Results 4,021-4,040 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey
- Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: I support the calls of previous speakers for a debate on the overhang of housing. It is important that we have such a debate with the Minister of State with responsibility for housing. The Leader will have seen recent coverage on unfinished estates and the seriously substandard infrastructure in many estates in communities around the country. Residents and communities are in despair trying...
- Seanad: Road Network (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: May I share time with Senator Buttimer? This was agreed by the House earlier today.
- Seanad: Road Network (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister of State for attending the House to address this Adjournment matter. Since the two previous motions also referred to flooding, it is not surprising he is answering all of them. Obviously, my motion is more specific, in that it deals with the impact of the recent adverse weather on the primary, secondary and local road networks. The Minister of State will understand...
- Seanad: Road Network (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: I would like to make a quick response. With due respect, the Minister of State has told us, more or less, what we already know. These are unprecedented times and we have had unprecedented weather. Everybody rightly expects an unprecedented response from the Government. The Waterford city and county local authorities have always invested in their roads network but nobody could have...
- Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister for enlightening us on the main provisions of the Bill and why he is bringing it before the House. Fine Gael welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this Bill. Fine Gael is supportive of this Bill in principle and recognises the great need to improve and regulate dog breeding establishments and the management of dog breeding in this country. We have all seen...
- Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: Of course, and I argue that anyone involved with working dogs or hunting dogs looks after animal welfare better than most people understand. The Minister needs to understand this point. The dogs are in their prime and are reared, primed, fed and cared for better than most family pets in many instances.
- Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: The Minister should acknowledge this.
- Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: The problem I have is that the Minister said he consulted widely on this Bill. From the information available to this side of the House, it does not seem to be the case. The Minister formed a working group representing many organisations, but many organisations were missing from the group. They would have been interested in consulting at an early stage and giving their view. The Minister...
- Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: The Minister did not. That is incorrect. The Minister did not consult many organisations and some were told the Bill would not apply to them and that there was no need for consultation. Subsequently, for some reason, whether the Minister was influenced by voluntary organisations or otherwise, he changed his view and shifted the goalposts. The working group had made its recommendations by...
- Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: I am aware of that but nevertheless they are not exempt from the implications of this legislation. In the interest of stakeholder buy-in, it is important the Minister addresses this concern.
- Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: They are not breeding establishments.
- Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: That is the point.
- Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: Cats are predators.
- Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: That has nothing to do with the Bill. The dogs are muzzled.
- Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: What has this to do with the Bill?
- Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: Perhaps he was influenced.
- Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: I also welcome the re-election of Senator Mooney. I do not know the Senator but I am sure we will engage with each other during the coming months and years. I support the calls for a public inquiry into banking. I do so not because other politicians are requesting such an inquiry but because ordinary people, who understand what is happening, are seeking it. We are doing a great disservice...
- Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: That is not the same thing.
- Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: That is the high moral ground.
- Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2010)
Paudie Coffey: We all want that.