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

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Paudie Coffey: It is located in St. John's training college.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Paudie Coffey: In his opening statement the Minister mentioned that the Exchequer provision for housing was increasing by €145 million, bringing the total to €983 million. It is important to note for the public record that this funding will facilitate various housing initiatives to meet the housing needs of over 17,000 households. I know that we had a long debate about the Minister's housing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister for clarifying that. He has made it very clear how he is covering the shortfall this year and the concerns around next year. Essentially, the €13 million referred to are savings achieved somewhere within the local government fund. Correct me if I am wrong but is that not €13 million less being available for local services in local authorities?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (14 Sep 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister and the officials. This is a welcome ongoing engagement that has to happen between all the stakeholders. We, as Oireachtas Members, have a very important role to play in delivering what is a very ambitious action plan, Rebuilding Ireland. I welcome also the fact the Minister is going round the country meeting local authorities, the approved housing bodies and other...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Minister, Deputy Coveney, for outlining the rationale behind what is essential legislation. As I outlined in the debate last week, it is legislation that was formulated to facilitate Government formation due to the make-up of the political parties and the political will in the Lower House and this House also. I want to reiterate my concerns with regard to the future of Irish...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: It is included in the rates. It is £1,500 sterling.

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the Minister for this important debate on housing and how to address the major challenge facing us. I acknowledge the priority that the Government is giving this issue as well as the Minister's personal commitment to it. The Minister has outlined the various actions under the action plan's five pillars. The first pillar is addressing homelessness. Every Member agrees that seeing...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I, too, welcome the Minister of State to the House for this debate, which I think should be open, honest and frank. If we are all honest with ourselves, this is a regrettable day because it is a huge backwards step in terms of investment in what are our essential water networks that are required for the future of this country and for our citizens. We are essentially postponing the day. It...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: It is a fact.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: Fianna Fáil might like to try to deny that but it did a U-turn to buy votes during the recent general election because it was getting outflanked by other opposition parties. Sinn Féin is not consistent on this matter either. I know this is a divisive issue and a very political issue but if we want to be open, honest and frank, let us be at least consistent. Sinn Féin at the...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: Deputy Gerry Adams publicly said people should pay their water charges, as did other Sinn Féin public representatives.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: Then - this is a fact as well - the by-election in Tallaght happened and Sinn Féin got outflanked by the left. It lost a seat that it thought was its to win.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: It got outflanked and changed its position and then became outright in its opposition to water charges.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: The funny thing about all this is that in the North of Ireland-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: -----where Sinn Féin is in authority, 35,000 water meters have been installed, and Sinn Féin is preparing for the day when it will introduce water charges in Northern Ireland as well. This is on top of-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: -----the local authority charges, which are at least €1,000 per household in the North of Ireland, and then it comes into the South in its divisive way and oppose what I believe to be a minimal charge for investment in our public services, such as water-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I want to put on the record that I was never a populist. Anybody who knows me knows that as long as I have been involved in politics, I have not been a populist. I believe we need water charges in this country so that we can invest in quality water services to service our future, our children and our society. The Minister has referred to some of the serious issues. Senator Ó...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: -----and do what is right by the country-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: -----and not do what is right by our parties, which is what is happening, and let us be honest about that. I worked for the ESB for 20 years, and that company, which I think is well respected globally, is a semi-State company that manages our national electricity assets. It invests in them. The ESB undertook a network renewal programme during the 1990s and the 2000s whereby it invested...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Paudie Coffey: We have not changed our position. We are the one party that has been consistent on water charges from start to finish and we are standing up for what is right on this issue. In fairness to the Labour Party, which probably took the biggest electoral hit of all, it stood by the country. My Labour Party colleagues, one of whom is here today, and the former Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, stood...