Results 941-960 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Futurecommits to the establishment of a statutory, independent Electoral Commission. The legislative provisions for the Electoral Commission are being progressed as part of an Electoral Reform Bill, which also provides for the modernisation of the electoral registration process, the regulation of online political advertising during election periods...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (9 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: While the Department does not normally provide funding for wildlife rehabilitation facilities, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department is considering an application for emergency support from such facilities due to the extraordinary circumstances arising from the COVID pandemic. Any funding provided would be subject to a set of agreed criteria. The focus of any such...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Amendment No. 1 seeks to delay the commencement of significant parts of the Bill until such time as the national marine planning framework is reviewed. The review of the NMPF was discussed in detail on Dáil Committee Stage. As pointed out then, the NMPF is the first of a series of interconnected and related spatial plans for the maritime area. It is illogical to pause the commencement...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I disagree with the Senator. The Government has committed to and ensured in the drafting of this Bill that this and marine protected areas would be inter-related. The NPWS has been centrally involved in this process, as has the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. All of this is an interconnected framework that we have to move forward with. It is critically important...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: As I said, the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, has already made a commitment in respect of that level of engagement with the joint Oireachtas committee. That commitment is worthwhile.

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: We can give some consideration to that matter.

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: This was already addressed on Committee Stage in the Dáil. There is no requirement to conflate the marine spatial planning directive with the marine strategy framework directive in one piece of enabling legislation. Indeed, the most recent global international guide on maritime spatial planning prepared by UNESCO and the EU Commission and published this year reinforces the distinction...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Section 2 of the Bill provides for interpretations. The proposed amendment would limit the range of bodies that could be prescribed for certain functions in regulations by providing a limited interpretation in section 2. The appropriate place to expand the list of prescribed bodies for certain functions will be in the regulations. My Department will begin preparing all relevant regulations...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Senator Cummins has pretty much summed up my response. In response to Senator Higgins, I repeat that the functions around prescribed bodies will be in the regulations. When we are talking about outdated consultation methods, we are really talking about consulting with a prescribed body for a prescribed period. That work is done. It is open and closed. We are providing for a longitudinal...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senators for their contributions. The marine planning policy statement is a high-level document that sets out the Government’s principles and priorities for maritime planning. Section 6(5) of the Bill sets out a brief list of the high-level policy framework that will be taken into account when preparing the statement. However, this list is not exhaustive and any matters...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: In relation to Senator Boyhan's point, I wish to give that commitment. The Senator is correct. The national marine planning framework has a dedicated chapter on heritage assets. The language used is that the Minister must have regard to it when preparing a marine planning policy statement. Whatever the current policy is, when the policy statement is prepared or whenever Heritage Ireland...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I again want to give assurances to the Senator. The recommendation is not referenced and it would not be appropriate to include it here. Section 6(5)(h) of the Bill requires the Minister to have regard to any current policy of the Government. The specific line refers to the current policy of Government relating to maritime planning and that would likely include any EU recommendation on...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The marine planning policy statement is a high-level document that sets out the Government's principles and priorities for maritime planning. Section 6(5) sets out a brief list of the high-level policy framework that will be taken into account when preparing this statement. However, this list is not exhaustive. Of course, any matters that inform the high-level policy document will be...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Regarding section 10, where the Minister proposes to prepare, amend or revoke the marine planning policy statement, he or she shall publish a notice, which is among the three items the Minister needs to publish, in not less than one national newspaper inviting members of the public to make representations in writing thereon to the Minister not later than four weeks after the date of...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: That includes the Oireachtas.