Results 2,121-2,140 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (18 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 and 542 together. The amendment s to the Building Control Regulations introduced through S.I. No. 9 of 2014 have greatly strengthened the arrangements in place for the control of building activity by requiring accountability for compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and construction, lodgement of compliance...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (18 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I intend to shortly publish a non-statutory Planning Policy Statement to act as a general guiding document to the operation of the planning system. It will present a concise and clear statement of what the purpose of planning is, and the values and principles that should underpin planning. It will outline the key principles to act as a strategic guide to ensure the sustainable development of...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: How are we to meet the framework? What about the previous Government?

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: What happened during the week?

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: It is called democracy.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: It is a history lesson.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: This has been an interesting debate. We all agree that major investment is needed in water, which is a national resource, but we disagree on how we should deliver that investment. The Government has made it clear how it will do so by establishing a national utility called Irish Water. We are not reinventing the wheel. Back in the 1990s, a national utility, the ESB, had paper records in...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: The Government is not reinventing the wheel. Neither the Deputy nor any Member has called for a referendum on whether the ESB should be privatised. I have never heard him praise how the company performed, but we are all proud of the work it has done. We are trying to emulate a system that works rather than adopt the Deputy's proposal, which is to increase investment in water services...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: -----or he wants to take the money from other departmental budgets, whether that is health, education or social protection, which the Government is working to protect. There are options, and the Government has come up with a workable solution that has worked previously. That is what the debate should be about. Whether it is this Government or a future Government, future generations will...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: The Government is determined to develop a national water infrastructure of which we call be proud, and I fully support everything being done in that regard. I would like to correct the record regarding statements made by the Sinn Féin representative. Earlier in the debate, Deputy Stanley named Mr. Alex Atwood as the Northern Ireland environment Minister. He resigned his position on 16...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: The Deputy had the wrong man. I thought he would have been on top of this and what is happening in Northern Ireland, but obviously he is not. I am galled by the hypocrisy of Sinn Féin in respect of water services. A total of 35,000 water meters have been installed in the Six Counties, which represents a significant investment, yet Sinn Féin Members criticise the Government in...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: The CER has done that.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: The Deputy would rather take figures off the street than use those provided by the CER.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: We welcome the amendment.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: The Deputy does a lot of shouting herself.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: Then she should pay her water tax.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: Sinn Féin would nationalise everything.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: It is a red herring.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 45:In page 13, line 10, to delete "and shall be construed together as one".This is a technical drafting amendment to remove the text stating the "Water Services Acts 2007 to 2014 and shall be construed as one".

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: The debate we have had highlights why we need a national water utility which can meet the needs and demands of society. Deputies on both sides of the House have stated learly where investment is needed. The difference between this side of the House and the Opposition is that the Government has to set out its model of funding, structure and, more importantly, from where the funding will...