Results 7,941-7,960 of 12,886 for speaker:Paul Coghlan
- Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: I second Senator Crown's amendment.
- Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: Yes. In the context of the issue relating to NAMA that has raised its ugly head, there is a need to keep matters in perspective. The Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation must be allowed to get on with its work. We know that NAMA has taken all appropriate action and has reported the matter, which relates to a former employee. If Senator Darragh O'Brien has any further information in respect...
- Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: As politicians, we must studiously avoid engaging in Ballymagash-style politics and chasing cheap headlines.
- Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: Of course. There are bad apples everywhere as those in Fianna Fáil know. We are all subject to original sin and we are all human. There is capacity for good and bad in everyone. Let us not run away with ourselves. The matter in question is being dealt with. I accept that it is serious but it is not the House's place to deal with it. Rather, it is being dealt with by the Garda...
- Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: Senators should be calm because the matter is in hand. Capable people are dealing with it and NAMA has taken all appropriate action. I will not state that everyone is perfect but I am of the view that those at the top in NAMA, including the members of the board and senior officials, enjoy our trust. We should not say anything about a former employee because the matter is in hand.
- Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: It was an executive decision. It was up to the manager. It had nothing to do with my town and it had nothing to do with councillors.
- Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: I am simply saying that things were generally developer-led, and that led to ruination. Sadly, many of them are now in NAMA. The Senator can discuss that further tomorrow. However, I wish to talk about Killarney in a different connection. I agree with the Minister that "cathaoirleach" is the right title for a county. Mayors were traditionally in cities or large towns. There are some...
- Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: -----but they have huge cultural and other significance, as in the case of Killarney, the capital of Irish tourism.
- Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: Kilkenny is a historic city too. I believe Killarney should have a mayor, and perhaps Kilkenny. The municipal district should be allowed to have a mayor in a town such as Killarney, which has developed major connections over many years with cities and towns throughout the world. In the case of Killarney that is principally through tourism and tourism promotion, but that has been good not...
- Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: I welcome the Minister to the House. Senator Mark Daly has a warped and narrow view of these proposals.
- Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: Not on this occasion. We will leave that until tomorrow.
- Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: I am not sure what has distracted Senator Daly.
- Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: There are several firsts in this Bill which are very welcome, particularly the placing of councillors at centre stage. The councils will be greatly expanded, although many of them, unfortunately, because of population distribution, will be in Dublin and on the east coast.
- Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: Everybody should feel free to come to Kerry. I greatly welcome the emphasis the Minister is putting on training and the empowerment of councillors. That aspect has been sadly neglected for years. I also welcome the fact the Minister is disposed - I hope I am informed correctly in this regard - to an arrangement whereby the chairman of local community development committees and strategic...
- Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: I will come to Killarney in a minute. Towns in this country, from Letterkenny to Wexford and many places in between, have been decimated because managers and officials, blinded by the moneys coming in from rates, allowed too many out-of-town developments. That was a mistake but it cannot be reversed at this stage. One planning authority per county is more than sufficient to have regard to...
- Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: I welcome the Minister.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: ----- as has been alleged or suspected, it is up to people to report such matters to the Garda and it is up to that force to investigate. I am not too sure it is the business of the Garda to communicate with Members as to whether it is doing something. I accept that these people are governed by law and I do not believe there is anything untoward at the top in NAMA.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: I am aware that allegations were thrown about in this Chamber in the past, albeit not by Senator Darragh O'Brien, for whose comments in general I have great respect, but things were thrown around that could not be substantiated.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: They were not substantiated but Members should have the utmost confidence in the board, the managing director, the chairman and the people of NAMA. However, if something is alleged, let it be properly investigated. That is not the business of Members.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)
Paul Coghlan: I am unsure that-----