Results 2,621-2,640 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Mr. O'Connor mentioned that he has served on three commercial semi-State boards - the Housing Finance Agency, Temple Bar Properties and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, DDDA. During what years was he on the DDDA?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Mr. O'Connor said he persuaded the Government at the time it was better to assign the functions under the critical infrastructure Act to An Bord Pleanála? Is he taking the credit for that alone or was he a major influence on the Government on that occasion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Mr. O'Connor has portrayed that he has an exceptional link from the formulation of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 through to rulings by An Bord Pleanála and now to his position in EirGrid. That is an interesting link since its inception in 2006. He stated: "I am happy that my actions in the Department and in An Bord Pleanála, reflected in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Can Mr. O'Connor even understand why the public has this perception, given his links and involvement going back to the inception of the strategic infrastructure Act and his time in An Bord Pleanála? Can he not see why the public may think that, even though there might not be a solid foundation to it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Mr. O'Connor, therefore, thinks he is displaying good judgment to take up the position, despite wide public concern. I would like to elaborate on judgment because it is important. As chairman of An Bord Pleanála, he dealt with a case of interest to me and to the previous environment committee relating to the County Kildare landfill in Usk. The High Court ruled in 2006 that it found...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: The court stated the process within An Bord Pleanála was "unfair and displayed objective bias". This was under Mr. O'Connor's stewardship. He referred to the importance of decisiveness in a leadership role. Can decisiveness sometimes happen in the interests of expediency and at the expense of good judgment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I want to finish on an important issue relating to judgment in a senior role in a semi-State company. Mr. O'Connor's position was to more or less ignore the High Court ruling but the case was back before the court in 2009 and it was overturned a second time. It stated: In upholding the challenge by Usk and District Resident Association to the 2008 permission, Mr. Justice McMenamin was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: Will Mr. O'Connor answer the question about whether he displayed good judgment based on his stewardship of An Bord Pleanála with regard to the infrastructure Act? My concern is that concerned citizens in County Kildare took a case, which was upheld, but Mr. O'Connor chose to ignore the first ruling of the High Court. The case went before the court again and it cost those citizens and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I have some questions about Mr. O'Connor's statement, before referring to some further questions. Hopefully, we will get some answers. Mr. O'Connor said in his statement that he believes EirGrid to be in the first rank of importance to the social and economic well-being of the island of Ireland. Will he explain why that is the case?

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: 135. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total percentage breakdown of foreign direct investment that has been made in the cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford in the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51485/13]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services Provision (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: 141. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports that are available for social enterprises (details supplied) that are upskilling persons and providing produce for local businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51827/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Sittings (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: 304. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the provisions that will be put in place during the extension and refurbishment of Waterford City Courthouse to ensure that High Court cases are still heard in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51785/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (3 Dec 2013)

Paudie Coffey: 336. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51481/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services Provision (28 Nov 2013)

Paudie Coffey: 187. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the introduction of any direct flights between Ireland and Silicon Valley; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51262/13]

Bond Repayments: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Nov 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I remind the Deputy that he may not name persons outside the House.

Bond Repayments: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Nov 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I understand Deputy Breen is sharing time with Deputies O'Reilly, Spring, Bannon, Nolan and Buttimer. Is that agreed? Agreed. Deputy Breen has five minutes.

Bond Repayments: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Nov 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I call Deputy Sandra McLellan. I understand you are sharing time with Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh. Is that correct?

Forestry Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, the very best with the forestry portfolio. It is a very important role to have and I know there is a considerable amount of forestry in his constituency, as there is in mine. It is an area of much interest to him and he will do exceptionally well in the Department. I also acknowledge and remember our late colleague, Shane McEntee, the former...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EU Scrutiny Reports: Discussion with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (27 Nov 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I wish Mr. Griffin well in his new role, which is very challenging given what he has outlined. There is no doubt much work has gone into setting EU and national policy with regard to the roll-out of communications and energy infrastructure. The strategies have been put in place but the difficult part is implementation. We all agree this is where the main challenges will be, and we see this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Forthcoming Telecommunications and Energy Council of Ministers Meeting: Discussion with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (27 Nov 2013)

Paudie Coffey: I will try not to cover ground that has been dealt with already. I wish to thank the Minster for briefing us on the forthcoming Council meeting. A number of critical issues will be discussed there, one of which is cyber-security. Given Ireland's dependence on telecommunications, one of our main growth areas is the services industry, including the financial and technical perspectives....