Results 4,661-4,680 of 4,720 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Supply (29 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: The delivery of the Shannon water supply project is a key strategic investment priority for Irish Water under the National Development Plan 2018-2027. The cost of the project will be identified and updated throughout the project development process in line with the procedures of the new public spending code, which seeks to address some of the cost estimation issues that arose in respect of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (29 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree with the Deputy entirely on the train station. I am very familiar with it and strategically its location is wrong for the future advancement of Waterford city. The Waterford North Quays project is a very complex and high-cost project in a strategic development zone, SDZ. Therefore, it is critical that careful consideration is given to its planning and development, and the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Supply (29 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Mattie McGrath for putting his points so well. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has had statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. Irish Water as a single national water services authority takes a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment. Existing water supply...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (29 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Cullinane for raising the matter. I am fully aware that it is an important project for the south-east region and not just for Waterford city. The North Quays was subject of a strategic development zone, SDZ, order made by Government recognising the social and economic importance of the site to the State, and designating the Waterford North Quays for mixed-use development,...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting (29 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. Ireland's approach is to recognize the traditional right to cut turf for domestic purposes, while...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation (29 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022 sets out how the raised bog special areas of conservation are to be managed, conserved and restored and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed.  As stated in the plan, in order to compensate for permanent losses of active raised bog from the special area of conservation network, it is proposed to...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Animal Diseases (29 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together. The RHD2 virus, which affects both rabbits and hares, was discovered in a number of rabbits and hares around the country during last summer. The scientific advice provided to my Department at the time and following the issuing of annual licences indicated that the virus was highly contagious and easily spread. Moreover, the Department...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Animal Diseases (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Whitmore for bringing this important issue forward. The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. The statute is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My responsibility relates...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Animal Diseases (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: To increase our knowledge of the prevalence of RHD2 virus across the country the NPWS is working with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to develop a national survey of RHD2 in rabbits. This will involve sampling rabbits from hunting bags in different locations throughout the country. The vast majority of rabbits sampled will be those ordinarily taken by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Animal Diseases (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I share the concerns expressed by Deputy Whitmore. There is no commitment in the programme for Government to ban hare coursing. We would have liked to have secured that, but it is not there. We are still collating information and data. The decision is due in the next while. I cannot give a commitment today on whether that will be a positive or negative decision. We need to gather all...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wildlife Data (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree with everything Deputy O'Sullivan has said. In regard to the NPWS, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to a comprehensive review of the role, function and resourcing of the NPWS. The Deputy is correct in saying that there is a resourcing issue, and that is important. In the short time I have been in this office, I have seen some amazing work done by our staff and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inland Waterways (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 27 together. Waterways Ireland's work programme is critical to providing a safe and high-quality recreation environment for the public, while also preserving the industrial and environmental heritage of the waterways for future generations. These challenges must be balanced with the objective of increasing recreational activity across all of our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inland Waterways (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I could not agree more with the Deputy. It is the objective of our Department to work very closely with Waterways Ireland to achieve the priorities outlined by the Deputy. I visited a fantastic project run by Waterways Ireland in Lough Allen last week. It was incredible to see how the resource is being used. It is particularly pertinent during these Covid times that these resources are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inland Waterways (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Smith for keeping this on the agenda. It is an important matter. I agree with the contention that the process should be incremental, because these are capital intensive projects, as I said at the outset. Budgets are limited and constrained. I am encouraged by the positive engagement we have had with Waterways Ireland. It is very early days for me to get fully up to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wildlife Data (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan who, I know, has a huge interest in this area. The Department is responsible for implementing the Wildlife Acts and the birds and natural habitats regulations, the principal items of legislation underpinning the protection, conservation and restoration of nature and biodiversity in the State. In addition, the Department has responsibility for implementing a range...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wildlife Data (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I could not agree more. I would not suggest that the data centre is funded on an ad hocbasis because the work is contracted out. It is a separate piece of work and there is a commitment in the programme for Government to ensure support for biodiversity recording and the essential citizen science work the Deputy spoke about, which is so valuable on a community basis. I know it is work the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hedge Cutting (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I am responsible for questions under the heritage remit. Hedgerows are very important wildlife habits, providing food, shelter, corridors of movement, nesting and hibernation sites for many of our native flora and fauna. There are approximately 400,000 km of hedges in this country. In general, it is permissible to cut hedges during the winter period mentioned in the question. While under...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hedge Cutting (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for the clarification. In relation to hedge cutting and broadband, on 9 July this year during a discussion on the 2020 Revised Estimate for the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Naughten indicated that the roll-out of the national broadband plan could result in a requirement for householders to clear vegetation to facilitate connections. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hedge Cutting (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: Deputy Naughten has made a very worthwhile proposal and I will certainly take it back to the Department. It is absolutely right that we protect our hedgerows and that we have taken all due account of the protection of our biodiversity, but broadband is an essential item that must be delivered, through the national broadband plan. My Department will ensure that a line of communication is...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting (22 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: Significant efforts have been made by the State to resolve the issue of the protection of Ireland’s raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas within the framework of the EU Habitats Directive, including the establishment of a long-term compensation scheme for affected turf cutters. This cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, established in 2011, is...