Results 521-540 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister for his clarifications. However, he has not answered my question. Has the Department consulted the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner regarding the provisions of the Bill? The legislation will require data held by agencies - State, semi-State and others - to be shared. The ESB, for example, is now divided between ESB Networks and ESB supply. Data protection...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister for that clarification. I expect we will see the clarification regarding people in nursing homes on Report Stage. With regard to the Revenue Commissioners, is there a precedent in principle in the Bill? The Revenue Commissioners already acknowledge that where a dependent relative is living in a dwelling that is mortgaged by a son or a daughter, interest relief can be...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I will respond briefly, and I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence. There is a precedent whereby a person such as a dependent relative, perhaps a parent, is living in a second residence, not the principal private residence of the owner, and there is no income. The Revenue Commissioners realise and acknowledge that and offer interest relief on the mortgage for that dwelling. In the...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: This section refers to mechanisms to allow local authorities to transfer what I understand is the income from the charges to town councils that are concerned about the administration in their own areas. Senator Doherty mentioned the income from these charges. Thanks to the Oireachtas Library and Research unit we have a very good graph with estimates of the income that various local...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: As we come to the end of Committee Stage I acknowledge the engagement of the Minister and his officials with all sides of the House in respect of clarifications that we requested during the day. The Minister understands that we raise these concerns about the legislation for genuine reasons. Fine Gael generally supports this Bill which is a welcome development to try to broaden the revenue...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: That is what it means to analyse legislation. I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: What time tomorrow?

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I acknowledge the engagement today by Senators on all sides of the House and the Minister and his officials. I do not want to finish on a negative note but it is unfortunate that this charge was announced in the budget in October 2008 and as Senators we are grappling with the fact that we are squashing much legislation into the last few days of the session. Very relevant issues of concern...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: On a point of order for clarification purposes I understood we were to take the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill immediately after the Local Government (Charges) Bill. Is this no longer the case?

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I do not believe the other Bill will take that much longer but in any event I seek an adjournment of the House for five minutes.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: On the introduction of the Bill in the House there was a serious engagement on the homelessness issue. The Minister of State will recall that many amendments were tabled by this side of the House. We engaged to a large extent with the NGOs and the Make Room campaign, which is very concerned about homelessness and how the State proposes to address this serious issue. I welcome the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I acknowledge again that this is another mechanism to allow people move onto the housing ladder from whatever accommodation they are in. It is a genuine attempt by the Minister of State to make another provision in legislation to allow such people to have a house of their own. I ask for one clarification from the Minister of State. Views differ among local authorities. Where a local...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: This issue was highlighted for the Minister when the Bill was before the Seanad. I recall at the time he could not give a commitment because of the complexities involved but undertook to address the concerns of Members of this House with regard to the equality issues raised concerning tenant purchase of apartments. I welcome the fact that the Minister has done what he said he would do. I...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I acknowledge that the Minister of State took on board the views expressed in the Seanad. Strong views were expressed during the debate on Committee Stage with regard to these miscellaneous measures. Some Senators felt the breach of tenancy agreements and rent arrears, while they did happen, were dealt with too harshly by the legislation. I acknowledge there is a softening of sanction,...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: There was wide debate on affordable housing when this Bill was before the Seanad. The changing market conditions show the need for changes in legislation to allow local authorities to sell affordable housing units in a more flexible manner than was previously permitted under legislation. It was necessary to address that and this Bill goes a long way towards implementing that flexibility in...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: If it is appropriate, I wish to comment on the passing of the Bill. I thank the Minister of State for commencing the Bill in the Seanad Chamber where there was a great deal of discourse and debate regarding all the provisions it contained. There was much engagement by all sides in the Bill. The legislation tackles serious areas in our local authority areas that needed urgent attention,...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: The Government parties will experience it themselves shortly.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: It is the last sting of a dying wasp.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House to debate this very important Bill. I want to focus on specific aspects of the Bill, those being the dissolution of the Women's Health Council and the National Cancer Screening Services board and the transfer of all their rights and liabilities to the board of the HSE. We are all aware of the national cancer strategy and a lot of...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: What about the provision of cancer treatment services in Waterford?