Results 1,821-1,840 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Section 16 provides that Uisce Éireann, also to be known as Irish Water, will be accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts. The heightened levels of accountability and transparency applying to Uisce Éireann are commensurate with the level of Exchequer funding of the company. This policy change has a consequential impact on another statutory body tasked with an oversight role...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I am just flagging the matter. I am not proposing an amendment.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I wanted to flag the matter with members. It is only correct that the committee would have sight of the view of the Water Advisory Board. We are trying to ensure there is a clear line of accountability through the Committee of Public Accounts. I think that is the correct approach. Obviously, there is also oversight through the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 2: In page 20, to delete lines 10 to 14 and substitute the following: " 2. No. 39 of 1997 Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 Schedule 13 is amended by the insertion of the following paragraph: “210. Uisce Éireann.” " The amendment corrects the placement of Uisce Éireann in Schedule 13 of the Taxes...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rail Network (13 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: As this is a live planning case, I am precluded from comment thereon.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flood Risk Management (13 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department continues to liaise with the Office of Public Works, as appropriate, in relation to this matter. The question of legislative change does not arise in this context.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (12 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The number of valid applications made to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Farm Plan Scheme in each of the Years 2017 to 2022, inclusive, as well as the number of applications that were not selected for plan development is included in the table below. The NPWS prioritises the selection of lands that are in designated sites, including Special Areas of Conservation, Special...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (12 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Section 13 of the Wildlife Act 1976 provided for the establishment of the Wildlife Advisory Council to advise the Minister on policy, objectives, and programmes relating to the conservation of wildlife. This section was repealed by Section 4 of the Heritage Act 1995, in effect ceasing the Wildlife Advisory Council Order (S.I No.79 of 1978). The Heritage Act 1995 established the Heritage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (12 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has responsibly for avian influenza testing in Ireland. I can confirm that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has contacted DAFM and made them aware of the issue referred to. Avian Influenza has to be ruled out in the first instance and DAFM always need to be contacted in such cases so they can have records and enact their...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (18 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: All farmers are encouraged to make applications for the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme. However, as with any scheme, numbers will be limited and it is not possible to guarantee every applicant will be accepted. Applications from farmers with designated lands, including Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Natural Heritage Areas, are prioritised for consideration. It is my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (18 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The provisions in Parts 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 were formally notified in draft form to the European Commission in accordance with the requirements of Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on Information Society...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (18 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will arrange for my officials to provide the briefing note given to me in respect of the 2022-2023 General State-wide Wild Birds Declaration that I signed on 6 July 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Diseases (18 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 to 355, inclusive, together. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is not the lead organisation in relation to matters raised. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has responsibly for avian influenza testing in Ireland and the NPWS will always contact them when it becomes aware of such issues. The situation is being...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Diseases (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Due to the current presence of avian influenza in Ireland and wider western Europe, in the event of unexplained death/illness of high risk waterbirds, before handling any sick, injured or dead birds, NPWS must first contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to ensure avian influenza is ruled out. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has responsibility for avian...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for his question and I also thank Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan. The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended gives the OPR a statutory basis to carry out three main functions. One core function of the OPR is the independent assessment of all local authority and regional assembly statutory plan making processes. This includes county and city development plans,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: It is interesting that on a day of excessive rainfall and orange rainfall warnings, we see that many of the areas that are prone to flooding across the country are such because of bad planning. I reject outright the use of the term “interference” in respect of the OPR. The office plays a critical role in our planning system. It exists to guide and support the work of local...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Our Department has made huge strides in working with SOS Dublin Bay on the monitoring issue. Separately, on days when there is severe rainfall, the general advice is not to swim for a few days afterwards. That is good advice. I spoke to Deputy Bacik this morning. We would be happy to provide a briefing to Deputies on progress that has been made. Significant progress has been made on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (26 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue on the EPA's urban wastewater treatment in 2021 report. Having a well-functioning and resilient wastewater treatment infrastructure that will protect our environment is an issue of national importance and I appreciate the Deputy's concern in this matter. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has had statutory responsibility for all aspects...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (26 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy. It is certainly not the case that we are talking about decades. We cannot take decades. It has to be resolved. Irish Water has plans in place for the 32 areas that were assigned in the EPA report. Those plans will be brought forward. The Government has brought in record investment over the past number of years. We are front-loading that...

Social and Affordable Housing Supply: Motion [Private Members] (26 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: He will be.