Results 2,141-2,160 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: 135. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total percentage breakdown of foreign direct investment that has been made in the cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford in the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51485/13]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services Provision (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: 141. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports that are available for social enterprises (details supplied) that are upskilling persons and providing produce for local businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51827/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Sittings (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: 304. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the provisions that will be put in place during the extension and refurbishment of Waterford City Courthouse to ensure that High Court cases are still heard in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51785/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: 336. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51481/13]

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I wish to add my concern on the 50% rebate. I presume that the Minister is trying to achieve consistency across all local authorities but, where there are vacant properties in Waterford city, for example, the situation might not be the same as that in Dublin or Cork, where there is high demand and high levels of business. In Waterford, city centre locations are struggling and I am not sure...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Unsurprisingly, some stated that it was an essential source of revenue for their budgets, but the reality for businesses on the ground in the current economic climate means that imposing these rebates might not be suitable. Local councillors in the new local authorities would be best placed to decide on whether a 50% rebate should apply in their areas.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: On the devolved power, I welcome the fact that the Minister has listened to his colleagues in the Fine Gael Party who have been lobbying for this on behalf of various local authorities and that he proposes to introduce an amendment in this regard. The legacy rates issue is a matter of concern. The Minister may or may not be aware that I introduced a Private Members' motion on this matter....

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I have a query about the impact of the Valuation Act 2001. I understand what the Minister is trying to achieve in the amalgamated valuation list. The Minister referred earlier to an entire council area being taken over by one local authority. He will be aware that the city and county councils in Waterford are amalgamating. The Minister is on record as saying that in that scenario he would...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister for his clarification. Perhaps the committee might take up this issue as it is going to affect other local authorities and is related to the Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2012. Perhaps the Minister, Deputy Howlin, could be invited to this committee at a future date to discuss the implications of that legislation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I have some questions about Mr. O'Connor's statement, before referring to some further questions. Hopefully, we will get some answers. Mr. O'Connor said in his statement that he believes EirGrid to be in the first rank of importance to the social and economic well-being of the island of Ireland. Will he explain why that is the case?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Mr. O'Connor mentioned that he has served on three commercial semi-State boards - the Housing Finance Agency, Temple Bar Properties and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, DDDA. During what years was he on the DDDA?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Mr. O'Connor said he persuaded the Government at the time it was better to assign the functions under the critical infrastructure Act to An Bord Pleanála? Is he taking the credit for that alone or was he a major influence on the Government on that occasion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Mr. O'Connor has portrayed that he has an exceptional link from the formulation of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 through to rulings by An Bord Pleanála and now to his position in EirGrid. That is an interesting link since its inception in 2006. He stated: "I am happy that my actions in the Department and in An Bord Pleanála, reflected in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Can Mr. O'Connor even understand why the public has this perception, given his links and involvement going back to the inception of the strategic infrastructure Act and his time in An Bord Pleanála? Can he not see why the public may think that, even though there might not be a solid foundation to it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Mr. O'Connor, therefore, thinks he is displaying good judgment to take up the position, despite wide public concern. I would like to elaborate on judgment because it is important. As chairman of An Bord Pleanála, he dealt with a case of interest to me and to the previous environment committee relating to the County Kildare landfill in Usk. The High Court ruled in 2006 that it found...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: The court stated the process within An Bord Pleanála was "unfair and displayed objective bias". This was under Mr. O'Connor's stewardship. He referred to the importance of decisiveness in a leadership role. Can decisiveness sometimes happen in the interests of expediency and at the expense of good judgment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I want to finish on an important issue relating to judgment in a senior role in a semi-State company. Mr. O'Connor's position was to more or less ignore the High Court ruling but the case was back before the court in 2009 and it was overturned a second time. It stated: In upholding the challenge by Usk and District Resident Association to the 2008 permission, Mr. Justice McMenamin was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Will Mr. O'Connor answer the question about whether he displayed good judgment based on his stewardship of An Bord Pleanála with regard to the infrastructure Act? My concern is that concerned citizens in County Kildare took a case, which was upheld, but Mr. O'Connor chose to ignore the first ruling of the High Court. The case went before the court again and it cost those citizens and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Mr. O'Connor accepts the judgment of the court, but he does not feel his judgment at that particular time was wrong. In that context, how appropriate is his appointment at this stage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Chairman.