Results 3,981-4,000 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Higher Education Strategy (24 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. As already stated, however, as recently as 24 November last the Minister for Education and Science indicated in the Dáil that the report would be published early in the new year. The Minister of State has just said that it will not be published until the summer. As in the case of the crisis the country currently faces, clarity and certainty are...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: He has brought shame to his office and to politics.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: He has brought shame to his office and the Leader will not acknowledge it. He has brought shame to politics.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: I formally second Senator Fitzgerald's amendment. Job creation should be one of the highest priorities, if not the highest, for all of us in the current climate. I want to bring to the Leader's attention something that should be everybody's concern, that is, a recent report by the University of Limerick which, following research, found that almost half of Irish mathematics teachers are not...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: The change in stance is new.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: The Minister of State has not spoken to them, then.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: If the Minister of State spoke to them, they would inform him of their concerns.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: It is about breeding establishments.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: I will be brief as we have given the amendment much time.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: It is an important amendment in terms of commitments given by Ministers. We are seeking answers as to what or who influenced the change in stance by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Hunting Association of Ireland met officials from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in Wexford in November 2007. There was clear dialogue and...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: It is influencing legislation.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: It was not.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 3: In page 7, subsection (3), line 34, to delete "3 months" and substitute "12 months". We are proposing this amendment to qualify our general view. In principle, Fine Gael supports the Bill, since there is an obvious need for regulation of dog breeding establishments. However, we are seeking ways to improve the legislation and enhance the standard of current...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: The Minister of State said in his response that it could be argued that the working group was sitting for five years but, with due respect and in fairness to all involved, not every breeding establishment would have been privy to what was or was not said in the working group. That was a steering group set up to inform the Minister and his Department on drafting the legislation, and it made...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister of State for his response but it still does not alleviate the concern we have on this side of the House. I accept his view that the three-month period will come into effect after commencement.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: The business was set for the day on the Order of Business.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: With due respect to the Government speaker, I do not accept it is common practice. When a Minister knows the schedule of this House, he should give it that respect.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: No.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, line 20, after "pound" to insert "or hunt club". The logic behind this amendment was debated at length by a number of colleagues from all sides of the House on Second Stage. Commitments were given to the Hunting Association of Ireland regarding an exemption from the regulations and reasons were given at the time. Consultations took place in November 2007...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

Paudie Coffey: The Minister of State's response to the amendment is amazing. As I said, two Ministers gave a commitment in writing to the Hunting Association of Ireland that the kennels kept by its members would be exempt from the regulations. It beggars belief the Minister of State has said, on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, that the Fine...