Results 1,961-1,980 of 4,720 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (3 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Generally, a Minister or Minister of State is on Front Bench cover on a given day and will take a range of questions, whether Commencement matters or Topical Issues, during that day. I am glad Deputy Quinlivan was contacted and informed the matter would not be taken by the Minister for Health or one of the Ministers of State from that Department. This issue of who responds to questions has...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Schemes (3 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Yes, I am indeed.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Schemes (3 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I am not sure if I can, but I will try to-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Schemes (3 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage provides funding to local authorities under the housing adaptation grants for the older people and people with a disability schemes to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. These grants are available to people with an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for raising the issue. I will be responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. I agree wholeheartedly with the Senator. As far as I am aware, we have the lowest rate in Europe for the employment of people with disabilities in the workplace. There are a number of significant barriers for people with disabilities that we must address. The Department of Social...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senator Byrne again for raising this issue. I agree wholeheartedly with her. As I outlined in my opening statement, the Government has made significant strides forward but we realise we have much more to do to address the issues of underemployment of people with disabilities. I met recently with residents in RehabCare in Kilkenny. Again, there is a great deal of frustration out...

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 37: In page 32, line 29, after “provisions” to insert “of”.

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: No.

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: With the indulgence of An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, I will deal with the constituency issues first before I speak to the amendments. On the points raised by Deputy Cronin in respect of the Obelisk, it is a good time for me to advertise some of the grant schemes in our Department and, in particular, the community monuments fund and built heritage grant schemes. They will be coming back...

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 31: In page 30, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following: “(f) any battlefield;”

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for the good intention behind this amendment. I wholeheartedly agree we all have a duty to protect our heritage. As has been confirmed multiple times during the Bill's passage through the Oireachtas, the enacted Bill will not only give effect to many aspects of the Valletta Convention, but it is the main vehicle the State will use to give effect to the convention. It...

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I recall our discussions on the public access issue, although that is obviously not within the scope of this Bill. To reiterate, I am confident the Bill addresses much of what the Valletta Convention asks signatory nations to set out to achieve. Critically, the Bill will strengthen the protection of our heritage. That is significant.

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I again thank the Deputy for his proposals outlined in amendments Nos. 25, 26 and 72, but I ask him to consider withdrawing them as I intend to propose a range of amendments relating to the use of national and local newspapers for the purposes of section 18 general list notices in either hard copy or electronic format. Amendment No. 71, unfortunately, is not considered workable. As mentioned...

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy. There is such a plethora of information-sharing platforms. In many cases, the way people get their information nowadays is changing dramatically. Thankfully, there is still generally quite a good readership of local newspapers, especially in rural areas, as the Deputy said. I have given a commitment to, and we are proposing, a range of amendments...

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I again thank the Deputy for this proposal. I confirm that I will propose significant amendments directly to the terminology used in section 173 to provide for this amendment. Accordingly, I ask the Deputy to consider withdrawing it. Specifically on amendments Nos. 186 and 187, following on from Deputy Ó Snodaigh’s proposed amendment,amendments Nos.186 and 187delete the term...

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 29: In page 30, line 1, after “place” to insert “, including any other site directly associated with that event”.

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: As I stated on Committee Stage, I fully endorse and support every effort to promote the use and status of the Irish language. My officials engaged with the Parliamentary Counsel on this matter. The approach considered under amendments Nos. 15, 17, 18, 20, 51 and 159 is, unfortunately, considered to be most unorthodox and introduces legal risks and discrepancies across the Statute Book....

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I appreciate the concerns brought forward by the Deputy on this. There has been inconsistency. I appreciate the fact the Deputy accepts the Government's intention on this.

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 19: In page 23, line 28, after “literary” to insert “, linguistic”.

Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (27 Sep 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I apologise to Deputy Sherlock if I have caused confusion by my confusion. Amendment No. 28 deals with landscape. As I said, landscape designation areas are already in the Planning and Development Act - I think it is section 274. Amendment No. 28 deals with locations, landscape areas, where a monument could be located rather than the monuments themselves which the Bill intends to protect....