Results 361-380 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister of State for bringing this Bill before the House. My party acknowledged that it was a good Bill on all Stages and we tried to amend it to improve it further. There is no doubt that the Bill will improve the lot of those on the housing lists, the homeless and those with other housing needs. The various sections of the Bill, when enacted, will contribute to ensuring such...

Seanad: Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements (10 Dec 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I add my voice of concern on behalf of the constituents I represent in County Waterford, where many intensive pig farmers and processing factories are located, all of which are going through a difficult time at present. I do not doubt that the Minister and his departmental officials are working as hard as possible to try to alleviate the effects of the bombshell that has hit the entire...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (17 Dec 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister and his officials to the House and thank him for his informative contribution. This Bill is essentially about raising motor taxes. It is a revenue raising exercise in which the motor tax receipts go to the local government fund. The Minister claims to be raising revenue for local authorities. However, while he gives to one hand, his colleague, the Minister for...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (17 Dec 2008)

Paudie Coffey: Is the Senator saying he intends to raise taxes on petrol?

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (17 Dec 2008)

Paudie Coffey: Cars are no longer selling.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (17 Dec 2008)

Paudie Coffey: We have a sub-standard public transport system.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (17 Dec 2008)

Paudie Coffey: We agree on that too.

Seanad: Foster Care: Motion (17 Dec 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I support the Fine Gael amendment. I acknowledge the essential and hard work of the Irish Foster Care Association and of foster carers who are often the unsung heroes in our society. After all, they volunteer their time and energy and that of their families, and they are giving. The word "foster" implies love and care and we must...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Paudie Coffey: We are undergoing many crises, including the economic crisis, the housing crisis, the employment crisis and the food crisis. We also have another crisis, the impact of which the Government is not fully aware, namely, the waste management crisis. We have made great progress in respect of recycling initiatives and the introduction of facilities to deal with our waste, but due to the crisis in...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Paudie Coffey: Issues of national importance should be discussed in this House and in the Lower House, where publicly elected representatives who are accountable to the citizens of this country can query and analyse these announcements. This is the last day of the term of the Dáil and the plan will not be analysed in a parliamentary way, which is a disgrace. We hear the Taoiseach calling for national...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Paudie Coffey: The Taoiseach is not consulting his colleagues in government and that is quite clear in respect of the Lisbon treaty and this matter. Has he consulted Government Senators with regard to the economic strategy? I doubt it very much.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I fully support Senator Prendergast's concerns about the closure of St. Brigid's ward at St. Patrick's Hospital in Waterford. This is being closed for the dubious reason that it does not reach the high standards required by HIQA. I call the HSE's bluff today. I call on HIQA to go into St. Brigid's ward in St. Patrick's Hospital and investigate all allegations made by the HSE. Let the...

Seanad: Electoral Amendment Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Second Stage debate on this Bill. The Bill applies fundamentally to our democracy and how this Parliament and the European Parliament are established. The provisions of the Bill will affect the number of representatives we elect to Dáil Éireann and to the European Parliament. It is essential that the Bill is in place and that it reflects the...

Seanad: Electoral Amendment Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Good man.

Seanad: Electoral Amendment Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: The Senator is very welcome.

Seanad: Electoral Amendment Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Did Senator Leyden go canvassing on a boat?

Seanad: Electoral Amendment Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Is the Senator saying they would gerrymander?

Seanad: Education Matters: Statements (10 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister and the debate on his very important portfolio, education. We should never underestimate the potential of education for children and adults, and I am sure the Minister does not do so. I will not quote reports but will refer to real-life experiences I have had as a pupil and a parent. I am chairperson of a board of management of a national school and am a former...

Seanad: Education Matters: Statements (10 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: That is okay but I want attention because I have the floor. The gaelscoil in Tramore is fully prefabricated. The staff are doing great work introducing the Irish language to an area in which it has never been before. The board of management, staff and parents are very frustrated because there is no progress. Even if there were accountability and transparency and the school were told where...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Hear, hear.