Results 4,421-4,440 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Housing: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I hope I will be able to return the favour sometime. I acknowledge the presence of Councillor Declan Ducey in the Visitors Gallery. Councillor Ducey, who is a long-term local authority member of Waterford County Council, is accompanied by a delegation from Ardmore. He and councillors around the country know the housing challenge that the country faces because they are dealing every day...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and note my gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to this important Second Stage debate. I noted from the Minister of State's speech yesterday that she has already accepted a number of amendments to strengthen the Bill in the Dáil, which is a good approach to adopt in respect of legislation on a critical issue like education. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Vacant Housing Refurbishment Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the witnesses before the committee. I thank them for sharing their views and observations on the Bill. People have referred to SI 9 of 2014 and the recent building control regulations that have been introduced to protect the citizen who may be building or residing in a particular building. That is all very important and must be acknowledged. As Ms Hegarty mentioned, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Vacant Housing Refurbishment Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2018)

Paudie Coffey: The one-stop-shop element of the Bill would be preferable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Vacant Housing Refurbishment Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2018)

Paudie Coffey: Does the RIAI support the enhancement of independent inspection by local authorities or those contracted by them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Vacant Housing Refurbishment Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2018)

Paudie Coffey: If the local authorities were properly resourced, would the RIAI welcome the carrying out of more inspections?

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: We restored their hopes.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: When I entered the Chamber I sought the list of groupings of amendments. It is normally in the ante-room but these are not available to Senators. It is causing a bit of confusion.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: When I came in I looked for the list. I do not have the list in front of me and it is leading to confusion. We need to know the amendments we are discussing as a group so we do not miss the opportunity to contribute as we wish.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I do not.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I agree with some of what Senator Norris said. In the past, the regional technical colleges had an important role when they focused on educating graduates with engineering and technical skills to serve the construction and engineering industries and stakeholders in the various regions where they were established, as well as providing apprentices to the construction sector. I attended...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: They had high aspirations for their institutes and their regions.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: Waterford has been a leading example in this. I do not want to be just talking about Waterford but it is a perfect example. In the data provided by the Higher Education Authority, HEA, it can be seen that Waterford has done far more research with the money it gets because it has engaged with industry, achieved research capacity and has evolved into a functional and efficient research base....

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: In various sectors now, whether industry, engineering or construction, we are not getting the apprentices coming through because schools and parents are being lambasted that one must have a degree to function in society.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: That is totally wrong. We are seeing the deficits right across society now. We all have a role, including ourselves as policymakers, to start raising awareness about the real needs of our economy in terms of apprenticeships, engineering graduates and career paths which can start with apprenticeships and end up with degrees and doctorates. This Bill has the potential to deliver on this. My...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: They leave the region.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Acting Chairman for allowing me latitude in my previous contribution. I will be brief and speak to the amendment this time. I will be interested to hear the Minister of State's response to the amendment. The Bill's wording is that technological universities should promote "an entrepreneurial ethos". To me, an entrepreneurial spirit is already creative and innovative. We...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I also welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, and his officials. At long last this legislation is before the Oireachtas. As the Minister of State indicated, I was involved in the early stages of its preparation. The Bill is necessary for a number of reasons. We have seen huge failures in planning policy, planning...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I have no problem with that. Good luck to her for that.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Paudie Coffey: In any proper planning system, there must be a hierarchy of priority. The Government is correct to identify the five cities around Ireland that it will grow and enhance and which will double in population in the next number of years. Towns such as Carlow, Kilkenny and Clonmel in the south east can be the next priority in terms of investment. That is the way to do it. If we spread our...