Results 4,241-4,260 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (8 Dec 2016)

Paudie Coffey: While I welcome the enhancements that are recommended under the Herity report and University Hospital Waterford should engage in those improvements immediately, I have to say I am disappointed with the statement in the Minister of State's response that "the majority" of patients will continue to be referred from University Hospital Waterford to Cork University Hospital. The Members of this...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (8 Dec 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister of State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I thank both delegations for trying to assist the committee in its deliberations. One of the expert commission recommendations is that we should fund personal and normal domestic use from general taxation. I have specific questions. The new word "hypothecation" will become very relevant and I thank the Department of Finance for outlining what it means. We must be sensitive about the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the witness for that. I expected that reply, because we have not determined what an acceptable level of usage is. It will be critical to our committee's work. As a result of that, the CER or the public forum will help us to find it. Therefore, the cost that the Department is providing to the committee today could in fact be greater, depending on what the definition of this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I accept the Chair's ruling on that. I believe it is important that we flag at an early stage that it will need a more detailed analysis.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: The Department has offered to provide that to us in order that we can scrutinise it further during the discussion on equity and fairness. I would ask that not only those on group water schemes but also those with private wells and private water treatment systems are included in that analysis. It is part of the recommended report provided to the committee by the expert commission that we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Quarterly Progress Report Strategy for Rented Sector: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (18 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Secretary General and his staff for attending the committee to update us on the first quarterly report on Rebuilding Ireland. We all recognise the significant challenge in this regard and we acknowledge the efforts being made across the various pillars. My main interest is where progress has not been made, targets not met and to understand why that is the case. For example,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr. Séamas Ó Tuathail, SC (25 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I will be brief as some of the areas I wanted to ask about have already been covered. I reiterate the point I heard from Deputy O'Dea that I am not aware of any political party or Independent, elected or otherwise, that is in favour of the privatisation of Irish Water or its resources. It is important to record that. I look forward to debating Deputy Collins's Bill. Many colleagues here...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr. Séamas Ó Tuathail, SC (25 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I want to focus on the protections of existing legislation. Yes, fear exists but it may not always be legitimate. It may be stoked up. I recognise that there may be an element of scaremongering. It is fair where people have a genuine fear. The work of this committee is to get to the facts of the matter. We want to see what legislation protects and reassures people with these fears....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr. Séamas Ó Tuathail, SC (25 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I thank Mr. Ó Tuathail for his answers. Given what he has said, does he not recognise that the majority of the plebiscite of the people would be required, under present legislation, to denude ourselves of shares in public water sources? Is it not enough to have a plebiscite of the Irish people where they would have their say and vote?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr. Séamas Ó Tuathail, SC (25 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: Does he not recognise the mandate of an elected Dáil or future Dáil? Does he not recognise that Deputies are elected by the people to legislate on their behalf?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr. Séamas Ó Tuathail, SC (25 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: What about the mandate of the Dáil?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr. Séamas Ó Tuathail, SC (25 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I am supposed to be in the Seanad for a vote.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr. Séamas Ó Tuathail, SC (25 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: Yes. Thank you.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I share the concerns that have been expressed about the recent developments concerning immigration in the USA. However, how we respond to and deal with this international challenge, which is what it is, is very important. It is important that the Taoiseach visit the White House on St. Patrick's weekend and I disagree with and strongly reject what the Fianna Fáil Seanad leader has said...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Chair.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I will try to stay within the remit of the committee, because obviously some members are going way beyond that. We have enough work to be doing, and if members of this committee have specific issues, I am sure they can take them up directly with Irish Water. This is not the forum for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I want to acknowledge the witnesses who have attended and who have been helpful to the committee, especially the members of the Public Water Forum. They are providing a valuable public service in terms of what they have outlined to the committee. The public forum is required to advocate on behalf of consumers and I am sure that technical assistance sometimes is required. How can the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I would, however, be interested to hear the views of the members of the Public Water Forum on that question because this is also about public engagement on this issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Paudie Coffey: I also asked about the question of usage. Has the forum had a chance to consider that?