Results 1,881-1,900 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Transfer of Execution of Sentences Bill 2003: Second Stage. (31 Mar 2004)

Paul Bradford: I apologise for my party colleague and spokesperson on justice, Senator Terry, who cannot be here this afternoon. She has asked me to put on the record her support for this proposal. The Fine Gael Party believes we must all work together in the fight against crime, whether at home or abroad. This Bill is a step in the right direction. The dramatic title of the Bill and the fact the Minister...

Seanad: Transfer of Execution of Sentences Bill 2003: Second Stage. (31 Mar 2004)

Paul Bradford: It was stated that the effect of the legislation is likely to be a small increase in the number of prisoners in Irish jails. I am not sure if that is right or wrong. Perhaps the Minister could tell us how many persons will be returned home to serve sentences in Irish jails. That would create difficulties as there is an accommodation problem in our prison system, which has been debated on many...

Seanad: Transfer of Execution of Sentences Bill 2003: Second Stage. (31 Mar 2004)

Paul Bradford: I also have a question about Irish nationals having returned to the State and being required to serve a sentence here for crimes committed in one of the states with which we have an agreement. There is a discretionary provision whereby the Minister, after checking the circumstances in full, can decide not to proceed with an application to the High Court. We have been given an indication of...

Seanad: Agency for the Irish Abroad: Motion. (24 Mar 2004)

Paul Bradford: I second the motion. I thank the Labour Party for tabling this important motion and concur with what Senator Ryan said. We are debating a Private Members' motion which is not just about politics. There is a moral dimension to this motion which is the huge debt of gratitude we, and particularly politicians, owe to the Irish emigrants, most of whom were forced to leave this land down through...

Seanad: Higher Education: Motion. (3 Mar 2004)

Paul Bradford: I am glad the Opposition is keeping Senator Minihan's motion alive.

Seanad: Higher Education: Motion. (3 Mar 2004)

Paul Bradford: I welcome this timely and useful motion which allows Members to debate a matter of substantial public importance. It was a man from Mallow, Thomas Davis, who coined the phrase "Educate that you may be free." In today's Ireland, that phrase became "educate that you may be employed", and then "educate that you may employ". The concept of education has changed greatly and the future of the...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Mar 2004)

Paul Bradford: The Deputy's county might elect its own woman to Brussels.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Paul Bradford: Although not with his views.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Paul Bradford: He will be fine.

Seanad: Address by Mr. John Hume, MEP. (3 Mar 2004)

Paul Bradford: I wish to be associated with the tributes paid to Mr. John Hume MP and MEP, and I am pleased I can add a few words to them. It is fair to say that over the past ten to 15 years, the face of this island has changed. Some of my younger colleagues in the House would not be able to recollect fully the dramatic transformation of the island that has taken place since the late 1980s. More than any...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2004)

Paul Bradford: One of the architects of the peace process, John Hume, MEP, will address the House tomorrow. It might be opportune to have a substantive debate on Northern Ireland over the next two to three weeks. A number of mini-interventions have occurred over the past number of weeks across the political spectrum on the current status of the peace process. However, a substantive debate is required. The...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2004)

Paul Bradford: Many of them have not been able to get over the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)

Paul Bradford: Perhaps I might raise with the Leader comments made at the weekend by the head of the police force in Northern Ireland, Mr. Hugh Orde. In view of there being such a large number of unsolved crimes and murders there and throughout the island, many of which will remain unsolved and all of which are linked to the political conflict in Northern Ireland, he suggested that consideration once again...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Paul Bradford: I concur with Senator Daly. There have been direct elections to the European Parliament since 1979. The only occasion on which those elections stood alone and were not held with local authority elections was in 1984 and there was a turnout of no more than 45% or 46% which was very disappointing. Since the commencement of direct elections, the political parties have always regarded the...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Paul Bradford: —— the necessary nuisance of the European elections. We should therefore not be surprised when the public expresses such little interest in the European elections when we do not give them the attention they deserve. The elections will be held in a few months time and this Bill will revise the constituencies and we must accept this for what it is worth. I agree with both Senator Daly and...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Paul Bradford: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the motion and the amendment. I have addressed the question of decentralisation on numerous occasions both in this House and in the other House. I am supportive of the broad concept of decentralisation. The programme of decentralisation was announced by the Minister in his Budget Statement last December to the surprise of many. In my view,...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Paul Bradford: We are advised that 200 people will move from headquarters. Unless the Minister of State insists that all the bus drivers will move to live in Mitchelstown, there has been no talk of Bus Éireann employees in other parts of the country being moved. It was announced that the headquarters of Bus Éireann would move to Mitchelstown and it would require 200 staff to run that head office whereas...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Paul Bradford: The hub towns in the spatial strategy have been referred to by other speakers. There was a substantial welcome for that proposal from all sides of the House. More balanced regional and local development is required and the spatial strategy will play a significant role in that regard. The town of Mallow has been designated as a hub town and was very fortunate in being chosen for...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Paul Bradford: I agree with the Senator. In order to be consistent with what was said 12 or 18 months ago, the starting point should be the gateway and hub towns. It is surprising that some of those towns have been left out of this programme. While the concept of decentralisation is positive and there are thousands of civil servants who would be interested in moving to provincial locations, there is a...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Paul Bradford: In order to restore credibility, the Minister of State might answer my question.