Results 12,301-12,320 of 12,886 for speaker:Paul Coghlan

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 May 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I do. The Chair knows how speedy I am. The Deputy Leader will be aware, as are many Members of the House, of the appalling service provided by Iarnród Éireann in the south-west. We have the worst carriages and a substandard second-class set-up. Passengers who change trains at Mallow must use pre-war carriages. The Minister for Transport must start taking notice and communicate with Iarnród...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I agree with Senator Hayes and other Members who spoke about e-voting. It is now quite apparent, particularly following the commission's ruling, that the matter needs further consideration. I am sure the Leader agrees that we do not need to debate the Electoral (Amendment) Bill this week, because it may need further clarification.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

Paul Coghlan: Yes, but I say this in the light of what has happened since. The Ombudsman's report is important, but I ask the Leader to accede to a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

Paul Coghlan: Yes. The voting system belongs to the people and we need to give it more consideration. There is no need to rush. We are now aware of the possible inaccuracies — whatever about leprechauns — and the question of reliability. I always felt the system would fail on grounds of secrecy in view of the Supreme Court ruling of 1972 in the case of McMahon v. the Attorney General. I respectfully...

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: Skibbereen Eagle syndrome.

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I welcome the Minister to the House. I admire his combative and assertive style and his fighting spirit. We all know the Minister is an able and assertive advocate and if I was in trouble, I would rather have him defending me than some wishy-washy type.

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I am not prepared to go that far. As Senator O'Toole said in another context, I know the rules. I am glad Senator Minihan said there should be more consultation, with which I agree. As other speakers said, I also accept that the Minister is not a racist. When I spoke during the debate on citizenship held here on 7 April, I said that I did not want the Minister to stand accused of wrongly...

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: It may not be their last hurrah. I welcome that decision. The Minister has clearly set out what is intended and what in his view the Bill will not do. The Minister stated that the proposals are colour blind. If my eyesight was a bit better, I might take up a few more points, but this macular oedema plagues me. The people need more time and I genuinely do not think it would damage the process...

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I agree with the Senator.

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I will try the Minister out later.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: It just so happens that he is next.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: Does the Leader think it would be beneficial if Members were to make a unanimous appeal to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to amend the law in respect of under 18 year olds being present in hotels and bars after 9 p.m., particularly during the tourist season? This will have a detrimental effect. All the hotels in my area are concerned. For families and couples with children,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I support Senator Finucane's call for an urgent review of the income guidelines for medical cards. At the recent conference in Killarney, doctors were unanimous in their concern that many patients on low incomes who deserved medical cards did not have them. There are not enough medical cards and the Government does not seem to care. The failure to increase these income guidelines is akin to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I support Senator O'Toole's call that constitutional requirements are fully met if the House has to deal with impeachment in due course following a Government decision. My final question relates to the future of Aer Rianta and the Great Southern Hotel group and I know the Leader would like to oblige me and the House by answering.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: Will they be sold collectively or will there be a cherry picking sale?

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: Not the IMI.

Seanad: Citizenship Rights for Non-Nationals: Motion (7 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I second the motion. I welcome the Minister to the House. Citizenship is fundamental and vital and is something in which we take great pride. It should be guarded jealously. I am sure the Minister would agree that in a constitutional democracy, there should be the widest possible consultation on citizenship, which may be the Minister's intention. I cannot understand the reason for such a...

Seanad: Citizenship Rights for Non-Nationals: Motion (7 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: A child born anywhere, including Northern Ireland, would provide a basis for non-EU nationals to establish a right to reside in any other EU state. As we are aware, in 1998 an overwhelming majority of the people voted in favour of amending Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution by way of implicit approval of the Good Friday Agreement. This involved deleting the previous territorial claim and...

Seanad: Citizenship Rights for Non-Nationals: Motion (7 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: The Minister is a reasonable man and I respect his opinion. I look forward to hearing the arguments he will make on this issue. I appeal to the Minister to consider the possibility that he may be accused of being guilty of using the race card.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Apr 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I support Senator Brian Hayes's comments about the proposed referendum on citizenship which is a matter of vital interest to every citizen, and properly so. Surely, however, the good of our democracy requires that all-party consensus should be reached on this matter. As Senator Ryan has pointed out, such consensus has already been reached with regard to the ninth progress report on private...