Results 2,321-2,340 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Climate Change Policy (27 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Seanadóir for raising this important issue. My home town, Kilkenny, was also inundated through what can only be described as freak weather events that are happening far too consistently now. Local authorities are designated as principal response agencies and are the lead agencies for co-ordinating the local response to severe weather, including that causing flooding, as per...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Climate Change Policy (27 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Senator has made a really valid point and it is important we take on board what he proposes. The idea of a one-stop-shop and a whole-of-government approach - a whole-of-government approach is happening - and information and communication on the supports that are available are critically important. In the longer term, if we look at the vote at the EU environment committee today and the...

Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Report 2022: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: In its latest water indicators report, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has found that, overall, there was no significant improvement in the biological quality of our rivers or lakes in 2022. While it is welcome to see that improvements are happening in some areas, these are being completely offset by declines elsewhere. This EPA report highlights that too much nitrogen and...

Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Report 2022: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I have.

Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Report 2022: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I will try to respond quickly to so some of the points raised by Deputies. I thank everybody for their valuable contributions. Deputy Ó Broin raised the issue of septic tanks, as did a number of other Deputies. We are working on the issue of the registration issue around septic tanks. It is critically important and I agree with all that has been said there. Certainly, there is an...

Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Instruction to Committee (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I move: That Standing Order 233(2) is modified to provide that it be an instruction to the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in relation to the Historical and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023, that the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing subject matter of the Bill, in relation to: (a) the Foreshore Act...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I believe we would all be in agreement that the Title of a Bill should suitably describe the main content of the Bill as accurately as possible. The current Title of this Bill, as proposed by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, OPC, reflects the broad scope of the Bill while focusing on a central element of the provisions contained therein. The term "historic heritage", as defined in...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Amendments Nos. 2, 3, 5 and 331 are technical amendments introduced to take account of the proposed Part 13 of the Bill. Regarding amendment No. 2, as Part 13 intends to amend seven different enactments, parliamentary counsel have suggested the addition of the term "Miscellaneous Provisions" to the Short Title in order to provide a suitable workaround. A corresponding amendment to the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 3: In page 17, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “(2) Chapter 1of Part 13and the Foreshore Acts 1933 to 2022 may be cited together as the Foreshore Acts 1933 to 2023. (3) Chapter 3of Part 13and the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2022 may be cited together as the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2023. (4) Chapter 4of Part 13and the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 4: In page 17, line 19, after “sections” to insert “222*,”. In addition to those amendments introduced as a result of Part 13, amendment No. 4 provides that the new section 222 comes into effect immediately on enactment of the Bill. This is required as section 222 contains new reporting provisions that are to come into effect immediately...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The amendment is primarily a result of discussions in the Seanad. I have decided to introduce a catch-all reporting provision, mirroring several such reporting provisions on the Statute Book. This will require a report to issue within five years of the Bill’s enactment. The provision will not need to be commenced; it will come into effect automatically on enactment. The report will...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: With regard to the issue of the ombudsman and amendment No. 69, the existing Office of the Ombudsman examines complaints from members of the public who believe they are being treated unfairly by a public body or if they are unhappy with a service that is being provided by a public body. I see no reason to duplicate this existing role, especially given a complete lack of evidence suggesting...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: We know that through the climate change sectoral adaptation plan and the very good working group we have in place to oversee all of these elements within it. Again, the Heritage Council has a statutory role as well in terms of making recommendations on heritage matters, which is important. We do not see the need to duplicate this. With regard to the Ombudsman, there are very few, and I...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 5: In page 17, line 19, after “238” to insert “ and Chapters 2and 5of Part 13”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 6: In page 19, line 4, after “means” to insert “, other than in Chapter 7 of Part 13,”. This is a technical amendment relating to the definition of the Act of 2021 for the purposes of the amendments proposed to the Maritime Area Planning Act in chapter 7 of Part 13. The introduction of a definition for “amenity value” in...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I might first respond to Deputy Ó Broin on cultural heritage. There was extensive debate in the Seanad about this because we had other elements and definitions of linguistic and artistic heritage. It was really from those discussions in the Seanad to give a broader definition and recognition to cultural heritage and to recognise the fact that many of our monuments, objects, and...