Results 561-580 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I second Senator Twomey's proposal to amend the Order of Business regarding the pharmacy issue. I also add my voice in support of Senators Mullen and O'Reilly regarding the proposal to amend the Order of Business to discuss and debate REPS. I called for such a debate yesterday and would continue to so do, were the Seanad sitting every day. This is an extremely important matter for farmers...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: It is going through optics now.

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister of State and welcome this important amendment. As the Minister said in her contribution, there was a robust debate in the Seanad during which many Members gave their views on the Bill, with a particular focus on this area, where we felt there was an inadequacy. I welcome the role played by Fine Gael in identifying this because it was unfair to those elderly relatives...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Given the number of vacant houses, landlords are currently queuing to participate in the rental accommodation scheme, regardless of the incentive.

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I wish to make a final comment on this Bill which is about to be passed. I thank the Minister and his officials for engaging with Members on this Bill. Issues of concern were identified and we would not have raised them unless we had a genuine and sincere reason to do so. I outlined the concerns we have. We will monitor closely the implementation of this legislation at local authority...

Seanad: EU Funding (15 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister of State and welcome the opportunity to discuss this important matter. I wish to share time with Senator Cummins. I ask for confirmation that an application has been made by the Government to access the EU globalisation fund. The EU has established the globalisation fund, worth over €500 million per year until 2013, to pay for retraining and reskilling where there...

Seanad: EU Funding (15 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister of State for the information but I am disappointed by it. The criteria have made it easier for Irish companies to access the European globalisation fund but I am disappointed with the lack of urgency with regard to job losses at Waterford Crystal. My understanding is that Limerick is treated as a high priority, with a visit from the European Commissioner, whereas in the...

Seanad: EU Funding (15 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: When will the application be completed? When can the people of Waterford expect fair play, focus, attention and representation from the Government? To date, we have not seen that. The same applies in respect of the application of the Waterford Institute of Technology for university status. The Government treats the application with contempt, fobbing it off on a year-by-year basis....

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I support the earlier calls for a debate on the elderly and ask the Leader to accommodate it. Elderly people in urban and rural areas are concerned about proposed cuts and barriers to accessing basic services to which they are entitled. These people built our country and we should not forget them, even in recessionary times. It is a debate well worth having. I ask the Leader to provide...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Is the Leader speaking for the Government when he says that?

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (23 Sep 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister of State for this important debate. I listened with interest to the previous contributors. It is essential for the country and the people that we maintain hope and optimism. However, we need to pass on that hope because people are confused, angry and hurt and need direction. That is what they are crying out for. We have just experienced the greatest deterioration...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Sep 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I support the comments made by previous speakers on the rights of children. Yesterday I also spoke about our vulnerable elderly. Today I want to highlight the problems of those aged between 25 and 40 who are exposed to serious financial and emotional pressures. They bought houses at the peak of the property market and in many cases have young children who are attending school or college....

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Every politician of whatever hue should be concerned about the major damage done to the body politic. Our democratic institutions are under attack, probably for very good reason. Many of us who were on doorsteps campaigning for the Lisbon treaty know that people gritted their teeth and voted "Yes" to give themselves and the country every opportunity to recover. The public's angry mood is...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Oct 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister and his officials to the Seanad for the initiation of an important Bill and debate. While the Bill has been recently publicised by the media, it was also publicised prior to this summer's local elections. This comprehensive Bill addresses the important matters of planning and development which will have a significant impact on how the country and communities will...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Oct 2009)

Paudie Coffey: There was control exercised from Dublin also.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (7 Oct 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I acknowledge the Minister's response to the Fine Gael motion and add my voice to the many from all sides of the Chamber which argued for the retention of the rural transport scheme. There is great concern about proposed cuts in the bord snip report, especially in the rural communities we represent. Every Senator in the House as I look around it has a large rural hinterland in his or her...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Paudie Coffey: The disappointment of the people.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Paudie Coffey: We are around a while, all the same.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Is it any wonder that people are cynical about politics? I agree with Senators MacSharry and Callely that Members from both sides of the House have been calling consistently for debates that relate to people's lives, such as house repossessions, job losses, NAMA and the economic future of this country. The Fine Gael leader's decision this weekend has cast a strong spotlight on the workings...