Results 381-400 of 4,903 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

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

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1021 and 1022 together. Waterways Ireland is a North/South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement of 10 April 1998. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The matters raised are operational matters for Waterways Ireland, who hold the relevant, detailed information in relation to...

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

Malcolm Noonan: For reasons of operational security given the enforcement duties discharged by Conservation Rangers within the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), my Department cannot comment specifically on some of the matters raised in the details supplied. Additionally, it should be noted that some of the issues raised appear to potentially involve matters that fall outside of the remit of the...

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

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks & Wildlife Service in my Department is responsible for the regulation, inspection and licensing of zoos in Ireland. The European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003 provide the legislative basis for the inspection and licensing of zoos in Ireland. These Regulations give effect to EU Directive 1999/22/EC (the Zoo Directive). The purpose of...

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

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1050 to 1058, inclusive, together. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has primary responsibility for nature conservation, wildlife protection and the presentation and preservation of our National Parks and Nature Reserves. The mission of the NPWS, as stated in its Strategic Plan 2023-2025, is to Protect Nature. Unlike in the UK,...

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

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1082 and 1084 together. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), of my Department, continues to invest heavily in tackling the spread of invasive species across our network of National Parks. The effects of Rhododendron ponticum is well documented both in our National Parks and also in other sites across Ireland. Addressing the impacts of this invasive...

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

Malcolm Noonan: My Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, both of which prohibit activities to introduce or spread invasive species. In addition to national legislation, EU Regulation 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species also provides for a range of concerted EU wide measures to be taken with respect to...

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

Malcolm Noonan: My Department is currently finalising Ireland’s third-cycle River Basin Management Plan, which will be a strategic government plan that will outline the national policies and high-level goals that will protect and restore our natural waters. The aim of the next plan is the identification and implementation of the “right measure in the right place”, with targeted measures...

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

Malcolm Noonan: The Ulster Canal restoration is a flagship North-South project, supported by the Shared Island Fund, managed by Waterways Ireland and overseen by my Department. The project is a 13km restoration from Clones in Co. Monaghan to Upper Lough Erne, and includes a new canal basin and harbour at Clones, a new canal, 5 access bridges, 4 minor road bridges, 3 masonry arc bridges, a new aqueduct at...

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...