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

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

Paudie Coffey: On the introduction of the Bill in the House there was a serious engagement on the homelessness issue. The Minister of State will recall that many amendments were tabled by this side of the House. We engaged to a large extent with the NGOs and the Make Room campaign, which is very concerned about homelessness and how the State proposes to address this serious issue. I welcome the...

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

Paudie Coffey: I acknowledge again that this is another mechanism to allow people move onto the housing ladder from whatever accommodation they are in. It is a genuine attempt by the Minister of State to make another provision in legislation to allow such people to have a house of their own. I ask for one clarification from the Minister of State. Views differ among local authorities. Where a local...

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

Paudie Coffey: This issue was highlighted for the Minister when the Bill was before the Seanad. I recall at the time he could not give a commitment because of the complexities involved but undertook to address the concerns of Members of this House with regard to the equality issues raised concerning tenant purchase of apartments. I welcome the fact that the Minister has done what he said he would do. I...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I will respond briefly, and I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence. There is a precedent whereby a person such as a dependent relative, perhaps a parent, is living in a second residence, not the principal private residence of the owner, and there is no income. The Revenue Commissioners realise and acknowledge that and offer interest relief on the mortgage for that dwelling. In the...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: This section refers to mechanisms to allow local authorities to transfer what I understand is the income from the charges to town councils that are concerned about the administration in their own areas. Senator Doherty mentioned the income from these charges. Thanks to the Oireachtas Library and Research unit we have a very good graph with estimates of the income that various local...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: As we come to the end of Committee Stage I acknowledge the engagement of the Minister and his officials with all sides of the House in respect of clarifications that we requested during the day. The Minister understands that we raise these concerns about the legislation for genuine reasons. Fine Gael generally supports this Bill which is a welcome development to try to broaden the revenue...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: That is what it means to analyse legislation. I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: What time tomorrow?

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I acknowledge the engagement today by Senators on all sides of the House and the Minister and his officials. I do not want to finish on a negative note but it is unfortunate that this charge was announced in the budget in October 2008 and as Senators we are grappling with the fact that we are squashing much legislation into the last few days of the session. Very relevant issues of concern...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: On a point of order for clarification purposes I understood we were to take the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill immediately after the Local Government (Charges) Bill. Is this no longer the case?

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I do not believe the other Bill will take that much longer but in any event I seek an adjournment of the House for five minutes.

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: Before the break I was outlining to the Minister my concerns and those of the Fine Gael Party about the Private Residential Tenancies Board. I requested clarification from the Minister, if possible, on the €10 million sitting in the bank accounts of the Private Residential Tenancies Board that has not yet been transferred to local authorities to fund their inspections and enforcements. I...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister for his clarifications. However, he has not answered my question. Has the Department consulted the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner regarding the provisions of the Bill? The legislation will require data held by agencies - State, semi-State and others - to be shared. The ESB, for example, is now divided between ESB Networks and ESB supply. Data protection...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister for that clarification. I expect we will see the clarification regarding people in nursing homes on Report Stage. With regard to the Revenue Commissioners, is there a precedent in principle in the Bill? The Revenue Commissioners already acknowledge that where a dependent relative is living in a dwelling that is mortgaged by a son or a daughter, interest relief can be...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: This section refers specifically to data sharing and exchange. I have outlined my concerns and those of the Fine Gael Party with this element of the Bill given that, following its enactment, the local authority will have the authority to share information and data with relevant bodies. The Bill refers to the Private Residential Tenancies Board as a relevant body. I outlined earlier my...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: With all due respects I understand the request but I do not believe 15 minutes is enough time to complete Committee Stage. There are many important matters that Senators wish to highlight, including some I wish to highlight on Committee Stage and allowing 15 minutes will not facilitate this.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: I intend to resubmit amendments on Report Stage in any event and I have informed the House to that effect already.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: No, it is not.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: It does not. The Minister should take in good spirit the fact that we are trying to be helpful. We feel problems will come down the track if we cannot deal with these matters now. I and other Senators have tried to outline very practical and anecdotal areas where we foresee problems. We need clarity.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paudie Coffey: While I accept where the Minister is coming from and while we will try to co-operate as much as possible on this side of the House, it seems obvious that there is a clear requirement for a Schedule of interpretations, including definitions of buildings. Could this be considered?