Results 441-460 of 4,720 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Air Services (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address the ongoing crisis in the aviation sector, particularly the recent announcement made by Aer Lingus concerning certain cost-cutting measures in light of the cumulative impact of Covid-19 over the past 15 months. First, I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Air Services (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, it is important to note that the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, chairs the aviation subgroup of the Labour Employer Economic Forum and that subgroup is continuing its work in investigating a specially extended wage subsidy scheme for the aviation sector. That work is ongoing. Specifically, in relation to the Heathrow slots, Aer Lingus still holds its portfolio slots at London...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Electoral Reform (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am conscious that I am taking this Commitment matter on Bob Dylan's 80th birthday. The times they are indeed a-changing. From a political perspective, I very much welcome the Senator bringing this issue to the House because it is really important. At the outset, it should be noted that the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future contains a broad range of electoral reforms, including...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Electoral Reform (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: To finish that quote, Bob Dylan said, "Don’t stand in the doorway, don't block up the hall", so he was probably referring to giving an opportunity to everyone to take part in our political system. I am conscious the Senator rightly highlighted the role of young people in recent years, particularly as the climate Bill is now being brought forward. It was the climate strikes, it was...

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. I thank the Senators for providing me with an opportunity to set out the provisions of the Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021. As I set out in the Dáil a number of weeks ago, this technical Bill is necessary to allow for the transfer of functions relating to heritage under a number of enactments...

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate for their comments and kind words. I thank Senator Garvey for what she said about the Department's work. I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for what she said about the new city development plan. It is vitally important that development plans are aligned. I give my absolute commitment on Moore Street. Senator Cummins inquired about...

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will not be accepting amendments Nos. 1 and 6 to 13, inclusive. I reiterate that this is a technical Bill which is necessary to allow for the transfer of functions relating to heritage under a number of different enactments to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I will not be accepting any amendments which go beyond the very narrow technical nature of the Bill. The...

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Yes, I apologise.

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: It is the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: It changes that, yes.

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I appreciate the clarification from Senator Cummins. I appreciate the concerns Senator Higgins is raising as well because it is not about the good working relations of this Government but rather putting in place the checks and balances for future Governments. This is a technical Bill. The Minister with responsibility for heritage has a defined role. The Bill is aimed primarily at...

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will not be accepting amendments Nos. 2 or 3. Sections 8 to 11, inclusive, refer to sections 177, 177Y, 177AB and 177AC of the Act of 2000. As stated in my opening address, Part XAB of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides for consultation by the primary Minister under the Act, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and...

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will address that concern. Certainly, as I stated, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, will continue to be consulted. It is important that those checks and balances are there and I give my assurance. The NPWS may be on a different statutory footing following the review process, but for now there are important checks and balances in place. I give that assurance to Senator...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The case was very well made by the Senator. The funding system for local authorities is complex, with authorities deriving their income from a variety of sources, including commercial rates, charges for goods and services, and funding from central Government. Local authorities vary significantly from one another in terms of size, population, population distribution, public service demands,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I note the concerns of the Senator. Every local authority is facing similar challenges. We can look towards the budgetary process for 2022, whereby elected members can again give consideration to the LPT, which is a mechanism that can be used. I reiterate that the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, is committed to working with Galway County Council to try to resolve these issues,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I welcome this matter and thank the Deputy for making such a valuable contribution it. It is important that we continue to debate this issue. The recent IEA report emphasises that the energy sector is the source of approximately three quarters of greenhouse gas emissions today. Reducing global CO2emissions to net zero by 2050 is consistent with efforts to limit the long-term increase in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, I thank Deputy Farrell. The net zero by 2050 roadmap, produced by the IEA envisions that by 2050, global energy demand will be 8% smaller than it is today but will service an economy twice as big and a population with 2 billion more people, and that almost 90% of electricity generation will come from renewable sources. Energy security will evolve on the path to net zero. Electricity...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Funchion for this question. The national broadband plan contract was signed with National Broadband Ireland in November 2019 to roll out a high-speed and future-proofed broadband network within the intervention area, which covers 1.1 million people living and working in more than 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am familiar with the Blue Towns community-led initiative to which the Deputy referred. I was a director of Kilkenny LEADER Partnership at the time it was being developed. It is a very viable prospect. I will have to double-check the programme for Government to see whether we secured inclusion of an objective of developing a similar initiative for areas not covered by the national...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pyrite Incidence (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I appreciate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle giving discretion to the Deputies to make their contributions, given that five Deputies brought it forward. It is very important and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is committed to meeting residents in Mayo and has met families in Donegal as well. The cracking of the external walls of dwellings in Donegal and Mayo due to crumbling of concrete...