Results 4,561-4,580 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Amendments Nos. 152 and 154 propose to delete certain provisions within the Bill relating to the functions of the OPR in relation to development plans and other statutory plans and insert the requirement to have regard to certain plans and obligations in the performance of their functions. I am opposing any proposal to remove functions of the OPR as this would not be appropriate as these...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: It is one for the manifesto.

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Amendment No. 157 updates the definition of "Chapter 4 development” in section 82. As currently written, Chapter 4 development relates to development outside an urban development zone, UDZ, only. This has the effect that large scale infrastructure projects located in a UDZ would go to the planning authority for approval. This amendment removes the limitation on Chapter 4 development...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Allow me to explain.

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: As I said, the Government has adopted a policy-based approach in respect of LNG which allows it to carefully consider the implications of any measures that could interfere with either our energy or economic security. The Taoiseach announced in September 2019 that future exploration licences would be awarded for natural gas only. The energy security review published in April 2023 recommended...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: To reiterate what I said earlier, the amendment does not introduce anything new. It is aligning the definition of-----

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I referenced the energy security package the Minister, Deputy Ryan, spoke to last week. This concerns the consideration of the development of a State-owned LNG facility. It is not a very different proposal from a commercial LNG facility. Any such process will still have to go through public engagement through An Coimisiún Pleanála. There is a timeline for decision making, full...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I will start with Opposition amendments Nos. 170 to 172, inclusive, 177 to 179, inclusive, 184, 185 and 187. Amendments No. 170 and 172 seek to include reference to obligations under the climate Act into section 86, which sets out the matters to which the planning authority or commission shall have regard in considering an application. I cannot accept these amendments, as I have tabled my...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I am nearly there.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (26 Sep 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: An Bord Pleanála is the consenting authority for offshore wind developments, while the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) is responsible for the compliance and enforcement of offshore development. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is a statutory consultee on those developments. My Department has established a system of strict protection for marine mammals and the NPWS...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (1 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: While my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for legislation and policy around invasive alien species in Ireland, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has the statutory responsibility for the protection, development, and management of Ireland’s rivers and streams together with 128,000 lake hectares. Pike has been present in Ireland for hundreds of years...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (1 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I have committed, in line with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Strategic Action Plan 2022-2024, to establishing a Stakeholder Forum which will meet in the coming months and which will include stakeholders with an interest in the policy areas under the remit of the NPWS. The Forum will adhere to the consultation principles set out in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Our built, natural, architectural and cultural heritages are an intrinsic part of who we are. They provided our lifeline during the Covid pandemic. This Government has invested like never before, making the greatest investment in the history of the State. We have had another record budget this year, which underscores our commitment. Our core heritage funding has increased by almost...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (2 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128, 129, 130 and 131 together. Article 12 of the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC) requires Member States to report on the implementation of national provisions taken under the Directive, including specific reporting on status and trends of bird species. Ireland’s Article 12 reporting is informed by data, analyses, reports and publications from a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (2 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The current focus of my Department is on fulfilling Ireland’s obligations under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives in the context of existing Natura 2000 sites, i.e. Special Areas Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). Whilst I welcome any measures that contribute to an improved condition of and habitat for Annexed species, at present there are no plans to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (3 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: As Minister, I have no function in relation to famine graveyards. However, the National Monuments Service of my Department administers the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) through the local authorities and there may be eligible monuments in or near famine graveyards. The CMF invests in our valuable archaeological heritage and helps the owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. I will come back on some of the points that have been raised since I took over duty for the debate. Many of the points that have been raised did not relate to the content of the Bill. Deputy Michael Collins raised issues about rural housing, rural planning infrastructure and the Bantry floods. The Government notes the concerns of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The Wildlife Act (1976-2024) regulates the hunting of protected birds and mammals in Ireland. The International Union for Conservation (IUCN) system for assessing conservation status and extinction risk is intended to provide an explicit, objective framework for the classification of the broadest range of species according to their extinction risk. This system, commonly known as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Fallow, sika and red deer are all widespread and abundant in Ireland. Muntjac, which was illegally introduced into the wild in Ireland, is present in very low numbers in a limited number of counties. Deer are hunted with rifle in accordance with S.I. No. 239/1977 (Wildlife Act, 1976 (Firearms and Ammunition) Regulations, 1977). The table below sets out the number of Fallow, Sika, Red...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hare Coursing (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234, 235, 236, 237 and 241 together. All hares that are captured under licence are captured and tagged by the Irish Coursing Club in advance of any regulated coursing event. Data in relation to the number of hares captured along with tag numbers are submitted to the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department and this information is...