Results 621-640 of 4,778 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I might ask Ms Woods and Mr. Ryan to come in on some of the questions, particularly the last one on projected timelines. Again, as a precursor, we await the committee’s report to examine the other submissions around the campaigning, particularly outside of electoral periods. The regulation of online political advertising during an election set out to do a specific piece of work....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I might ask Ms Woods to come in on that specific issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I want to come back to a previous point the Senator raised in her last contribution on the online content. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will see the establishment of a media commission as well. Again, I speak of what will be complementary processes to provide for a more robust and safer online platform. Our legislative measure regarding the regulation of online political...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will not comment any further than to say that the commission will be tasked with looking at the best mechanism for managing the electoral register as well. I will not comment specifically on that question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: With regard to the budget, the projected budget is €2.25 million. It is €2.7 million in the first year and a subsequent annual cost of €1.45 million to €1.7 million. I presume that as it expands its role that case will be made to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform each year, to look at an expanding research, advocacy or, as we have been discussing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, Chair, we cannot stress enough that we are extremely grateful for the diligence of the committee in giving this such great consideration. We are mindful of the huge workload of this committee, particularly in relation to housing. We are grateful that it has given this such time and consideration and has brought in such a disparate range of groups and experts to strengthen it and to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (8 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Wildlife Amendment Bill 2016 was passed by the Dáil on 13 December 2018. The Bill was passed by the Seanad on 6 November 2019. 16 amendments to the Bill were made in the Seanad. The Bill has to be restored to the Order Paper of the Dáil in order for these amendments to be considered by that House. I am hopeful that the Bill can be restored soon. My officials are currently in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: World Heritage Sites (8 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: In line with UNESCO advice that World Heritage Tentative Lists be reviewed at least every ten years, my Department launched a call for applications in January 2019 to update Ireland’s Tentative List of World Heritage Properties. The closing date for receipt of applications was 30 June 2021. My Department received seven applications by the deadline: 1. The Cultural Landscape of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: 251. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has carried out a cost analysis of establishing the free travel scheme as a standalone directly applicable benefit; the estimated cost of such a measure; the projected staff resources required to establish the free travel scheme in such a way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36880/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (8 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: 328. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports in place for farmers growing maize and their suppliers in view of the banning of oxo-degradable plastic under the Single Use Plastics Directive from 1 July 2021 with consideration of stocks of this plastic having already been purchased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36879/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Citizens' Assembly (13 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 332 together. The convening of a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity is under discussion at a senior level between the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department.  The timing and scheduling of the Assembly will depend on the outcome of these discussions and on a number of external factors which need to be considered before the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (13 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 to 351, inclusive, together. The minutes of the first three meetings of the Committee were only finally agreed at the fourth meeting in February 2020 due to detailed inputs from Committee members which required further record updating and intra-membership correspondences. The first Interim Report of the Urban Gulls Consultative Committee was finalised and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Culls (13 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Both species of seal in Irish waters - the Harbour or Common Seal and the more numerous Grey Seal - are protected under the EU Habitats Directive and Ireland is obliged to maintain their populations at favourable conservation status. We are also required to monitor these species and report to the European Commission on their conservation status. A standardised monitoring programme has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Action 29 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 commits to progressing the accessibility of voting and voter information, building on learning from National Disability Authority research and from best practice. I am pleased to report good progress in addressing matters in this area. In December 2018, my Department formed a Working Group on Disability Voting to bring...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: EU Programmes (14 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Since its launch in May 2020, my Department has been in contact with other relevant Departments concerning the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. The Strategy is an ambitious and far-reaching document which aims to strengthen and improve the protection afforded to habitats and species in the EU, as well as put in place measures to restore nature and begin the process of halting biodiversity loss....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Postal Voting (14 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of a number of categories of electors, including: - - Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/civil partners, - whole-time members of the Defence Forces, - members of An Garda Síochána, - electors living at home who are unable to vote because of a physical illness or a physical disability, - certain election...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I fully take on board the points regarding the fiscal opportunity. This will be the largest investment in the history of the State in terms of capital spend on housing and it is a significant move by the Minister and the Department. I note the points about outgoing and new development plans and the fiscal opportunities. Those opportunities for local authorities will still exist through...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (15 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: As the Deputy will be aware, the purpose of public liability insurance is to ensure that the potential costs of any awards against the policyholder and any legal costs associated with such a claim are met. I am satisfied therefore that the requirements presently set for commercial operators on State lands is appropriate and proportionate.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (15 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department issued Ministerial Consent with conditions for a fully ecologically assessed proposal to restore the Eire 6 WWII at East Mountain, Howth Head, Co. Dublin. The conditions attached to the Ministerial Consent required the full implementation of the methodology and mitigations included in the Natura Impact Assessment submitted in...