Results 2,321-2,340 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: There is no doubt that the last number of years have been tough and difficult for our society. Since taking office just over three years ago, the Government has worked to stabilise our economy, restore our businesses' international reputation and, more important, restore the public finances. Due to the public's sacrifices great strides have been made in this regard. As we move now from...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Staff (9 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: While I acknowledge the concern the Senator raises, and I know he raises it with good intention, I have to reiterate the view of the Minister, Deputy Kelly, that an independent investigation in accordance with the provisions of sections 83 to 86 of the Local Government Act 1941 is not warranted in this case. As I said earlier, if matters at any level of complaint have not been resolved...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Staff (9 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I am happy to respond to this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, and to clarify some of the matters raised. This tragic case has been the subject of an inquest. I am certain it has been difficult for all concerned and intend to deal with the issue as sensitively as possible and avoid going into unnecessary detail. This case concerns the repossession of a social...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Waste Management (8 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and allowing me the opportunity to reply today on behalf of Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly. I am happy to clarify the matter. Planning for the provision of waste management facilities forms part of a waste management plan. The preparation and adoption of a waste management plan, including decisions...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Waste Management (8 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I understand the Senator's concerns, particularly with the level of public funding that has gone into providing the infrastructure. I must also reiterate my obligation. The statutory responsibilities lie with local authorities, Cork County Council in this case. It is a statutory function of the local authority and the Government and the Department are precluded from interfering or...

Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: Fairy tales.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage (7 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Senator for raising this issue with which I am dealing on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar. I am happy to clarify the matter for the Senator. It is important to state decisions on which medicines should be licensed for use in Ireland and reimbursed by the taxpayer are not political or ministerial. Such decisions are made on objective,...

Topical Issues: Pensions Levy (7 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I will bring the Deputy's concerns, which I know are very strong, directly to the Minister, Deputy Noonan. I cannot second guess at this stage what exactly he will include in his budget announcement on this day week, but I assure the Deputy her concerns will be brought to the attention of the Minister and his officials immediately.

Topical Issues: Pensions Levy (7 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter that is of concern to her and many others. I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan. The Minister for Finance announced in his budget 2014 speech that the 0.6% pension fund levy introduced to fund the jobs initiative in 2011 would be abolished after this year. He did, however, introduce an...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing (1 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Increasing both public and private housing supply is a critical issue and the Government's construction strategy, Construction 2020, published on 14 May, is a blueprint for a properly functioning and sustainable construction sector. It provides for a strategic approach to the provision of housing based on real and measured demand and addresses the...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing (1 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: Given the concerns raised by the Deputy, I will ask my officials to engage with Dublin City Council in order to examine this issue to see if any progress can be made or a resolution found. In the wider context, the key focus must be on significant intervention by the State on multiple fronts in order to ensure delivery and provide an adequate supply of secure, good quality housing in...

Topical Issue Debate: Data Protection (1 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: Given that domestic water charging commenced today, 1 October, Irish Water requires a comprehensive customer database to be in place to ensure that customers can be billed accurately, based on the tariff structure approved by the regulator yesterday. In advance of the introduction of the charges, the Government made decisions relating to the structure of water charges and agreed to provide a...

Topical Issue Debate: Data Protection (1 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: -----that they would not have to pay those charges. That is folly and it is unfair to the public they were advising. We need to be straight with people and advise them correctly, in line with the law of the land. Those people were quickly deserted and left with penalties and fines. I do not want to see that happening again with regard to water charges.

Topical Issue Debate: Data Protection (1 Oct 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, in respect of which I am happy to clarify the position on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly. Under the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2013, Irish Water may request its customers and certain specified persons or bodies, including the Minister for Social Protection, to provide it with...

Housing Provision: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (24 Sep 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I said there are "no shortcuts" in standards.

Housing Provision: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (24 Sep 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Members opposite and those on this side of the House for their contributions to this debate. Housing is clearly a subject that arouses great passion and interest in all of us, as it should, due to the seriousness of the issue. In the very limited time available, I will briefly pick up on some matters raised by Members during the debate. I assure Deputies that all the...

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2014)

Paudie Coffey: It will come from Sinn Féin's magic pot of gold.

Topical Issue Debate: Pyrite Issues (18 Sep 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I thank Deputy Farrell for raising this important matter of concern. While my Department has no regulatory function in the area of insurance or insurance-based products, I will raise this issue with the appropriate regulatory bodies and Departments and will be supportive of any proposals that may be put forward by them in this matter. The pyrite remediation scheme, which was published by...

Topical Issue Debate: Pyrite Issues (18 Sep 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy and assure him that the issue will be raised with the statutory bodies and Departments involved in the regulation and oversight of insurance. I will be fully supportive of any proposals that may be put forward to bring a satisfactory conclusion to the difficulties homeowners with pyrite damage are facing even when remediation has been carried out. I also expect the...

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Accommodation Provision (18 Sep 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter, which presents a challenge in Irish society. There is significant pressure on homelessness services. Recent figures show that 127 people are sleeping rough and more than 150 families are residing in commercial hotels in the Dublin area. More than 2,500 individuals are using section 10 funded emergency accommodation nationally. On 20...