Results 241-260 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Mental Healthcare in South-East Region: Statements (20 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this matter, which is impacting citizens and patients in my area of the south east. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. As previous speakers said, he is always prepared to face up to his responsibilities as a Minister. Unfortunately, I have to agree with other speakers with regard to the unacceptable situation that has...

Seanad: Mental Healthcare in South-East Region: Statements (20 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: It is proposed that we will meet tomorrow at 11.45 a.m. for a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas and, that on conclusion of the joint sitting, the Seanad will adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday next.

Seanad: Commission of Investigation: Motion (14 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minster to the House. This is a very sad debate. It is another very dark and sad legacy from our past that has been brought out into the open and into the light through the bravery and courage of those who have suffered. I, too, want to welcome Jason and Colin to the Visitors Gallery. Without their perseverance, strength and courage, this sad legacy of Irish society which...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I want to speak on these amendments, in particular, in favour of amendment No. 27 because I see the rationale for it. I would ask that the Minister of State take that amendment into account. Senator Boyhan quite rightly mentioned two words, "accountability" and "transparency". The making of a county development plan or local area plan is the reserve function of councillors but they require...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: Having heard the views of various Senators, I want to give an alternative view. I have genuine fears in this regard. My concerns are based on past experience of previous national plans. Senators have mentioned the national spatial strategy, which has been an abject failure. It was diluted too strongly to the point where there was something for everyone in the audience. The Fianna...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: That is what the national planning framework devises. If we are going to bring the national planning framework in here to have it voted on by every Deputy and Senator, it will be torn to shreds. The national spatial strategy that was proposed by Fianna Fáil in the 2000s proved that, as did the subsequent decentralisation programme. It is not good planning and it is not good...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: We saw that with decentralisation.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I must have an opportunity to respond to Senator Kevin Humphreys. That is on the record.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: On a point of order,-----

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: It is not a view. On a point of order,-----

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: -----there was reference to statements that were ascribed to me. That was not what I had said and the record will prove that.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: For the record, and I think I deserve this opportunity, I stated that we were debating a national planning framework and we should not allow that framework to be torn asunder and brought back into parish-pump politics like previous national planning frameworks.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome this amendment. We need to learn from the Apple case in the west of Ireland. The Minister of State did not name the company involved, but I am happy to do so. The delays in that case were such that the proposed communications and data infrastructure did not ultimately go ahead. I believe this was a loss to Ireland, Inc. and to the Irish economy. I appreciate the concern...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House to deal with this significant planning legislation. I believe we all want to achieve the same objective in having a coherent and transparent planning system that is properly regulated. The legislation, which we debated at length on Committee Stage, provided for much of what we expected with respect to having a planning...

Seanad: Marine Spatial Planning: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this critical debate, which follows on from our earlier discussion on the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016. As an island nation, it is important that we place a great deal of significance on our plans to sustain the resources of our surrounding marine environment. As the Minister of State has acknowledged, much of the groundwork in...

Seanad: Marine Spatial Planning: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Paudie Coffey: They do not recognise boundaries.

Seanad: Marine Protection: Motion (23 May 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 2:To delete all words after “That Seanad Eireann:” and substitute the following: acknowledges: - that the Irish coastal and marine environment has a high natural capital and provide valuable services for all parts of the country and economy, including in the areas of tourism, heritage and cultural amenity, transportation and communications, food...

Seanad: Marine Protection: Motion (23 May 2018)

Paudie Coffey: On a point of information, I know Senator Craughwell is currently in the Chair, but is it possible for us to get the wording of his amendment so that we can consider it properly?

Seanad: Marine Protection: Motion (23 May 2018)

Paudie Coffey: I have listened to the debate very carefully. We do recognise the significance of this motion and I have spoken at length on that. The issues that concern ourselves and the Government do remain regarding the lack of consultation and engagement with stakeholders.

Seanad: Marine Protection: Motion (23 May 2018)

Paudie Coffey: It is very serious to unilaterally make decisions that impact on agreements and negotiations we have made with our European partners in terms of the Common Fisheries Policy. We do know that we need sustainable environmental protections for our marine biodiversity as well as on land. The Minister of State has outlined in a very strong way that he proposes to bring legislation forward in the...