Results 1,621-1,640 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (5 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The introduction of mandatory certification training for first time deer hunters came as a recommendation from the original Irish Deer Management Forum in 2018 for reasons of health & safety. Since then, a standard training course syllabus was published by my Department and three course providers were subsequently approved by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS),...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (5 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The use of detection devices under the proposed Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill will largely mirror the system currently in place under the National Monument Acts whereby the use of a detection device to search for or collect archaeological objects is permitted under and in accordance with a licence. The existing provisions are essential for the continued protection of our...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (5 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: 879. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the issue of an organisation (details supplied) being unable to locate an appropriate premises to accommodate its much-needed outreach service; the consequent overspill to its day service centre and the negative effect of this on its capacity for intake of new individuals; the actions that he will take regarding same; and...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senators Moynihan, Hoey, Sherlock and Wall for this amendment, which proposes that the establishment date of the electoral commission be appointed as a day not later than four weeks from the passage into law of the Electoral Reform Bill. I do not propose to accept this amendment for a number of reasons. First, the Bill is subject to commencement provisions as set out in section...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senators Higgins, Ruane, Flynn and Black for these amendments, which relate to the membership of an coimisiún. I welcome the sentiments behind them, which relate to participation in, and wider engagement with, our electoral process, as Senator Ruane outlined. That is what this Bill, in its overarching thrust, sets out to achieve. Amendment No. 2 relates to the gender balance...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senators for the proposed amendment, which will require that the commission lays a record of all contracts for consultants or advisers before both House of the Oireachtas an a biannual basis. Appendix B5 to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies: Business and Financial Reporting Requirements requires that expenditure by public bodies on external consultancy and...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senators Higgins, Ruane, Flynn and Black for these amendments, which propose that the chief executive of an coimisiún may only be reappointed once. Section 20(6), as passed by the Dáil, limits the chief executive of an coimisiún to serving no more than ten years in total where a term of office is a maximum of five years. Amendment No. 7 and amendment No. 8, the...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senators Ruane, Higgins, Black and Flynn for tabling these amendments, which relate to requiring that an coimisiún undertake a review of the Electoral Act 1997. As the Senators will be aware, Chapter 9 of Part 2 of the Bill provides for an coimisiún to take on a new policy, research and advisory function. As part of its work, an coimisiún will prepare research...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senators Ruane, Higgins, Black and Flynn for these amendments, which seek to amend the existing provisions relating to the publication of information by the electoral commission. Amendment No. 12 specifies that in addition to an coimisiún's annual report being published that it be published in an accessible manner. Amendment No. 15 specifies that as part of an coimisiún's...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I again thank Senators Higgins, Ruane, Flynn and Black for amendments Nos. 13, 21, 24, 35, 36 and 44, which all relate to the franchise for Seanad Éireann. Before I speak specifically to the amendments, I appreciate the level of debate, in particular the very passionate debate by Senator McDowell and others yesterday and by Senator Higgins today. I note that and I would say in response...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senators Moynihan, Hoey, Sherlock and Wall for these proposed amendments, which relate to the publication of the register of political parties. These amendments were previously tabled by Deputy Nash in the Dáil on Committee Stage. In respect of amendment No. 18, when bringing across the 1992 Act’s existing provisions in respect of the making available of the register, I...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will not mention the war. I know the county boundary Senator Cummins is referring to.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: These amendments provide that an coimisiún toghcháin would recommend Dáil and European Parliament constituencies based on four, five and six seats, that it would recommend as few three-seat constituencies as possible and as many five-seat constituencies as possible when making recommendations regarding Dáil constituencies, and that it would have regard to all county...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: We have discussed this quite a lot and the overarching point I will make is that the potential the establishment of this commission will have to achieve all the objectives spoken about around participation of minorities, gender balance in our electoral process and making Dáil, Seanad and council chambers more representative of the people therein cannot be underestimated. It has immense...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I again thank Senators Higgins, Ruane, Flynn and Black for these amendments, which specify an coimisiún's approach to conducting its public education and information function under section 66 of the Bill. I am strongly of the view that it would be desirable that an coimisiún would carry out its work on increasing awareness of and participation in the State's electoral and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Insurance Coverage (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I am aware of the challenges facing owners of thatched buildings in relation to securing insurance. Both Heritage Ireland 2030, the new national heritage plan, and A Living Tradition, the new vernacular architectural heritage strategy, contain actions to address the issue of insurance of protected structures, including thatched buildings. Action 6 of A Living Tradition sets out to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Commission (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Article 16 of the Constitution sets out the overarching requirements that apply to the membership of Dáil Éireann. The constitutional provisions require that Dáil constituencies be revised whenever population change, as ascertained in a census, leads to population to member ratios in individual constituencies that are significantly out of line with the national average or the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Schemes (7 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 to 207, inclusive, together. My Department provides financial support for eligible conservation works towards heritage buildings, historic structures and archaeological monuments through three grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment...

Rent Reduction Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na Teachtaí go léir. I thank all the Deputies. I do not have time to respond to all the issues raised. Deputy Gino Kenny raised the issue of income thresholds. The review is now complete and the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, are considering the findings with a view to making...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will take this question. I thank the Deputy. It was a very effective working group and a lot of good work was done. Great credit is due to all partners, including Leitrim County Council. I have engaged with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, this week in regard to the compensation issue. My understanding is that there are negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform...