Results 401-420 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Farm Waste Management (25 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I propose to share time with Senators John Paul Phelan and McFadden.

Seanad: Farm Waste Management (25 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: In recent weeks I have met many farmers who were approved for grant aid under the farm waste management scheme. These farmers understood they had a clear contract with the State and that the specified grant moneys would be paid. I was horrified to discover that many of the farmers are seriously exposed as a consequence of the large loans they took out in good faith on the understanding that...

Seanad: Farm Waste Management (25 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I do not doubt for one minute the success of the scheme which has allowed farmers to upgrade their infrastructure and improve their positions. That comes as a result of the significant investment in this area. I welcome the Minister of State's indication that farmers will be paid as it has been a concern. It is good to hear it clearly...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Senator Leyden thinks he is at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting this morning.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I support the call for a rolling debate on the economy. Senator Ó Murchú referred to this morning's opinion poll and he complimented those on this side of the House for not gloating. It is not a matter of opinion polls, it is much more serious than that. As a parent of three small children under the age of five, I am seriously concerned about their future. Last night, I attended a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: It seems that on a daily basis the Government is trying to take a step forward, but instead it is taking five steps backwards. It is not inspiring confidence in our economy and that is of great concern because the Government is in denial. We seem to be a little insulated from reality in this House and in the Lower House. Will the Government seriously consider producing a detailed road map...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I seek a rolling debate on the economy with specific attention on competitiveness and employment, while addressing the huge deficits in our public finances.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: To comment on this section of the Bill——

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Feb 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, line 11, after "servant" to insert "and excludes non-pensionable payments". This amendment refers to non-pensionable payments which would take into account payments such as overtime, which is a large part of the remuneration of public servants. It highlights another anomaly with regard to this Bill which has been pointed out clearly in the Lower House....

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Mar 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I wish to add my voice of condemnation regarding the callous murders carried out in Northern Ireland in recent days. They were outrageous and despicable acts, in which two young British soldiers and one police officer were mown down and taken away from their families and the communities they were protecting. No Member will ever understand the mind-set of the criminals who carried out such...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Paudie Coffey: What about a national laboratory?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Paudie Coffey: We do not even have a national laboratory.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I ask permission to share time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, to the House to listen to a very important debate. I commend the Independent Senators on what I and Fine Gael believe is a very reasonable motion asking for urgent reform of the Seanad. We must all act as soon as possible on this. Even today media mandarins and commentators were on national radio...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Paudie Coffey: "Oireachtas Report" offers a brief piece. I also acknowledge Mr. Tim Ryan who does a brief piece in the local paper in my constituency of Waterford. Other than that, members of the media have many questions to ask themselves in respect of the notice they give this House and the important workings that happen within it. Reform of Seanad Éireann is the only way to give the House true...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for a comprehensive outline of the provisions of the Bill. It was almost longer than the Bill itself but it spells out clearly the intention of the Bill. Fine Gael supports the general thrust to introduce spending limits for candidates in local elections. The Bill comes late to the House, however, because it has not yet passed into law and we...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Paudie Coffey: They were all my own posters, not to mind my party's. The Bill could have missed an opportunity to standardise poster sizes. The standard posters are 8 ft. by 4 ft., or 4 ft. by 2 ft., but the legislation could have been used to stop much of the unusual material one sees during election campaigns. It may have complicated the Bill but I feel we may have missed an opportunity to standardise...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the fact the social partners will re-enter talks with Government and that the Government has left the door open for this. It would be a huge blow to the economy if the general strike went ahead next Monday but, hopefully, that will be diverted. There are many opposing forces in the country, whether in the social partnership or political system or among the general public, as a...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Mar 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Notwithstanding that we are taking all remaining Stages of the Bill today, will the Minister of State consider asking his officials to draft an amendment to try to streamline the Bill and make it more user-friendly? This is the reason I make the request and to remove any ambiguity. There is a reference in section 4 to a date not less than 50 days and not more than 60 days. Will the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Mar 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, line 4, to delete "shall incur" and substitute "may apply to their election expenses". The amendment has been tabled to remove any ambiguity with regard to the wording of the section, which states that where a political party authenticates the candidature of a candidate at a local election, the party shall incur ten per cent of the amount of the election...