Results 61-80 of 4,903 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: This has been a really useful session. I have a quick question on AD. The biomethane strategy seems to be very much based on using grass rather than secondary farm slurries or food waste, with which we could actually deliver greater benefits in addressing emissions. One of the early AD plants in this country, in Kilkenny, my home county, has been using secondary farm slurries consistently...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: I have a second question. Has the carbon intensity of using the land for AD rather than for ruminants been calculated? Has there been a cross-check analysis of the carbon savings from such a system?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the witnesses for the opening remarks. I have a couple of questions, particularly on the point Mr. Murphy made about the market rewarding low cost over low carbon. It is something that is becoming pertinent of late because of rising food prices. Does the sector see that perhaps the value of food in this country has been undervalued in terms of the prices farmers, as price takers,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: Surely that goes back to the point that Mr. Murphy mentioned about the climate and nature fund. A significant portion of that, some €650 million, was to be set aside. This was the start of a rolling fund. It is a question I put to Department officials about moving out of projects with a short-term projects, such as LIFE and EIPs. They have been brilliant, but many farmers might...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: The farm plan scheme, on designated land, has been fantastic. Such schemes need to be ramped up significantly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: At the outset, I want to acknowledge the deep trauma and upset this has caused the local community, particularly the angling community, who are our custodians of the rivers up and down the country. Surely, these rivers are worth more to us in pristine condition as healthy rivers for tourism, leisure and nature, than they are as open sewers or for the short-term gains of a few. I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: There are some other discharge licenceholders who have been on the EPA worst offenders list, along with North Cork Creameries, all of which appear to have persistent breaches. Again, this is about at what point we set that benchmark. What percentage of EPA IPC licenceholders would Dr. Ryan say regularly breach their licence?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Dr. Ryan for that. What does he believe needs to be changed in terms of legislation? I know we have had reference from IFI relating to legislative change in the programme for Government. This relates to legislation or policy to strengthen Ireland's licensing and enforcement regime so that the fines and probation orders are not merely - and this is what seems to be happening - being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: My final question goes back to the point that Mr. Conor Arnold made about the delays in the response. Is there a required standard operating procedure for rapid response and analysis in response to fish kills, including rapid water chemistry testing, which all agency staff in county councils should be employing? If not, perhaps it is something that could come out of recommendations of this...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank our witness for their presentation. We are all in agreement on the statistics on employment, which are really awful. Despite all the best efforts through the apprenticeship programme, the employment outcomes are poor. I agree with what other members said in that the public sector, including the local authorities and OPW, really needs to step up quite significantly here. There are...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: It was a question from Senator Flynn. How limited is the TAIP in creating opportunities for Travellers with limited educational attainment?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: My second question is kind of a hybrid of Senator Flynn's question and my own, if that is okay. How varied are the roles and apprenticeship fields available through the TAIP? Does the ITM feel this ratio is sufficient in creating opportunities for Travellers that may not otherwise be available to them?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: Senator Flynn is really asking how varied the roles are in apprenticeships through the apprenticeship programme. Does the ITM feel the ratio is sufficient in creating opportunities for Travellers?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: It could. The National Women's Council was here yesterday. There is a whole public discourse and Government commitment around moving towards a public model of childcare and early childhood education. That might present opportunities. I will raise another area of interest. I am looking at the nature restoration element of it and farming and whether there are opportunities for young...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree wholeheartedly. I raise the outputs of our work here in this committee. It is important that we look at a stand-alone report on this particular issue with recommendations to the Government. It is something we should give active consideration to.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: It would be useful for us to try to take that evaluation report. Perhaps this committee could produce a stand-alone report with recommendations to the Government. It might be very useful. There is one more thing I wanted to mention. These are areas of interest I have had for many years regarding traditional skills as well, be it in thatching or stonemasonry. I did mention the NPWS in...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: Absolutely. The OPW and-----

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Infrastructure (25 Sep 2025)

Malcolm Noonan: We welcome the additional briefing material that has been supplied by the Department regarding this. Is é sin deireadh an chláir. The House stands suspended until 11 o'clock.