Results 2,381-2,400 of 4,718 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Regarding proposed amendment No. 192, the State cannot override the rights of a private owner. This is quite clear. I accept the valid points the Deputy made, but regarding promoting access to a monument, if it is in private ownership that is not something the State can override, as I said. Regarding amendment No. 213, I accept that the Deputy has used the word "may" as opposed to...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: We could certainly look into this. Those are very valid points. This provision does not relate to monuments generally but just to those where the owner agreed to a deed of guardianship. The State cannot break that binding agreement with the owner. The deed, however, can be replaced under a section 72 process. We can certainly, then, consider this proposal. I again note that we are only...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: There is a hugely important issue in this amendment. Provision has already been made in the Bill to enable the ratification of the UNESCO 1970 convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property, and the 1995 UNIDROIT convention on stolen or illegally exported cultural objects. These conventions jointly provide the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The conventions the Irish State is party to provide the mechanism by which the Minister, the State and the government of the day can work through international co-operation with other states on the prevention of illicit import and export and the transfer and ownership of cultural property. There are good, overarching international agreements in place that support this. We have given effect...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I cannot give a specific response to that but this legislation-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: -----is bringing about the ratification-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: -----of these two important treaties.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: We have not ratified them. We need the legislation specifically to do that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Yes.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I know the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, is already working on that. It would be the Minister with responsibility for culture who would lead on that, not our Department.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Exactly.

Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Instruction to Committee (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I move: That Standing Order 233(2) is modified to provide that it be an instruction to the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in relation to the Historical and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023, that the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing subject matter of the Bill, in relation to: (a) the Foreshore Act...

Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Report 2022: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I will try to respond quickly to so some of the points raised by Deputies. I thank everybody for their valuable contributions. Deputy Ó Broin raised the issue of septic tanks, as did a number of other Deputies. We are working on the issue of the registration issue around septic tanks. It is critically important and I agree with all that has been said there. Certainly, there is an...

Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Report 2022: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I have.

Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Report 2022: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: In its latest water indicators report, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has found that, overall, there was no significant improvement in the biological quality of our rivers or lakes in 2022. While it is welcome to see that improvements are happening in some areas, these are being completely offset by declines elsewhere. This EPA report highlights that too much nitrogen and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (27 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue in a Commencement matter. Kildare is a county I am very familiar with as I have strong family connections there. The Department acknowledges the funding pressures on local authorities generally. I also acknowledge some of the innovative work and funding the Senator outlined. Kildare County Council continues to do exceptional work. As committed...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (27 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I will conclude by referring to the Government's support for Kildare, in particular since 2020. Across all schemes and funding sources, my Department provided €151.7 million in 2020, €155.9 million in 2021 and €164.9 million in 2022 to Kildare County Council. Included in this is the unprecedented level of support provided by central government to local authorities...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Climate Change Policy (27 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Seanadóir for raising this important issue. My home town, Kilkenny, was also inundated through what can only be described as freak weather events that are happening far too consistently now. Local authorities are designated as principal response agencies and are the lead agencies for co-ordinating the local response to severe weather, including that causing flooding, as per...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Climate Change Policy (27 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Senator has made a really valid point and it is important we take on board what he proposes. The idea of a one-stop-shop and a whole-of-government approach - a whole-of-government approach is happening - and information and communication on the supports that are available are critically important. In the longer term, if we look at the vote at the EU environment committee today and the...