Results 441-460 of 12,886 for speaker:Paul Coghlan

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I welcome the Tánaiste to the House and thank her for outlining her views. While I do not necessarily share them, I thank her for expressing them. I am glad that she seems interested in a full democratic debate because indications so far have been otherwise and I hope ethical considerations will take precedence over monetary or economic ones. There are important ethical, constitutional,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I agree with the comments of Senator Maurice Hayes and Senator O'Toole. Regarding the communication from the legal fraternity, I would also welcome a meeting with them which I hope can be arranged. It is natural that they would be concerned about the right of access to the courts, the right to fair procedures and the right to be held equal before the law. However, all these points are a sine...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I am delighted to welcome the Tánaiste back to the House for this important debate and I give a general welcome to this important Bill. High insurance costs have been the bane of consumer and business life in Ireland since 1999. In that period we have seen premiums for motor, household and all forms of liability insurance rise by exorbitant amounts. As a member of the Oireachtas Joint...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him and his colleagues well.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: Both the Senator and I are safe.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I move amendment No. 1: In page 10, line 44, after "advice" to insert "and legal representation". I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, to the House. I gather the Tánaiste was not prepared to accept my amendment yesterday which was moved by Senator Phelan in my absence. She argued that as the PIAB will not be dealing with legal issues, there will be no need for claimants to...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I accept some of the arguments but there is a fundamental imbalance. Legal advice can be sought, but it is a fundamental tenet of our democracy that a person is entitled to legal representation. We accept the thrust of the Bill, but we must press this issue. Amendment put. Tá

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: All the points made by Senator Henry and the other speakers are fundamental and important. I am sure the Minister wants to provide that protection in law. I fully support the amendment.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I move amendment No. 3: In page 14, to delete lines 1 to 6. I see the two amendments to sections 16 and 32 as being central to the core of the PIAB. I do not believe it to be equitable that an insurer can compel a claimant to go to the PIAB and then reject the assessment issued by the board in order to take full-blown legal proceedings dealing with both liability and quantum. This is unjust...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I accept the good intentions of the PIAB. All we are trying to achieve here is equity and fair play, which both sides should accept. Senator Hayes was correct when he asked why the process should be allowed to start again. If the respondent rejects the assessment, liability should be fixed with them and they should not be allowed to start again. They will have a whole panoply of advisers...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I move amendment No. 5: In page 21, line 31, after "advice" to insert "and legal representation".

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I move amendment No. 6: In page 23, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: "(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act, where the Board arranges for an assessment of a claimant's claim as a consequence of the provisions of section 14(1), and the respondent subsequently refuses to accept the assessment made by the Board under section 30,the effect of an authorisation issued...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I move amendment No. 8: In page 29, line 23, to delete "9" and substitute "6". The effect of this amendment is to reduce the period in which the PIAB must consider a claim from nine months to six months. The reason for this amendment, as outlined yesterday, is to ensure claims are dealt with expeditiously and effectively. While recognising the time limits are shorter than those which...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I accept the Minister of State's statement that the board will try to be expeditious at all times and that it will be its intention to have cases settled within six months rather than nine, which is the period specified in the Bill. In view of the remarks of the distinguished former ombudsman, Senator Maurice Hayes, I withdraw my amendment. Time limits might not be helpful and there is a...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I move amendment No. 9: In page 32, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: "(d)1 shall be a person nominated for such appointment by the Law Society of Ireland (or any successor of it)". This amendment provides that a nominee from the Law Society of Ireland should be permitted on the board. I advance it on the basis that while some solicitors and ambulance chasers have contributed...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I fully accept the goodwill and good intentions of the Minister of State and of those who have spoken against the amendment. I accept what the Minister of State says about the legal advice available to the board. However, if the PIAB is to be given the powers under this legislation to review legal procedures and processes, then the presence of a Law Society member on the board could have been...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: Yes. Amendment put and declared lost. Bill received for final consideration. Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: As the House is aware, I gave this Bill a substantial welcome on Second Stage. We have now fully expressed our reservations and we will leave those with the Minister of State who may take them further, if possible. We wish the PIAB every success. I wish every success to its chairperson Dorothea Dowling and to our colleague, Senator O'Toole. The latter is an excellent appointment to the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: Following on Senator Finucane's comments about community employment schemes, there is no doubt about the confusion that exists in the public mind. Unemployment is on the increase and Members are aware of the useful, plentiful and beneficial work that can be carried out by those working on these schemes. The Leader is known as a straight shooter—

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Paul Coghlan: I am asking a question. I would like to hear the Leader's views on this as I think she will give us a straight answer on what is happening, or about to happen, to community employment schemes.