Results 4,641-4,660 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (20 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: While I accept the Minister, Deputy Gormley, is not directly responsible, his response contained buzzwords such as "assessment", "2.2 band rating", "priority of need", "increased investment" and "capital projects". I, and I am sure many in the House, do not know what these terms mean. To me they are bureaucratic speak. I do not doubt the capital funding is available and the programme for...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: Fine Gael turned the country around before when Senator Boyle was not around.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: Senator Boyle is new to the table. He should not dictate to Members.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: Fine Gael knows how to deal with difficult times. Senator Boyle need not worry.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I wish to clarify matters relating to new cars registered between January 2008 and July 2008. They will be taxed through the existing motor tax system. Can the Minister clarify whether there will be retrospective payment on taxes already paid? People can re-register under the new system if they pay tax on 1 January for a year. Will they receive retrospective payments for overpaid taxes in...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I accept what the Minister has said. There is no going back on it but it does not make sense. Where a person buys a car in January 2008, and another person buys a similar car with the same CO2 emissions in July or August 2008, he is penalised to some degree because the new system is not retrospective to January 2008. I accept the Minister's position.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: It would make more sense.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I wish to raise a few points on the issue of payments. I am sure the Minister will agree that a very good motor tax on-line system is in operation, the take-up of which is increasing. It is a welcome development. Traditionally, people had to take almost a half day off work to have their cars taxed. This facility is working well throughout the country. What are the implications for the...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I know it is how it is. I know that Revenue does its job very effectively and collects all revenue due. This is an anomaly in the system. Is it a surcharge for extra administration?

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: With the ever increasing use of on-line registration and payment of taxes, this administration involves the click of a button and posting out a disc. The surcharge is excessive and although it is quite small, it matters to the people paying it because the reason they pay on a quarterly basis is that they cannot afford the full annual payment. Every euro counts in many family households and...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: Yesterday, I mentioned smaller engines and the 9.5% increase on such engines. Is it possible, at this late stage, for the Minister to examine this issue? They are not contributing enormously to CO2 emissions and never have done.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: That is where there is a conflict. The Minister is revenue raising and seeking to lower emissions.

Seanad: Sustainable Residential Development: Motion (19 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following: "condemns the Government for not implementing proper planning guidelines during the recent building boom which has resulted in: unsustainable communities; fragmented education facilities; public transport inefficiencies; large carbon footprints for residential housing; and notes that a finalised...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Second Stage (19 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister and have previously said that his attendance in the House is appreciated. There are two core elements to this Bill and the Minister outlined them in his contribution. There is an element of motor tax that relates to the raising of revenue and the ring-fencing of local government funds. This is part of a wider debate on the funding of local government and general...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Second Stage (19 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: The Senator's preconceptions are wrong.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Second Stage (19 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: The Senator should withdraw his remark.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Second Stage (19 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: Has the Senator proof? I do not know why he is guffawing.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Second Stage (19 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: When the Green Party grows, it might have a few more SUVs.

Seanad: Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) (Confirmation of Orders) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Bill is largely a technical measure to cover the relevant bodies. On the last occasion, I forgot to mention the good work undertaken by the Irish Water Safety Association around the country. I want to acknowledge that work today. I appreciate that the Minister of State reverted to me on some queries as to whether the Limerick regeneration...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2008)

Paudie Coffey: The Leader is back pedalling now.