Results 4,221-4,240 of 4,718 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: These amendments appear to be consequential on amendment No. 49 which attempts to change the affordable dwelling equity from a percentage to a fixed amount. In that regard, I do not propose to accept the amendments.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Those were very useful contributions. I think that collectively we all agree right across the House that cost-rental has a significant role to play in, as Senator Pauline O'Reilly said, calming the market and moving towards a more mature, sustainable, European-type approach to the rental sector in Ireland, which we have not had to date. No doubt we have all heard of the state-of-the-art...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senators for their contributions. Senator Higgins referred to limited equity returns. That will probably be dealt with in amendment No. 62. We might address that then.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I appreciate that. I take on board the contributions from other Senators about ethical investments, sustainable funds, the dual role of the State, and limited, modest returns for funds, which we will address separately. I will address amendment No. 60, tabled by Senator Warfield, amendment No. 61, tabled by Senators Higgins and Ruane, and amendment No. 66, tabled by Senators Moynihan and...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: This has been well debated. As Senators Fitzpatrick and Cummins both said, there is a role for limited equity funds to support the State's ambition of achieving the target of 20,000 cost-rental units, which figure has been mentioned. It is an important and significant figure and one we all wish to achieve collectively. Therefore, there is a role for the funds. The Austrian model, or...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Senator is correct they are sensible and require due consideration. That is important. If the Senator is happy to move to Report Stage with that, we would be happy to give them consideration there.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: No.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: This amendment will affect the way in which the Minister in his role as regulator of the cost rental sector may prescribe processes for how landlords deal with voluntary departures from multiple-person tenancies. The Senator may have misunderstood the purpose of the subsection and thought it was something to do with evictions. It is certainly not.This element of the Bill deals with how,...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will address Senators' comments in reverse; it is the way I am wired, so please forgive me. On Senator Moynihan's comments, we have explained that the provision is driven by a modest return. That is prescribed and is quite clear. On Senator Higgins' comments about upward-only rents, I would be loath to allow that comment to leave the Chamber because it might be alarmist and imply we are...

Traveller Accommodation: Statements (3 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: "It’s like an abandoned place that people forgot about, it’s like we’re forgotten, we feel like garbage." That was the testimonial of a 12-year-old girl interviewed for the recent No End in Site report published by the Ombudsman for Children's Office. What struck me most when reading the report was not so much its shocking content, but just how familiar it all sounded....

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Online Safety (2 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: 104. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether she has considered ensuring that the online safety regulation Bill will specifically protect persons with photosensitive epilepsy from the malicious dissemination of flashing images and videos that are intended to provoke a seizure (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29921/21]

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

Malcolm Noonan: My Department is currently carrying out a Review of the boundaries and maps of all 6 National Parks including Wicklow Mountains National Park. My officials intend to publish updated maps of all the parks for public use once the Review has been completed. The estimated date that these maps will be available is August 2021, subject to COVID restrictions.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Citizens' Assembly (2 Jun 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, and is a matter, in the first instance, for that Department.  

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (2 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: 133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether a student who experiences an epileptic seizure immediately before or during their exam and is unable to complete their exam should be given the opportunity to resit that exam within the same exam cycle or before such a time that CAO offers issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29920/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (2 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: 142. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on whether persons with epilepsy who lose their driver licence due to a diagnosis of epilepsy or breakthrough seizures should be automatically given access to a free travel pass (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29919/21]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Seirbhísí Oileán (1 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Cuív arís as an gceist faoi chóras séarachais i gCill Rónáin, Inis Mór, Árainn a ardú. I understand how the lack of satisfactory water services and sewerage systems can affect communities, business and the environment. I take on board and appreciate the frustration of the Deputy in this regard. His...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Seirbhísí Oileán (1 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Cuív as an gceist seo a ardú agus as an seans a thabhairt dom dualgas Uisce Éireann a leagan amach sa chás seo. Seo obair thábhachtach agus tuigim gur ábhar imní é go áitiúil i gCill Rónáin, Inis Mór. Tá brón orm ach tá an freagra as Béarla. As the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (1 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Through the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), my Department manages an extensive network of natural heritage sites of some 87,000 hectares. The 6 existing National Parks of Ireland account for circa 65,000 hectares of this network with a further 22,000 hectares comprising  nature reserves and other heritage sites.  Our National Parks are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (1 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Waterways Ireland have provided my Department with the attached table showing the number of sluice gates open and closed by the agency and the ESB and the number of boards removed (there were no boards in place) up to 27 May 2021. data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportin gDocumentation/2021-06-01_pq333-01-06-2021_en.xlsx

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (1 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The boundaries  and maps of the 6 National Parks are currently being reviewed by my Department and will be made publicly available on completion.  The records the Deputy is requesting relate to the day-to-day routine operations of 87,000 hectares over the course of 13 years. As such, they would be voluminous and it would be resource intensive and neither a feasible nor...