Results 181-200 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Health Services: Motion (28 May 2008)

Paudie Coffey: So the Senator will vote for the motion.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I, too, support Senator O'Toole in his call for the Government to engage with the fishermen. Fisheries is a traditional industry that has served this country very well. However, fishermen feel very neglected by the manner in which they have been dealt with by Europe. This is, perhaps, a downside for Europe, and I hate saying this, but it provides material for debate on both the "Yes" and...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I support my colleague Senator Fitzgerald and second the proposed amendment to the Order of Business for a debate the economy. It is only eight months since we held a debate on housing in the Chamber when Deputy Batt O'Keeffe attended as then Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with responsibility for housing. At that time it was outlined to...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: These are the issues facing the people but we do not have the answers to them. The Government is sitting on its hands. We call on the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach to come to the House to show real leadership in terms of how we propose to deal with these challenges. I refer to the health service and palliative care in the south east. Someone who is terminally ill should be...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: The Government has been in office for 11 years and ruined it.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: At the very start they are trying to get out of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: Quite right.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I also support the calls for a debate on the economy. Listening to all sections of the House, it is clear that there is a deep interest in what direction the Government wants to take and what direction we, as Oireachtas Members, want to take to face the challenges ahead. I reassure Senator Ross that the roll-out of broadband is one of my high priorities. I agree with him that we are hearing...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: We will see what the next budget contains.

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I am pleased that we are debating mental health in general. In the short time I have been in the Seanad I have heard several Senators from all parties raise the issues of mental health, its treatment and the resources required for dealing with mental health in Ireland. An excellent document was produced in 2006 called A Vision for Change. The roll-out and implementation of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: What about the leaking prefabs?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: Fianna Fáil inherited it.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I listened with interest to the views of Senators on the economy and the challenges that lie ahead. It is important we can express our views. I know the Leader takes those views on board and it is important we are constructive in our debate on the economy. Our track record on this side of the House attests to that. We have always been constructive in protecting the economy and we have...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Paudie Coffey: We can take it, but we can give it, too.

Seanad: Nuclear Test Ban Bill 2006: Second Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister of State. I also welcome this comprehensive Bill, which covers all aspects of the banning of nuclear testing in Ireland. I compliment the officials involved in drafting the legislation, the purpose of which is to give effect to and transpose into Irish law our obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The treaty was opened for signature in 1999...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I support Senator Fitzgerald's call for a debate on environmental matters, with specific reference to the toxic dump at Haulbowline and others in the State. I called some months ago for a debate on legacy landfills. The Government and the State face many environmental and financial challenges because of those dumps. There are EU and domestic obligations on the Government to deal with...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I agree with the Senator but we have a Green Minister and it is high time he stood up to his responsibilities and faced up to these challenges. An urgent debate on this matter is needed.

Seanad: Nuclear Test Ban Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (3 Jul 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I, too, thank the Minister of State for bringing this Bill before the House. As I said on Second Stage I thank the officials who drafted this comprehensive Bill. It reinforces and enhances Ireland's position in regard to nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. We are making a statement by enacting into law a Bill which legislates for issues which, as Senator Glynn has said, we...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jul 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I support Senator Fitzgerald's call for a debate on the economy and on employment in general. The trends in recent live register figures are worrying. The Government was happy to use the housing boom to conceal our declining competitiveness in exports and manufacturing. Now thousands of young Irish construction workers, skilled in various trades, find it hard to get work. I call on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jul 2008)

Paudie Coffey: Hear, hear.