Results 281-300 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I support what has been suggested by my party leader, Senator Brian Hayes, on the need to debate the nursing homes scandal this afternoon. It is the least we can do and is what the public would demand. When this issue is fully ventilated and dealt with, I would hope that between now and the recess we could have a broader debate on the issue of care of the elderly. This has been the subject of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: Nonsense.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. Like all Members, I have received a large volume of correspondence on this issue. I concede I am not an expert on the proposals but we must ensure that at the end of the parliamentary process we will pass a Bill of which we can all be proud and which will have a positive impact on the lives of the tens of thousands of people across...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I support the arguments made by various speakers regarding the farming industry and the various price support mechanisms from Brussels. Those of us who attended the various meetings yesterday with the agriculture organisations which called upon politicians noted the sense of despair that is now prevalent in Irish agriculture. It is over 12 months since I called for us to initiate a series of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: It is important that we respond as quickly as possible to Senator Bannon's call for the introduction of the electoral Bill. He wants to get the full licence to travel to Westmeath as quickly as possible.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I fully support what was said by Senator Ó Murchú and others concerning the case of Christy McGrath. I commend Senator Ó Murchú on bringing this matter to our attention on several occasions. From the body of evidence made available to the sub-committee, which is admittedly working from a distance, it appears that Mr. McGrath has a compelling case to have the issue reviewed. I hope it will...

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I am glad to have an opportunity to say a few words on this important legislation. Senator Feeney summed up the outcome we all seek when she stated in her final remarks that we must try to ensure the victims find solace, healing and vindication to allow them, in as far as possible, to move on with their lives following their difficult experiences. Unfortunately, the legislation we put in...

Seanad: Inspector of Prisons Reports: Motion. (22 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I am glad to have the opportunity to say a few words on the motion and congratulate my colleagues on the Independent benches on introducing the subject for debate. It is one of the regrettable features of politics here that the Government always says "Yes" and the Opposition "No" or vice versa. When I saw the text of the motion tabled by Senator Henry and her colleagues I wondered why the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I reiterate the request I made yesterday for a full debate at the earliest possible opportunity on the future of the sugar industry. When I spoke yesterday, the House was not aware of the full extent of the Commission's proposals. We know now that what is proposed would have the effect not only of wiping out the Irish sugar industry, but would have a profoundly negative impact on the entire...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: The Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture and Food must refuse to sign away the future of the Irish sugar industry. It has played a part in the development of rural Ireland for almost 80 years and we must ensure it has a future on this island.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: In Brussels on 14 July — in little over a fortnight's time — the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers will have its first discussion on the proposals concerning the sugar beet industry. I support colleagues who call for a debate with the Minister for Agriculture and Food on the matter. It is important that the Minister goes to Brussels with the full support of all Members and parties in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: ——-where the President, who appears to be going from bad to mad, is literally crushing hundreds of thousands of houses and moving almost a million people from their homesteads. I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Foreign Affairs to highlight, at European and UN level, this appalling act of barbarity by Robert Mugabe. There was a time the Members of these Houses and others...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, to the House. I am sure he is interested in this debate. I support the remarks of Senator Mooney. The recommendations of the members of the political establishment, in their submissions to the electoral commission, were along the lines of the proposals which have been made by the commission. It seems that County Leitrim will be split in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I support what has been said in regard to Ethiopia. Senator Henry, some other colleagues and I met yesterday with representatives of the opposition parties in that country who strongly suggested to us that the Minister and Government should protest more strongly to the Ethiopian authorities about what has happened since the general election. We in the Oireachtas demonstrated a commitment to...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I agree with what has been said. In fairness to the Minister, the issues we are raising in these amendments might be worthy of a more lengthy debate in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government. I hope the Minister will be in a position over the next 12 months to introduce another electoral amendment Bill to deal with these specific issues. There are two aspects...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I made the point yesterday that if we had an election in Cork or Tipperary last Sunday, the day of the Munster final, I would not like to try to encourage people to vote.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: A day and a half might sound somewhat optimistic but we are concerned with trying to engage the electorate and encourage turnout. We must take on board new ideas. I ask the Minister to consider this issue, in which he has had great interest and involvement because of his relevant background, in its entirety and perhaps put forward some ideas later in the year.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: What is the figure?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I would be glad to devise a constituency especially for Senator Browne.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jun 2005)

Paul Bradford: I move amendment No. 9: In page 5, column 1, line 11, to delete "Cork East" and substitute "Cork North-East". I accept what the Minister stated on the previous amendments, that since the introduction of the independent electoral commission the political parties have accepted per se the recommendations from the various commissions in totality. I have no difficulty with that. We generally...