

Appropriation Bill 2023: Second Stage (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I will respond to some of the points raised by some of the Deputies. A number of Deputies, including Deputies Mattie McGrath and Danny Healy-Rae, raised the issue of water and wastewater infrastructure and, certainly, on the capital side, Uisce Éireann is fully funded to continue its work. It has a very ambitious programme of work to address water and wastewater infrastructure,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an gceist seo. I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this matter which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for agriculture, Deputy McConalogue. Just this morning we announced a new environment scheme for breeding waders, €25 million from my Department via the National Parks and Wildlife Service and €5 million from the Department...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Absolutely Senator, I can bring that back to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. As the Senator can appreciate, the Department took in all applicants, given that there was such an uptake and such demand for the scheme, which is fantastic. It is brilliant that it has happened but it has created significant additional pressure, not to mention in particular on the co-operation project side of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Staff (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senator Gavan for raising this issue. I take this question on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, and regret that neither he nor the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, is available this morning. Like the Senator, the Minister is well aware that insecure employment can and does have a detrimental impact on individual well-being and people's ability to plan for the future, as...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Staff (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I will take the opportunity to highlight that the IUA has been very clear that universities are committed to providing stable and fulfilling careers for staff and strongly rejects any suggestion whatsoever that deliberate attempts were being made to circumvent employment legislation. As I have spoken about measures taken by the Department to address precarity through increased funding and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Parks (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Yes.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Parks (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for her question regarding the Phoenix Park. She mentioned Fingal County Council and I was there yesterday launching its biodiversity plan. The county council has done fantastic work and great credit to them. As the Senator will be aware as a regular visitor to the park, recent years have seen a significant increase in recreational visitors. The OPW faces a difficult...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Parks (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: It sounds to me like the Senator is saying there needs to be ongoing collaborative engagement. There was a non-statutory consultation process and 9,000 submissions were received. I absolutely take on board the points the Senator is raising and they will be brought back to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. Eco-toilets are a good idea. I have seen them in operation in other parks...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for raising this question on the planned new ambulance base for Gorey. Since 2016, the National Ambulance Service, including the south-east region, has undergone significant reform and modernisation, involving the prioritisation of investment in new service developments, including increased workforce, fleet and improved technology. NAS staffing resources nationally have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I will do that. I have given an outline of the fact that it has been included in the capital plan for 2023 and the pathway by which it can then progress through the national capital and property steering committee. The response is the response. I note the Senator's concerns and the fact that he is dissatisfied with the response and I will certainly take this back directly to the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Sector Staff (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 106 of 25 October 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Government is committed to achieving 30% Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage of Ireland's Maritime Area by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and a number of International initiatives such as the UN post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. There is not yet scientific consensus on the meaning or necessary level of strict protection...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Details of relevant capital projects carried out in each of our six National Parks in 2023 and planned for 2024 are set out in the attached table. The list of proposed works for the Parks in 2024 will be refined and additions made following the completion of the business planning process for 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is an Executive Agency within my Department with responsibility for, inter alia, the management of our National Parks. The NPWS does not employ personnel specifically with climate action expertise. While there may be staff who have such expertise it is not an essential requirement for any role in the NPWS and therefore we do not hold a record of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 436 together. My Department does not have responsibility for hedgerow surveys. Teagasc has undertaken hedgerow mapping on a national scale, and a number of local authorities have commissioned hedgerow surveys at county level. The Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) operated by my Department provides funding to assist local authority biodiversity...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Waterways Ireland is a North South Body responsible for the management and maintenance of more than 1000km of Ireland's inland waterways. They include the Shannon, Shannon Erne Waterway, Erne System, the Barrow, the Royal and Grand Canals and the Lower Bann Navigation. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The information requested is not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waterways Ireland (7 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy and Deputy Feighan for the work they have done on this matter. As I said, the process is ongoing and the tender package is being prepared around the new environmental impact assessment, EIA, for the project. We will await the outcome of that. One thing I was conscious of at the launch of the strategic plan was that Waterways Ireland is showing a level of ambition for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I again agree wholeheartedly. There is no doubt there is a race on and it is not just on in Ireland, but right across Europe and globally. The resources the Deputy spoke about are therefore required across the world. Ireland is competing in a very competitive market for the expertise required. The Department has worked on giving certainty to the sector. The delivery of offshore...