Results 1,181-1,200 of 4,778 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill was published and circulated to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for pre-legislative consideration in January 2021. The General Scheme is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/34cf6-general-scheme-of-the-electo ral-reform-bill-2020. The Joint Oireachtas Committee carried out a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Government is committed to a significant investment in, and a renewal of, the National Parks and Wildlife Service as set out in the Programme for Government. The multi-phase Review which will underpin this process is at an advanced stage and nearing completion. There are three phases. The first Review phase, which involves extensive research, consultation, orientation and feedback...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Invasive Species Policy (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has a long standing and ongoing practice of invasive species management.  In particular, Rhododendron management has been a feature of work practices in Killarney National Park since the 1980s. In 2021, my Department allocated more than €1.3m for invasive species removal across 15 of our sites in the parks and reserves...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Bord na Móna (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Enhanced Decommissioning Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (EDRRS) approved by the Government in November 2020 encompasses work on approximately 33,000 hectares of Bord na Móna peatlands previously harvested for peat extraction for electricity generation. €108 million National Recovery and Resilience funding for the project has been approved for this large-scale peatlands...

International Women's Day: Statements (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Lá Idirnáisiúnta na mBan sona go léir. Happy International Women's Day in particular to all the amazing women elected to the Dáil, past and present, as well as all those in the Seanad and all women in politics. We remember in particular the women and young girls of Ukraine today, fleeing conflict and war and leaving behind husbands and fathers. We remember all...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Foreign Conflicts (9 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus leis na Seanadóirí. Like Senator Ward, I share that pride that we have in the response of the Irish people and the Government. It has been really touching. We attended an event this morning with the Ukrainian ambassador and ambassadors of other countries and it was chilling to hear the testimonies coming out of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Foreign Conflicts (9 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I, again, thank both Senators for raising this. It is important we continue to respond, as I said, as this evolves. We are in a wartime scenario. As a State, we are putting in place measures to ensure that people of Ukraine who are seeking refuge here will receive all the support they require. They will need psychological and other supports as well and this is something we have to respond...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wildlife Regulations (9 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will come back to the Senator on Knocklofty House in my summary. In the context of the matter before us, I met with a number of gun clubs, the National Association of Regional Game Councils, NARGC, and other organisations involved that are representing the gun clubs. I recognise the important role they play in conservation, particularly of the red grouse, a very important species. It has...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wildlife Regulations (9 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I welcome both comments. I was in the Cooley Mountains last week with an upland farmer. I met the Brandon Hill farmers and people involved in the Blackstairs EIP, European Innovation Partnership, project; they are fantastic people doing really important work. They need to be supported to do that. An initiative like this would be able to tease out all those issues and have a really good...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Lough Funshinagh was selected as an a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) taking account of the more drawn-out pattern of drainage than the typical annual rise and fall of other turlough lakes. On that basis, there is no scientific case to remove the site from the SAC list. My Department has no plans at this time to review the SAC designation of the site. 

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Diseases (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Since 2019, in total, 38 cases of RHD2 in rabbits and 9 cases of RHD2 in hares have been notified to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department from across seven counties: Clare, Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow. The NPWS has not been notified of any cases since July 2021. 

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Natural Resources (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Hedgerows are an integral part of landscapes in Ireland and play a key role in habitat connectivity as well as being important habitats in their own right. They support a variety of invertebrate, bird and mammal species, and are refuges for biodiversity in landscapes dominated by intensive agriculture. Teagasc has undertaken hedgerow mapping on a national scale, and while no comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Natural Resources (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department does not have overall responsibility for hedgerow surveys. Teagasc, however, has undertaken hedgerow mapping on a national scale, and while no comprehensive national survey has been carried out to date, a number of Local Authorities have commissioned hedgerow surveys at county level. According to the Teagasc website, in 2020, there were an estimated 689,000 kms of hedgerow...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Architectural Heritage (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I can confirm that work is underway to address issues with the roof of the building referred to.  These issues are generally leakage and gutter issues and were identified following a recent survey and investigation of the site.  I am satisfied that there is no damage to the building itself. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is now working closely with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department maintains ongoing contact with OPW in regard to its obligations under the Wildlife Acts including obligations under the Wildlife and Birds and Habitats legislation in relation to the important hibernation and breeding roost at Emo Court. However, I should clarify there is no formal NPWS report into works carried out at Emo Court....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Presidential Elections (9 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 383 of 1 March 2022. The position is unchanged.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rental Sector (10 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The figures the Senator gave are shocking. To have 60 properties in Kinsale is incredible. I will provide some background and come back to him on the supplementary question on the fuel rebate. To provide some background, legislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector through the planning code in areas designated as rent pressure zones, RPZs, were introduced under the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rental Sector (10 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: On the €200 rebate, it is something I was not aware of and I will try to get clarification on that. As the Senator is aware, the rebate was introduced on a blanket scale to try to get money out to people as quickly as possible. I know it was criticised in that regard, but it was the most effective and quickest way to do that. We will find out about the specific issue of people with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Horticulture Sector (10 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Working Group referred to by the Deputy, was established following a series of High Court decisions which determined that large-scale peat harvesting requires planning permission and licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Working Group was tasked in particular with examining the potential of alternatives to peat for the horticultural industry. Following on from the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (22 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an gceist seo a ardú. It is a really interesting question. He and I have debated this on a number of occasions, both in the Chamber and in these corridors.Local government services such as those referenced in the matter raised here today are funded in a variety of ways. Some programmes are supported by Exchequer funding and others from...