Results 201-220 of 4,715 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (23 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1167 and 1168 together. Waterways Ireland is the freehold owner of a triangular piece of property known as City Block 19 in Dublin’s docklands. It comprises 1.2 hectares (2.965 acres) of mainly disused land and is located at the confluence of the River Dodder, the River Liffey and Grand Canal Dock. The site is situated within the North Lotts &...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I am informed that Waterways Ireland has identified the existence of circa 430 alleged encroachments on the Shannon and has established a dedicated team to review each and to regularise, as appropriate. It is estimated that this process will take between 3 and 5 years. I am informed that Waterways Ireland has sought legal advice on the implications of regularising any alleged encroachment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (23 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) (Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000) establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy) establishes a common framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater. River basin management planning, structured in six-year cycles, along with its associated Programme of...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I will try to be brief so we can get through some of these amendments. I will make a general point in reply to the comments made by Senator McDowell. I have tremendous respect for him but I fundamentally disagree. He is consistently putting down the Office of the Planning Regulator, OPR. He has talked about draft directions that are precooked by the OPR. That is disingenuous. He...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Regarding Senator Cummins's point on amendment No. 119, he mentioned Limerick-Shannon. That is a metropolitan area strategic plan. It is not for primary legislation to define a city commuting zone but I am more than happy for anyone in the regional assembly to have a role in that. To go back to Senator Flynn's comments, it is not the case that there is any discrimination against the...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: There is no need to apologise. The Senator understands the rationale behind my inability to accept the amendment. I point to the initiatives that are in place. Again, that access to cultural space should be fully inclusive and, again, that responsibility falls at local level. I hope we get to discuss it later regarding development plans, but that is hugely important. I agree with the...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I will respond to some of the points raised by the Senators and then speak to the amendments. Senator Higgins spoke about the centralisation of power towards the Minister in the national planning statements. I again ask her to look at the guidance on the preparation of national planning statements, which state that the Minister shall have regard to what is quite an exhaustive list. That...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I will make a closing contribution. I will not make any further contributions because I want to try to progress this before the 6 p.m. break. On the critical points about the OPR, I must question the consistent running down of or misunderstanding about the role of the OPR. I have outlined it here this afternoon. There is, as Senator Boyhan mentioned, a scheduled periodic critical...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I cannot say.

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: It is an issue.

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I mentioned those specifically. The rural housing guidelines are currently subject to a legal review by the Attorney General. As things stand, the position remains as set out in the revised NPF. The intention is to support rural communities and provide rural housing based on local need, be it social or economic. The challenge is that over the past 20 or 30 years, we have seen an awful...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: There is quite a lot to respond to. Before I respond specifically to the amendments, I will make a few points on the contributions made, starting with Senator Gavan. The night-time economy and general points about the closure of venues were raised earlier. There is a really significant role both in the town centre first policies and town centre teams at local level. The issues of...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I will speak to Government amendment No. 85 and section 17. Following a review by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, this amendment is being introduced to redraft section 24 for the purpose of providing clarity and to aid comprehension. The substance of section 24 has not changed in comparison with the previous versions of the Bill.

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank all the Senators for their contributions. I agree with what Senator Pauline O'Reilly and Senator Higgins have said in relation to the transport aspect. It is something we will give consideration to over the summer. I take on board the points made. In my opening statement, I said that there is a specific reference to mobility separately. Would that cover a broader area? If it is...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I will address amendment No. 57, tabled by Senators Garvey and O’Reilly, amendment Nos. 58, 60, 61, 63 to 70, inclusive, 72, 73, 75 to 77, inclusive, 79, 80 and 82, tabled by Senators Higgins, Ruane, Black and Flynn, amendments Nos 59, 62 and 74, tabled by Senators Warfield, Boylan and Gavan, amendments Nos. 71 and 83, tabled by Senators Moynihan, Hoey, Sherlock and Wall; and...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senator Currie for withdrawing her amendment. I give a commitment that we will look at those elements of public participation. I will make a general point on the comments made by Senators Black, Flynn and Higgins. They are correct that this is the third largest Bill in the history of the State. We have spent close to 130 hours on Committee Stage, where a large number of...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Before I read my note on the amendments, I accept the points raised by all Senators. It is something about which we all have concerns and about which our constituents bring us their concerns, for example, issues around the visual impacts and perceived health implications. Senator Fitzpatrick mentioned that such infrastructure was largely planned by engineers. The element of public...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: No.

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I again note the concerns raised by the Senators. As Senator Fitzpatrick said, I was not here for the debate last night but I am taking on board the genuine concerns raised. Again, to keep proceedings flowing, I ask that we move on. I will ask the Attorney General to double-check and look at the issues that have been referred to. Genuine concerns were raised by a number of Senators last...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (11 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Cahill as an gceist seo a ardú. First, the deer management report, which was led by Mr. Teddy Cashman, was a really excellent piece of work. The Minister, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, and I have been working on this. We have implemented some of the short-term measures already. I am reaching out to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, to meet to...