Results 4,021-4,040 of 4,718 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The annual declarations are made first and foremost under Article 9 of the Birds Directive. The annual declarations have traditionally been made only under the European Communities (Wildlife Act, 1976) (Amendment) Regulations 1986 (S.I. No. 254 of 1986), there is also provision under regulation 55 of the European Communities (Birds and Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477 of 2011) in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Wildlife Licensing Unit (WLU) of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department issues licences under Section 22 (9) g & h and 23 (6) c & d of the Wildlife Act to retain and possess injured animals/birds. In order to obtain a licence one must follow a significant and rigorous application process. All rehabilitation organisations are subject to this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: As advised most recently in my response to Question No. 236 on 24 June 2021 and in many parliamentary replies prior to that, my Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Citizens' Assembly (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The convening of a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity is under discussion at a senior level between the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department. The timing and scheduling of the Assembly will depend on the outcome of these discussions and on a number of external factors which need to be considered before the scope and terms of the Assembly are framed.

Residential Tenancies (Tenants' Rights) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Bacik. She is an experienced parliamentarian but this is her first Bill to bring to this House, so I congratulate her on that.

Residential Tenancies (Tenants' Rights) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I acknowledge the spirit of the Bill and its genuine attempt to improve circumstances for tenants at a time of undersupply in the residential rental sector. The Government will not oppose this Bill and commits to examining the positive ideas contained therein in the context of progressing its own rental reforms later this year. Some of the measures proposed in the Bill have been provided...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla — Topical Issue Debate: Water Supply (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I again thank the Deputies for their comments. I appreciate their ongoing worries about the serious incidents that occurred in the water treatment plant at Gorey and in Dublin. The safety and security of our water supply, as the Deputies have said, is paramount. There is a need to rebuild any trust that has been lost. I give the assurance that tap water is safe to drink in both...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla — Topical Issue Debate: Water Supply (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: In a letter to the Secretary General of the Department last week, the EPA outlined two serious incidents in recent weeks in drinking water plants serving parts of Dublin city and surrounding areas, which occurred in the Ballymore Eustace water treatment plant and in Gorey, County Wexford. This included, in the case of Gorey, illnesses detected by the HSE in the community served by that water...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I understand that this question is about the cutting or grubbing of vegetation on mountain land. Some areas of mountain land have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Special Protection Areas (SPAs) as part of the Natura 2000 network. Depending on reason for designation of the land, restrictions may have been set on clearing scrub or rough vegetation on that area....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 212 of 16 September 2021 which sets out the position in this matter.

Planning and Development (Amendment) (20 per cent Provision of Social and Affordable Housing) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Government welcomes the opportunity to highlight the recent amendments to Part V it has brought forward, which are a very important part of accelerating the supply of affordable and cost-rental homes. It also welcomes the opportunity the Bill presents to continue working on ensuring that our Part V provisions are appropriately calibrated and the Government will not be opposing it. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will take those three members' questions together if that is okay, Chairman. I will make an initial comment to address Deputy Flaherty, Senator Boyhan and Deputy Kehoe about this being the green agenda. It is not the green agenda; it is the law. That is the reality of this. My Department, which has responsibility for heritage, has no role in this except in the sense that the peatlands...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will try to address the questions in sequence, with the help of Mr. Lucas. To address Deputy Fitzmaurice's question on that commitment of the Government, as I have said, I am giving a wholehearted commitment. The Taoiseach and all of the Government are concerned about that. My Department has limited responsibility with regard to heritage and no responsibility with regard to the planning...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will try to address the last four questions, and I apologise that I have to depart shortly on Dáil business. I might ask Mr. Lucas to come in specifically on the options. With regard to the continued assertion that this is the green agenda, who would accept we would attempt or try to move to undermine an industry? Our collective job as legislators is responsibility towards those...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The IUCN is a membership union composed of both government and civil society organisations, including many NGOs. It undertakes valuable work for biodiversity, including administering the Red Lists for vulnerable species. Ireland supports the IUCN and is a government agency member, through my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The IUCN is not a decision making body...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Natura 2000 (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I have no statutory function in this matter. I would note, however, that as the UK and Northern Ireland are outside the EU, that the acquis in question do not apply, and neither we nor the EU are competent authorities for the matters raised.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hen Harriers (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Following final meetings of the inter-departmental group to review the draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan revisions have been made to the draft Plan to reflect the outcome of that and earlier meetings. A draft of the Threat Response Plan was also brought to the Consultative Committee, to seek their views, with the intention of then proceeding to public consultation. The Consultative...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Schemes (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature Project aims to improve Ireland’s performance in conserving important habitats, and in particular to improve the conservation status in the Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) network of blanket bog. Central to the project is an agri-environment Results Based Payment Scheme (RBPS) which will reward participating farmers for environmental services...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Officials from the National Monuments Service of my Department have been engaging as appropriate on this matter and expect a response to be issued directly to the individual concerned in the coming weeks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Unfortunately I cannot because the importation is, I think, a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We can come back with a response on that. I absolutely take on board the Senator's point on the potential for importing biohazards or hazardous material.