Results 641-660 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2009)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister and welcome the contribution made by Senator Ellis. Our argument is not about whether 164, 165 or 166 Members of the Dáil is the appropriate number, but about the procedure followed to arrive at the number. It is disappointing that despite freedom of information and various mechanisms which allow Members of the Oireachtas and the public inquire into the thinking and...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2009)

Paul Bradford: At the risk of becoming repetitive, I concur with Senator Ellis. I appreciate that the Minister had little discretion because there is a tradition that constituency commission reports are always accepted in their entirety. This poses the question as to why the input of politicians might be regarded as improper, unwise or even illegal. We have reached a stage where we have farmed out...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2009)

Paul Bradford: ——to arrange and rearrange constituencies. What was right in 1977 may not be right today. The Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government would surely be an ideal vehicle to discuss these issues. Issues could be debated and suggestions could be made in both Houses, yet an independent commission is given full power. The politicians' input is basically zero and...

Seanad: Recapitalisation of Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Ireland: Statements (12 Feb 2009)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State to the House for this debate on the crisis in the banking system. We are now entering the Donald Rumsfeld world of the known unknowns and unknown unknowns and over the past 48 hours, more of the unknown unknowns have appeared and have reduced even further the public confidence in our banking system. This side of the House recognises the absolute and urgent...

Seanad: Milk Prices (12 Feb 2009)

Paul Bradford: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the matter of the crisis faced by dairy farmers as a result of the continuing fall in milk prices. With the Chair's permission, I wish to share time with Senator John Paul Phelan.

Seanad: Milk Prices (12 Feb 2009)

Paul Bradford: I appreciate that the Minister of State understands the gravity of the situation and I thank him for his interest in the subject matter. I know he would concur with my view that down through the generations in rural areas, milk was the liquid gold which kept economic activity flowing. Unfortunately recently and in the past six months in particular that liquid gold has very much lost its...

Seanad: Milk Prices (12 Feb 2009)

Paul Bradford: We will return some other day.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Feb 2009)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and I am glad that the Seanad is the vehicle being used to debate this very important legislation. My expertise in this regard is far from perfect and I am disappointed that we did not have an opportunity to prepare in more detail. However, I offer my support for the concept of the Bill and put on record my admiration for all those involved in...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Paul Bradford: I support the call from Senator Ross for a substantial debate next week on the economic issues facing this country. It is important Members of this House have an opportunity, in advance of the introduction of the mini-budget, to examine in detail the options facing the Government and the Oireachtas. I am concerned that too many of us believe we are playing a game of politics rather than...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Paul Bradford: I am not concerned about traps being laid by Government. What is involved is much more important. Politically speaking, the public has made an irreversible decision in respect of the current Government. We on this side of the House are challenged to rise to the occasion and to respond to this grave national crisis. The man and woman on the street do not concern themselves with who is...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Paul Bradford: I support the amendment. I brought the legislation to the attention of a number of my friends and constituents who are either adoptive parents or hope to adopt. One of the issues they raised strongly with me was the fact that countries outside the Hague Convention would become almost exclusion zones as far as the adoption procedure is concerned. What I have heard from my colleagues is...

Seanad: School Accommodation (5 Mar 2009)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Cathaoirleach for providing me with the opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the accommodation needs of Bishop Ahern national school, Leamlara, County Cork. This school is unfortunate in that applications it made during the past 12 months in respect of both permanent and temporary accommodation were rejected. At present, 84 pupils attend the school. However, as it is...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Paul Bradford: I support the points made by Senator White. Most of us approach this Bill from the perspective of the representations and constituency queries we receive on this issue. The concern raised most frequently by my constituents is the issue of the delay in assessment. I appreciate that in all legislation governing adoption we must be absolutely precise about the propriety of every part of the...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Paul Bradford: Senators speaking about outsourcing could be rather dangerous at the moment as we could be outsourced ourselves. I was interested in what was said by Senator Mary White. When all this legislation goes through this House and the other House we should aspire to have a process in place of the highest standards that would be expedited in an appropriate fashion. People should not see an endless...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Paul Bradford: I take on board what the Minister of State said. He spoke of delays and the burden on social workers to do almost two projects simultaneously. What is his assessment of the reason for the two and half to three year waiting period? Is it due to a staffing issue, the thoroughness of the work involved in the assessments or an administrative blockage? Within the remit of the existing...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Paul Bradford: It is not that the HSE is understaffed, although there may be a lack of personnel in other fields of responsibility. Is the lack of social workers the official answer for the current delays?

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Paul Bradford: I am pleased the Minister of State has confirmed that much or all the delay is due to a lack of resources. At least it is a problem we can identify and to which we can hopefully respond. I am at one with the Minister of State on what he said about the very effective, sensitive, professional and thorough manner social workers carry out their tasks and they have all our support. What can we...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Paul Bradford: I am not an expert on procedure, but will it be possible to revisit this matter on Report Stage?

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Paul Bradford: I do not want, for various reasons, to speak——

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Paul Bradford: ——on Senator Fitzgerald's part——