Results 1,181-1,200 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister for his clarification regarding the existing legislation. However, what he has said does not yet reassure me that the Bill as presented will not change the existing levels of service for people in rural areas. I accept there may be geographic conditions affecting islands and similar places. However, we have a system that works and is not broken. It is acknowledged by...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: I concur with what Senator Hanafin said. The Minister is missing the point in regard to the concerns raised by Members on this side of the House about the terminology used, regardless of whether it is included in existing legislation. The terminology used is too vague and open to interpretation whether by the commission or anybody else. We need clear legislation. For the purposes of...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: Is the Green Party still talking about a general election in mid-January?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: This is like "Lanigan's Ball".

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: I was very saddened to hear the terrible news from Waterford city, where two five year olds were found by a social worker to be scavenging the public bins in the streets. This follows on from Senator McFadden's experience last week, where she told of families on the bread line who cannot feed their children. We need to be concerned at that this is happening around the country. Even families...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: The Government is more interested in animals than people.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: That is the Government's problem.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: That is where the Government's priorities lie.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: People are sick of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: The Government needs to get its priorities right.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: The Government should get its priorities right.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: In the interest of accuracy I wish to correct the record of the House. Last week I spoke with concern about two children found scavenging in the streets of our country. According to the national media it happened in Waterford city but the HSE has since confirmed it occurred in Kilkenny. The substantive issue remains and it is still of deep concern to us. I also bring to the Leader's...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: Unfortunately there has been no announcement for Waterford.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: We are waiting a long time now.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the opportunity to voice my opinion and express concern about the implementation of the measures contained in the Bill. I note the absence of many Government representatives from the debate. Are they in hiding? Do they not want to be upfront with the people about the precipice to which the Government has brought us and the reasons it has made the cuts outlined in the Bill? I want...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: -----but is it not a sad indictment of the country and our society that there are many such cases?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: Only last week the Senator relayed how she had called to a house in which the occupants were on the breadline. They have worked and contributed to our society, but they have been devastated by the economic crisis that has hit the country. More significantly, it has put them on the breadline. Many such families were not in receipt of social welfare previously. In some cases, both providers...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: Is it true that many of the bonuses now being paid out are part of the social partnership agreements? Were they agreed in the benchmarking negotiations that took place many years ago in order that compensation was paid in the form of bonuses unaccompanied by productivity targets rather than adding to already generous salaries? Social partnership brought many benefits in terms of industrial...

Seanad: Fish Quotas: Motion (15 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: I thank Senator Bradford for sharing time and welcome the Minister of State to the House on his return from stiff negotiations in Brussels on behalf of the fishing industry. I acknowledge Senator O'Donovan's efforts to keep fishing on top of the agenda in this House. As someone who comes from a coastal community in County Waterford, I try to do likewise. Fine Gael supports the motion...

Seanad: Fish Quotas: Motion (15 Dec 2010)

Paudie Coffey: Hear, hear.