Results 12,381-12,400 of 12,886 for speaker:Paul Coghlan

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: Last week, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, correctly referred to the constitutional and civil right of citizens to cast their ballot as they so decide. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, appears to have forced the Government to make a U-turn on the issue. As Senator Dardis stated, the secrecy of the ballot is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I am making a specific point. As the Minister informed us two weeks ago, if someone enters a polling booth——

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: With the guidance of the Cathaoirleach, I do not intend to have a debate now. Under the electronic system, if a person does not want to vote for any of the candidates, the machine will have to be deactivated, thus breaching the secrecy of the ballot because the presiding officer, polling clerk and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform——

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: How does the Leader envisage that the independent commission will deal with this point?

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: Now that the Government is having a further look at the electronic voting system, we plead with it to provide for the necessary audit trail. This is important in the interest of confidence in the system. If it has set its face against a full audit trail, it should, at the minimum, provide for it in a representative number of constituencies. Otherwise, we will not instil confidence in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: It is necessary to provide at least for the audit trail in a representative number of constituencies.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: Is that all? The Leader would want to take it up with Senator Leyden.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I wonder where it is at.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: Whatever happened to the much lauded State inventory of assets that was to be conducted, or perhaps was conducted, by the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, a year or more ago? It was announced with much fanfare at the time and we all looked forward to it. In response to a request I made at the time, the Leader promised that the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: As ever, I am always grateful for the Cathaoirleach's kindness. If the Leader wishes to address it, that would be welcome. As the Cathaoirleach would say, he does not have any control over what the Leader might say in her responses.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: The Cathaoirleach always finds me a very obedient State servant. I support the calls by Senators Leyden and O'Meara for a debate on the Competition Authority's report. Such a debate would be timely.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I support what my colleague, Senator Brian Hayes, said about electronic voting. Through no fault of the Minister's yesterday, time constraints did not allow us to get the clarification required. There are many unanswered questions including the crucial one on primary legislation referred to by Senator Hayes. Another question arises out of the Supreme Court decision in the McMahon v. the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: As ever I am obliged for your guidance, a Chathaoirligh. The system appears to be in total conflict with the unanimous decision of the honourable Supreme Court justices and needs further clarification. I support what Senator O'Toole said about auctioneering and what was unanimously agreed by this House some time ago. My colleagues behind me seem to believe that the Leader has a problem with...

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: Perhaps we can share time.

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I am sure the Minister of State will agree that, as other speakers have said, the voting system belongs to all citizens. Public ownership of the process is important. It is a fundamental tenet of our democracy that we must have trust and confidence in the system, otherwise we would have a crisis on our hands. If we have to delay the introduction of electronic voting for a while until...

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: The Minister is on safe ground there.

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: On a point of order, under the relevant standing order the Minister was to refer to McMahon v. Attorney General, an important case in which the Supreme Court upheld the secrecy of the ballot.

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: The Senator should tell us more.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: The Senator makes good choices when she goes to Kerry.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

Paul Coghlan: I strongly support Senator Brian Hayes's call for a question and answer session as part of the debate on electronic voting in the European and local elections. Some seriousquestions have arisen, at least one of which is aconstitutional matter, which needs to beaddressed. I wish to turn to a subject that is dear to the Leader's heart, concerning some of her favourite hotels in Killarney and...