Advanced search
Most relevant results are first | Show most recent results first | Show use by person

Search only Paudie CoffeySearch all speeches

Results 641-660 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 50: In page 25, line 2, to delete "substantial". Question "That the word proposed to be deleted stand" put and declared carried.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Fine Gael agrees with the general thrust of this section whereby it will empower planning authorities to refuse permission where the applicant has carried out an unauthorised development. I stated earlier in some of my submissions that Fine Gael should not be seen as being against every aspect of the Bill because we realise the Planning and Development Acts need to be amended and revised....

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: The explanatory memorandum states: Section 21 provides for the extension of cost recovery to pre-application, scoping requests for Environmental Impact Assessment for strategic infrastructure development cases under the Seventh Schedule of the Principal Act in addition to cost recovery for cases that proceed to full application and determination by An Bord Pleanála. I have some views on this...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister of State for that clarification. Is he saying that if it does get to full application stage, costs that have accrued pre-application can be allowed by the board? If so, I welcome it. I have already highlighted my concerns over costs. The planning process and the decision making around it must enjoy public confidence. In recent years An Bord Pleanála has been involved...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: What excludes the Minister of State from making a comment?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: This is not an individual case that is before any court. It is a decided case. It goes to the fundamental trust and integrity of the planning process, how An Bord Pleanála carries out its functions, the costs it accrues because of its decisions, and the cost to the taxpayer. An Bord Pleanála should be accountable to somebody, be it the Minister or otherwise, for the actions it takes. It...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 53: In page 27, line 12, to delete "each of". Section 23 refers to the extension of planning permission. In the light of the current economic circumstances, it is proposed to extend the period of planning permission from two years to five to cater for unfinished developments with planning permission where the developers are under financial strain. I can understand why...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I apologise as I did not explain myself properly when moving amendments No. 53. The aim is to delete "each of" in line 12. We have been advised about the clumsiness of language in the Bill. We refer to "each of" in line 12 and then we use "either" in a subsequent part of the section. There is no point in having both "each of" and "either". It is something lawyers would love to debate,...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I thought the plan was to rezone some of the developments.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Will the Minister of State consider amendment No. 54, particularly subparagraph (II) - he may want to introduce in his own format on Report Stage - to the effect that the proposed use of a development would lead to the creation of at least ten full-time jobs? If there was a clear commitment that jobs would be created on a particular development, it might be reasonable to consider extending...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I support this amendment. It is harmless but it puts into law the provision of facilities. There is a healthy lifestyle aspect to life. We have huge challenges around obesity and related illnesses. We are talking about planning, infrastructure and development but we must plan to allow our communities to develop healthy lifestyle attitudes and activities. I generally support this section...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: This section pertains to An Bord Pleanála and the required quorum to decide on applications before it. In this section the Minister proposes to reduce the quorum from three to two. We oppose this idea and section because we see no logic in reducing the quorum and wonder what it will achieve. I understand that during the construction boom An Bord Pleanála was under serious pressure because...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I accept the Minister of State's view that this section is included in the Bill to try to speed up the appeals before An Bord Pleanála but it is not the correct mechanism to speed up appeals before the board. Reducing the quorum from three to two enhances the power of the individual members of the board. This can create deadlock in many decisions and further bureaucracy because the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I accept the intention of the section in terms of making efficiencies. If there are relatively minor appeals that can be easily dealt with, then three board members, when they meet, can deal with them swiftly. I am not convinced the reduction in the quorum will solve the issue of time delays in the process. There is always an odd number in committee, interview panel, etc., for one reason -...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: The Law Reform Commission, LRC, asserts that only the owners should have a say in whether an estate is taken in charge. The Bill's explanatory memorandum refers to this regarding section 31. It states: ... the Principal Act which provides that a housing/residential estate would be taken in charge by the planning authority, in certain circumstances, on foot of a request from a majority of...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: There is a reason for this section's inclusion in the Bill. I assume that high costs are associated with An Bord Pleanála processing appeals and applications of large infrastructural nature. Where do these costs accrue now? Do the board and the State pay? Is it the intention of the Minister to recoup these costs by this section in the legislation? The Minister of State might clarify...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister of State for the clarification.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 62: In page 33, line 7, to delete "creation, management, restoration or". Fine Gael proposes in page 33, line 7, to delete the words "creation, management, restoration or" for the simple reason it is too prescriptive. The legislation would be quite sufficient if it stated "(g) secure the preservation of any site of scientific or ecological interest, including any...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I accept that ruling.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I would ask the Minister of State to note the following general comment. Representatives of turf cutters made presentations last week to the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. They made a reasonable argument on the matter of conservation areas. These are the people who live and were reared on the land. It is important we note their views and that they are...

   Advanced search
Most relevant results are first | Show most recent results first | Show use by person

Search only Paudie CoffeySearch all speeches