Results 1-20 of 38 for speaker:Noel O'Donovan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I thank all the participants. They have all been knowledgeable and the level of expertise in their sectors is evident in their passion. If I am honest, I am fearful of the grid situation at present. I live in west Cork where we have many towns and villages constrained by Uisce Éireann development. It is tough to deal with young families who can no longer build in their towns and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Staying on this point, in Uisce Éireann's delivery process, the big projects can take five to seven years to deliver. That is a fear in terms of timelines. If the level of funding required to solve these 30 areas or additional areas comes through in the national development plan, what is the delivery process timeline for ensuring those 30 areas are covered by electricity?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: In my last ten seconds, I will note that, with Uisce Éireann infrastructure, preparatory work was not done for that consultation with local authorities and national bodies with regard to funding. I do not want the same situation to arise with our electricity infrastructure because it is our communities and our young people who will suffer. I am delighted to hear that it is a priority...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I want to come back to Mr. Cunniffe and our offshore energy potential. I represent coastal and rural communities and the potential is enormous. Will Mr. Cunniffe detail the barriers? He mentioned earlier that he does not see us achieving the 2030 targets given our strategic approach. What are the barriers? What countries has he visited or seen which do offshore energy well? How do they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Can we reverse the current trend if Mr. Cunniffe's fear is not making 2030? Can we make changes to policy?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme: Department of Social Protection (16 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: While there was a discussion about jobs coming to Letterkenny and Donegal, I hoped Mr. Duggan would bring some to west Cork as well.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme: Department of Social Protection (16 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: He might consider it. I welcome his presentation. This is a pragmatic and prudent project to deliver for this country, and not before time. Auto-enrolment is a cost on business. Businesses have had additional costs over the past number of years. Broadly, the scheme needs to be welcomed because any employer wants to keep their employee happy and plan into the future. I will make the...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Like other speakers, I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. It is the first opportunity I have had to speak to the Minister officially in this Chamber and to wish him well in his role. Obviously, there was a deep sense of personal pride to be appointed as a Minister for Deputy Calleary, his family and his supporters and the people of Mayo and I wish him well in the years ahead. This is...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I thank all the groups, specifically Family Carers Ireland and Sinead, for coming in. This has stopped us in our tracks and in the work we do. We see the importance of supporting them more. One particular line struck me, namely, that an audit of respite services is needed. We need to find out what the solution is to improving respite services and where the best model in the world is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: My constituency colleague in west Cork pipped me to the post in congratulating Cork GAA on its success at the weekend. I congratulate the Cork set-up both on and off the field and my own clubman, Kevin O'Donovan, the CEO of Cork GAA, on his work in recent years with Cork GAA. I hope it will bring us back to the place we want to be. As Senators, we all see the value that sport and GAA bring...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I rise today to put on record my appreciation and that of the west Cork community for the efforts of An Garda Síochána, our Naval Service, the Defence Forces and the Revenue Commissioners on the seizure of more than €30 million worth of drugs off Courtmacsherry yesterday morning. The community there is in shock, although delighted about the seizure. We are aware that the...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Like all other speakers, I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I welcome the fact that we have a Minster for fisheries now working on behalf of the Government. It is a really positive step forward in terms of the fishing industry. I thank the Minister of State for his engagement so far across the country and for recently visiting Castletownbere and attending the AGM again....

Seanad: Dental Services: Motion (25 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I will be brief. A lot of valid points have been made, and I do not want to repeat what has already been said. I thank the Minister of State for being in the House for this debate. When talking about dentistry, certain words come to mind. When we go to dentists, we are all reminded of proper dental hygiene and brushing our teeth in the morning and evening. Some of us may well be guilty...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I rise to discuss an issue in the town of Kinsale. The town is widely known locally, nationally and internationally as a major tourism hub and place of immense beauty. It is the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way. An issue around the development of a commercial mussel farm at the gateway harbour entrance to the town has arisen in Kinsale. I am not a politician of protest and believe that...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres (18 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Has FLAC this information in written correspondence from the Department?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres (18 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Perhaps Mr. Bowes will share that with us.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres (18 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Does FLAC have a view as to how we would stop that situation occurring where a previous partner and a current partner were recently bereaved? That is the Department's issue with this. Is there a view from FLAC as to how to get around that situation?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres (18 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I am not saying that paying two previous partners should not be the case but understanding the reasons the Department may have issues with it would be beneficial for us. What number of families may be in that position at present? It would be beneficial if we could get those numbers.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres (18 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I thank FLAC for being here this morning. Social protection legislation is quite complex and technical. I thank FLAC for its work on ensuring end users get the protections they need. I have just two quick queries. The first is on the nature of the presentation on the removal of the entitlement of divorced and separated people. In the first instance one could say that there may well be...