Results 581-600 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Time passes.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: The public must have full confidence in the entire planning process in this country which depends on its integrity. I draw the attention of the House to the mission statement of An Bord Pleanála which states it carries out its work in an independent manner that embodies the public service ethos of integrity, impartiality and the desire to serve the public interest. I wish to raise a matter...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: The position of the present chairman is untenable owing to his actions and his failure to follow correct procedures and listen to higher court recommendations. He should resign.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: These people are not held accountable.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: What does the Senator want him to do? Railroad the Bill through the House?

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: The Senator should show some respect.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: What is the Senator talking about?

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister and the opportunity to contribute to the debate. It is very important that views are expressed here and opinions heard. This is probably the most important legislation that most of us will have an opportunity to discuss, particularly with regard to the future solvency of the economy and the country. I am one of those who tries to be optimistic, despite all of the...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: It is the truth. Just listen.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: The Minister was on the backbenches when it happened. We will not blame him for it.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: That is a serious assumption.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I support the calls for a debate on public sector reform, especially Senator Harris's call for structural reform. There is a realisation that this is essential for all of us. It is a shame to see public and private workers arguing with each other on the streets. It is a shame that our society has come to this. The pillars of our society are the health service, the education system, the...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: It is 100% in Northern Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I join other Members in offering my sympathies to the families of the six people who lost their lives in road accidents yesterday. Four of the victims were young women in their 20s who died in an accident on the N17 in County Galway. The reduction in road deaths was acknowledged in the House yesterday but this accident is a tragic reminder that we must continue to focus on the condition of...

Seanad: Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I am not often in agreement with Senator O'Malley but I agree with most of what she said today. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, and his officials for this debate. I welcome the broad thrust of the Bill but, like Senator O'Malley, I am not sure that it goes far enough. It is an attempt to address very outdated legislation, going as far back as the Foreshore Act 1933. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I ask the Leader to pass on my welcome for the Taoiseach's signal last night that the current rate of the old age pension will be upheld, as far as possible. We are all aware that elderly people are probably the most vulnerable people in the community. They made an investment in the State by working to get us to where we are today. I would like the Leader to take into account the special...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, to delete lines 18 to 20. On Second Stage, I predicted that the Bill would be heavily amended as it went through subsequent Stages. I felt the Bill was very incomplete as has been borne out by the number of Government and Opposition amendments. Regarding amendments Nos. 2 and 5 to 7, inclusive, Fine Gael has a fundamental difficulty with everything being...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: As I said, it is unacceptable that statutory development plans and regional guidelines should have to be compliant with what are non-statutory documents such as the national development plan and the national spatial strategy. These documents are prepared without public consultation or democratic approval and can be amended at the whim of the Minister. That is my fundamental difficulty with...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the proposal to require local authorities to carry out flood risk assessments. We are all aware of cases where conflicts have arisen in regard to development plans where, for example, development has been allowed in areas where significant Exchequer investment has been required to guard against flooding. This provision will oblige local authorities to focus on flood risk...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome this amendment, which gives us an insight into the thinking behind the legislation. The draft wording used was "urban settlement hierarchy". I raised a concern on Second Stage that the planning law was moving swiftly towards urbanisation. The mindset and the language of the Bill, as drafted, clearly outlines that. The reference was to "urban settlement hierarchy" but somebody...