Results 1,441-1,460 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 53: In page 49, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “Amendment of Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 77.Schedule 13 to the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 is amended by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph 206: “207. The Electoral Commission.”.”. This amendment adds the electoral commission to the list of...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree with trying to reduce barriers. Many homeless people I meet are very politically engaged, not only by virtue of their circumstances, and very well-educated and well-read people who are very engaged in our political system and the future of our country. We all want to ensure they can participate fully in that. Perhaps my speaking notes might have something of a stifling effect, as...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree with everything that has been said. It is not the intention to be discriminatory. What we are trying to do, and we are making genuine strides here, is to ensure our electoral register is robust and that our electoral system is open to and inclusive of all. That is why we introduced this innovate and novel aspect in the Bill. It is not intended to be discriminatory. It is a new...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: As I stated, it is important that the commission is established and we then build its function up and give consideration to issues such as this in time. From our perspective, the critical part now is to get the commission established and then look at these other elements in time. I have just given a commitment in that regard.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputies McAuliffe and Flaherty for not pressing this amendment. Section 14 empowers the commission to establish committees to advise and assist it in the performance of its functions. Such committees may include persons who are not members of the commission or its staff. This provides an avenue for bringing in external skills where required. Being mindful of the commission's...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: First, and importantly, we have already outlined that the commission will be tasked with reviewing electoral events and what is working and what has not worked well in electoral events. That is significant. Second, there is the fact that this committee will continue to have a role in the research and advocacy function of the commission in respect of recommendations and the reports that will...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I am coming to this debate from the last session. The whole point of substitute consent is to seek regularisation and to protect the environment. It is a key point that the developer in a parallel application must show bona fides. The substitute consent application is assessed as per the section 177K criteria for exceptionality. I hope that clarifies the matter. The Senator mentioned she...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Before I come back in on the scripted response, I will raise a couple of quick points. Senator McDowell is always a rock of sense and he always makes sensible points. Specifically, I will not make any reference to the Derrybrien case particularly. It is subject to an ongoing planning enforcement and I am not going to give any feedback specifically in relation to it. I will just say that...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: To clarify, in terms of section 13, Senator Higgins has withdrawn amendment No. 9.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I am sure Senator McDowell will appreciate that I cannot comment on a specific area. Again, a substitute consent is an application for consent by a developer and a developer cannot be forced to launch a subsequent consent application.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Senator's opposition to this section concerns a technical drafting amendment in respect of remedial environmental impact statements as a result of the substantive changes being made by the Bill. I cannot accept the Senator's opposition to this group of amendments, which comprise technical amendments that are necessary as a result of the repeal of section 177D and ancillary provisions...

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Instruction to Committee (15 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 187, it be an instruction to the Committee to which the Electoral Reform Bill 2022 may be recommitted in respect of certain amendments, that it has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing provisions of the Bill, in relation to the insertion of a new Part 8 and amendments to the long title for the purpose of...

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (15 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 1: In page 11, line 5, to delete “the Electoral Commission” and substitute “An Coimisiún Toghcháin”. These amendments relate to the Irish language and to the commission itself. I thank the committee members for their suggestions and contributions on Committee Stage. I have reflected on the views expressed in tabling these...

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (15 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 2: In page 12, line 1, to delete “accounts;” and substitute “accounts; to provide for the holding of fundraising lotteries by political parties;”. In my concluding remarks on the Committee Stage, I signalled that consideration would be given to bringing forward an amendment to the Bill on Report Stage to allow political parties to apply...

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (15 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: We are losing sight of the core premise of the entire Bill in terms of its potential role to strengthen our democracy and improve accountability and transparency in our political system. That is what the Bill is about. That is what establishing the electoral commission is about. As the Ceann Comhairle stated, I am not going to get into any issues in respect of any political party. What...

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (15 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I have no comment.

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (15 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I have no comment to make and there are no further speakers.