Results 3,761-3,780 of 4,718 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Update from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (7 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: We have also responded to the Senator’s colleague, Deputy Higgins, about paid political advertising outside of electoral events. We see this as quite innovative in our electoral reform Bill. Certainly, we will be working with the European Commission around other proposals concerning the online space. This has come out loud and clear in the pre-legislative scrutiny report this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Update from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (7 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Is that the only question the Chair is asking?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Update from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (7 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Chair. On the wildlife crime unit, it is the case that the NPWS, in association with the Garda, has been doing fantastic work, and continues to do so, on wildlife crime. Earlier this year, we signed a memorandum of understanding with the Garda around the investigation of wildlife crime and, more recently, we have formally established a wildlife crime unit within the NPWS. That...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Update from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (7 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Mr. Donnelly. The Chairman also asked about information on the sites of national monuments. I was in County Cavan last week with Deputy Niamh Smyth and it was incredible to see the work that local communities have done on their interpretation of the local heritage and monuments, particularly graveyards and church sites. Funding is available under the community monuments fund,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Update from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (7 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I might ask an official from the Department to respond to that question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Update from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (7 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: This issue, particularly in relation to the directly elected mayor, is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke. As such, I am not in a position to comment. On the question of a citizens' assembly, we want to get the citizens' assembly on biodiversity loss over the line first. We have found, through Covid, that it is possible for online resources to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Update from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (7 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will ask Mr. Ryan to respond to that question in a moment. The comprehensive report provided by the committee is being given due consideration as we frame the legislation and complete its drafting. Social media strays into a number of territories, in particular, the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin. What...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Update from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (7 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I again thank the committee for its positive engagement this afternoon. We appreciate the questions and how informed the committee is about our portfolio in heritage and electoral reform. I reiterate that we are very appreciative - knowing how busy this committee is - of it affording time to our work. We will continue to work with the committee over the next number of months and years. If...

Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2021: First Stage (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: No.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an gceist seo. We spoke about this earlier this morning as we came into Leinster House and it is something about which both of us feel very strongly and passionately. Senator Boyhan is correct in saying that it is critically important that members of the public have an ability to participate in our planning system and to feel that they have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: In summary, again, I agree wholeheartedly with the Senator on this matter. We see how strongly members of the public and communities feel about environmental and planning issues when we see them out on the streets protesting against a planning decision or a particular development. That is an important part of our democratic system. Equal to that, they have to have parity to be able to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defective Building Materials (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senator Dooley. Similar to the situation right across other counties, it is a hugely traumatic time for these families and I acknowledge that. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has been deeply committed to resolving this since taking up office. He has acted with a great sense of purpose in establishing the working group. That working...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defective Building Materials (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will give that assurance again. The Senator is absolutely correct in saying there is a deep commitment by the Department at ministerial level and at official level to resolve this. The Donegal and Mayo scheme was to set a template for other counties. The fact that we now have an enhanced scheme gives the opportunity for Clare County Council to work with the Department to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Council (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Collaborative Town Centre Health Check is an initiative of the Heritage Council which is funded by my Department. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 46 and 47 together. My Department, working with the Office of Public Works (OPW), and in partnership with the Local Authority, made a bid earlier this year for the purchase of a folio of land at Carns that included a passage tomb dating to the Neolithic period. The monument is protected under the National Monuments Acts as a Recorded Monument but it is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 51, 52, 54 and 55 together. With respect to population estimates, my Department undertook an extensive breeding gull survey of a wide sample of urban habitats across the State in 2021. This National Urban Gull Survey is part of a wider seabird surveying collaboration with UK authorities known as Seabirds Count. The analysis of the Irish and UK data is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Departmental staff recently met with the European Commission to discuss progress on the Birds Case (C 418/04) Programme of Measures. Another meeting will be held in January 2022 with a view to identifying further progress on the Case. With respect to the 2017 update, it was to indicate that the referenced planning authorities have responsibility for urban areas (in relation to town or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer to the reply to Questions No. 468 of 19 October 2021 and No. 393 of the 2nd of November. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) paper referred to is currently at an advanced drafting stage following the extensive research, consultation and orientation work. It is hoped that the final paper, which is being prepared Prof Jane Stout of Trinity College Dublin, will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the committee for affording me the opportunity to present this set of proposed planning regulations on behalf of Deputy Peter Burke, the Minister of State with responsibility for local government and planning. The fast-track planning arrangements in respect of strategic housing developments, SHDs, for projects of 100 or more housing units, or 200 or more student accommodation bed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Will I take that question?