Results 681-700 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Residential Tenancies (Tenants' Rights) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Bacik. She is an experienced parliamentarian but this is her first Bill to bring to this House, so I congratulate her on that.

Residential Tenancies (Tenants' Rights) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I acknowledge the spirit of the Bill and its genuine attempt to improve circumstances for tenants at a time of undersupply in the residential rental sector. The Government will not oppose this Bill and commits to examining the positive ideas contained therein in the context of progressing its own rental reforms later this year. Some of the measures proposed in the Bill have been provided...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will take those three members' questions together if that is okay, Chairman. I will make an initial comment to address Deputy Flaherty, Senator Boyhan and Deputy Kehoe about this being the green agenda. It is not the green agenda; it is the law. That is the reality of this. My Department, which has responsibility for heritage, has no role in this except in the sense that the peatlands...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will try to address the questions in sequence, with the help of Mr. Lucas. To address Deputy Fitzmaurice's question on that commitment of the Government, as I have said, I am giving a wholehearted commitment. The Taoiseach and all of the Government are concerned about that. My Department has limited responsibility with regard to heritage and no responsibility with regard to the planning...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will try to address the last four questions, and I apologise that I have to depart shortly on Dáil business. I might ask Mr. Lucas to come in specifically on the options. With regard to the continued assertion that this is the green agenda, who would accept we would attempt or try to move to undermine an industry? Our collective job as legislators is responsibility towards those...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The IUCN is a membership union composed of both government and civil society organisations, including many NGOs. It undertakes valuable work for biodiversity, including administering the Red Lists for vulnerable species. Ireland supports the IUCN and is a government agency member, through my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The IUCN is not a decision making body...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Natura 2000 (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I have no statutory function in this matter. I would note, however, that as the UK and Northern Ireland are outside the EU, that the acquis in question do not apply, and neither we nor the EU are competent authorities for the matters raised.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hen Harriers (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Following final meetings of the inter-departmental group to review the draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan revisions have been made to the draft Plan to reflect the outcome of that and earlier meetings. A draft of the Threat Response Plan was also brought to the Consultative Committee, to seek their views, with the intention of then proceeding to public consultation. The Consultative...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Schemes (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature Project aims to improve Ireland’s performance in conserving important habitats, and in particular to improve the conservation status in the Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) network of blanket bog. Central to the project is an agri-environment Results Based Payment Scheme (RBPS) which will reward participating farmers for environmental services...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Officials from the National Monuments Service of my Department have been engaging as appropriate on this matter and expect a response to be issued directly to the individual concerned in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I understand that this question is about the cutting or grubbing of vegetation on mountain land. Some areas of mountain land have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Special Protection Areas (SPAs) as part of the Natura 2000 network. Depending on reason for designation of the land, restrictions may have been set on clearing scrub or rough vegetation on that area....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 212 of 16 September 2021 which sets out the position in this matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Unfortunately I cannot because the importation is, I think, a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We can come back with a response on that. I absolutely take on board the Senator's point on the potential for importing biohazards or hazardous material.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an gcoiste. I thank the committee for its time this afternoon. Peatlands have been one of the most abiding features of the Irish landscape since the last ice age. They cover a large area of the land surface, occurring as raised bogs, blanket bogs and fens. Peatlands have a key biodiversity value and provide a range of ecosystem services....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wastewater Treatment (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am aware of the demand for wastewater infrastructure in towns and villages where there is no access to public infrastructure, particularly in County Galway, which the Deputy represents, and other areas of the country.  Our Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the national planning framework 2018-2040 and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wastewater Treatment (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree with the Deputy regarding the situation in Athenry. It is unacceptable in this day and age that raw sewage could be flowing from people's houses. Our Department will certainly give consideration to that with Irish Water specifically. It is fair to say that Project Ireland 2040 supports the growth of small towns and villages with regard to water services infrastructure. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wastewater Treatment (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: We expect the report the Minister has commissioned in respect of requirements for smaller villages and settlements that do not have access to public water and wastewater infrastructure to be completed in the coming weeks. It will be a help to answer the question posed by the Deputy. I appreciate that the preparation of the report includes a broad range of research and consultation with a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Deputy Murnane O'Connor joined the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and I at the opening of three wonderful housing projects in Castlecomer and Kilkenny city last week, which is always a positive day. It is so uplifting to hand keys over to families and new tenants for very high-quality, A2-rated, highly efficient and well-designed homes. That is what we are attempting to achieve, and will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: In terms of the social housing pipeline for Carlow, to respond to the Deputy's question, the construction status report for the first quarter of 2021 showed 13 projects, to deliver 229 social homes, were either at design or planning stage or on-site in Carlow. Details of these projects are available on the construction status report. In addition, there has been some impact from Covid-19...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: With regard to the community centre hub at Tullow Road in Carlow town, the Deputy made the valid point that the community hub could serve over 2,000 houses on the Tullow Road. It is a vital amenity for the community and will provide a lifeline for children and the community alike. The land is owned by Carlow County Council and, as such, the project is being led by Carlow County Council as...