Results 4,221-4,240 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: We do not want to listen to any lectures or arrogance from the Senator. We listened to them for long enough.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I call for restraint and cool heads on both sides of the ongoing industrial dispute. In doing so, I speak as a former representative of the TEEU and a qualified electrician. While I understand the argument being made by both sides to the dispute, leaders on either side are using unhelpful language. I call for restraint and ask the Government to take all possible measures to assist them in...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: The Government parties will experience it themselves shortly.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: It is the last sting of a dying wasp.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House to debate this very important Bill. I want to focus on specific aspects of the Bill, those being the dissolution of the Women's Health Council and the National Cancer Screening Services board and the transfer of all their rights and liabilities to the board of the HSE. We are all aware of the national cancer strategy and a lot of...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: What about the provision of cancer treatment services in Waterford?

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Sorry, that was raised before the other issue.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: "2.--Notwithstanding anything in this Act, a property which has been the family home or principal residence of any person who is in residential nursing home care immediately prior to their admission to such residential nursing home or other residential care facility, shall not be subject of any charge, save...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister for explaining his position. It is an awkward position due to the fact that this was not noticed when the legislation was being drafted. I accept he is seeking the best advice available, which is the reasonable and right thing to do. However, I am disappointed that the Seanad is not being given the opportunity to amend the legislation to remove this charge. I...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Yes.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, after line 44, to insert the following: "(i) a building which is occupied as a dwelling by a parent or both parents of the owner.". During the debate on Committee Stage, the difficulty with regard to granny flats or dwellings where elderly dependent relatives live adjacent to the owner of the entire dwelling, be it a bungalow or semi-detached house, was...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I acknowledge the effort the Minister is taking to try to address this anomaly. Fine Gael supports this Bill in principle. We will withdraw this amendment because the Minister has undertaken to address the issue of granny flats before the legislation finally goes through the Oireachtas. I thank the Minister for listening to the concerns raised on all sides of the House. It is important...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, after line 44, to insert the following: "(i) an uninhabitable rural house.". This is an addition to the meaning of residential property in section 2. In rural Ireland one often sees houses that have become vacant, whether cottages or old farm dwellings. We would not like to see families being levied for this charge on a house that is uninhabitable. If it...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I accept the Minister's explanation. The amendment was an attempt by Fine Gael to acknowledge that uninhabitable rural houses would have some exemption from the charge. We are willing, however, to accept in good faith the Minister's intention to issue guidelines, clarification and details, to local authorities that will collect the charges.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 4: In page 5, line 10, to delete "relevant local authority" and substitute "Revenue Commissioners". These amendments were tabled on Committee Stage and we had quite a debate on them. The reason for the amendments being tabled is that Fine Gael is concerned local authorities may not have the capability and infrastructure available to them to properly collect all dues...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister for his explanation and I am happy to hear some groundwork has been done behind the scenes to plan for the administration of this in local authority structures. This is a very important facet of the implementation of the legislation. I welcome the proposals for an on-line registration system. The motor tax registration system is very laudable and successful. It is very...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister and his officials for the way they handled this Bill in the Seanad. While I have been critical in part in regard to some of the shortcomings in the Bill, Fine Gael in principle supports its thrust and principles and we welcome the fact that it will create new revenue streams for local authorities. They are at present starved of resources and any way we can assist them...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I acknowledge that the Minister of State took on board the views expressed in the Seanad. Strong views were expressed during the debate on Committee Stage with regard to these miscellaneous measures. Some Senators felt the breach of tenancy agreements and rent arrears, while they did happen, were dealt with too harshly by the legislation. I acknowledge there is a softening of sanction,...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: There was wide debate on affordable housing when this Bill was before the Seanad. The changing market conditions show the need for changes in legislation to allow local authorities to sell affordable housing units in a more flexible manner than was previously permitted under legislation. It was necessary to address that and this Bill goes a long way towards implementing that flexibility in...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: If it is appropriate, I wish to comment on the passing of the Bill. I thank the Minister of State for commencing the Bill in the Seanad Chamber where there was a great deal of discourse and debate regarding all the provisions it contained. There was much engagement by all sides in the Bill. The legislation tackles serious areas in our local authority areas that needed urgent attention,...