Results 401-420 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Ageism Policy: Statements (Resumed). (17 May 2006)

Paul Bradford: ——but is deemed to be of neutral value, at best, if not of negative worth, a few years later. We must certainly change this attitude. If people want to work in the conventional workplace beyond the age of 65, we must make provision for them. I heard the Minister for Social and Family Affairs talk about ageism last week and he tied it to the issue of pensions and perhaps deferred pensions....

Seanad: Ageism Policy: Statements (Resumed). (17 May 2006)

Paul Bradford: He has been warned.

Seanad: Energy Strategy: Motion. (17 May 2006)

Paul Bradford: I thank Senator Finucane for the opportunity to support the motion. I am disappointed the Government felt obliged to table an amendment because every Member recognises the need to develop an energy strategy to address our dependence on oil and to replace oil with renewable resources. Significant research is available on alternative energy sources but I will concentrate on the production of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: Last week, following the public outrage and political confusion as a result of the Mr. A. case, this House played a proper and leading role in trying to respond to the situation in a positive fashion. The House sat until late on Friday evening to pass, with some reluctance, the emergency legislation which the Government introduced. We are advised, arising from last week's political crisis,...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on this motion. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, to the House. Housing is one of the most interesting political topics with which we are faced. Regardless of what Government is in power or what resources are available, the Government of the day always has a choice when it comes to housing policy. Within the next 12 months or...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (7 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: I welcome this long overdue Bill which I want speedily enacted so that the repayments scheme can get under way in the near future. I hope the energy put into this debate, with the political excitement and the public anger about nursing home repayments, will be matched in the broader debate on care for the elderly. Care for the elderly is not just about nursing homes or securing a bed for an...

Seanad: Sugar Beet Industry. (7 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: I thank Senator John Paul Phelan for sharing time with me. I share the sentiments he has expressed in terms of how the compensation should be allocated. The Minister has advised that decisions may not be made before the autumn. The one issue that was clarified by Brussels is that a minimum of 10% of the restructuring fund must be given to producers and contractors. We certainly want to see...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Second Stage. (8 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: We all join in the welcome. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, to the House. I am pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to the debate on this long-awaited legislation which is of significant importance and, hopefully, of long-term benefit. I see this legislation as not being a crackdown on drivers or driving but as a support to the 90% or 95% of careful drivers who take...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: Almost every night a public meeting is held in a parochial hall somewhere in the country regarding fears about planning applications for telephone masts and other communications equipment. We must live in the real world and agree that from an industrial and communications perspective ongoing progress and development must take place. However, many local communities are scared because of a lack...

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (14 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State to the House, and the Bill he brings for our approval. In summary, the Minister of State said that the greatest evidence for this Bill is that to date the enlargement of the European Union has been a win-win situation, for the countries joining the Union and for those such as Ireland which are already members. The move to allow Bulgaria and Romania in is a...

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: I am glad of the opportunity to say a few words on this motion. The call, by the movers of the motion, for Seanad Éireann to establish a select committee on the use of Irish airports to investigate the use of Shannon by American military authorities is a modest and very fair request. It is something that we have——

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: I want to reiterate that this call for the establishment of a select committee to examine the use of Irish airports to investigate the possible misuse of Shannon is a very modest and reasonable request, one that we have debated in this House on previous occasions. We had almost reached a point where an all-party group in the Seanad was about to be established on this issue. Some preliminary...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: I support Senator Ryan's comments. In a sense this amendment highlights the disappointing lack of progress on broad issues of equality. It should not be necessary to prescribe quotas, but appointments across a range of boards and bodies indicate that women are not receiving a fair allocation of such jobs. This type of amendment should be considered and enacted as an interim measure and to set...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: I support the call for a fuller debate on the Middle East peace process. Since there are so many issues which need to be addressed during that debate, it should take place at the earliest possible opportunity. One or two colleagues raised the issue of the ongoing carnage in Iraq. Yesterday, as a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, I was very interested to hear from...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: Lord Leyden of Castlecoote.

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: Not unexpectedly, Committee and Report Stages of the Bill have moved very swiftly through the House. As we said on Second Stage during our quite lengthy discussion with the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, this is a positive further step on the road to broadening the European family, although the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania will not necessarily be cheering on the streets today or will...

Seanad: Prison Building Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and welcome her willingness to listen to my concerns about the possible building of a new prison at Spike Island, County Cork, and the impact that will have on the tourism industry in the Cork region and on the heritage and history of Spike Island. The island boasts a heritage and history unrivalled by any other international site of its kind....

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2006)

Paul Bradford: I appreciate the House will be busy next week but perhaps the Leader could set aside an hour for statements on the WTO talks. Senator Quinn suggested a certain line that should be pursued but I hold a different view. It is absolutely crucial that the Minister and our other representatives, through the European institutions, argue strongly for full support for Irish and European agriculture....

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)

Paul Bradford: I support the call by Senator Coghlan and others for the Minister for Finance to review the restriction placed on credit unions. The credit union movement met many Members at the weekend and stressed that this restriction causes grave difficulty for several of its members who have loans but who lost their jobs recently and may need some flexibility in the repayment of their loans....

Seanad: Financial Services Regulation. (4 Jul 2006)

Paul Bradford: I wish to share time with Senators Coghlan and John Paul Phelan.