Results 801-820 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Budget 2010: Statements (10 Dec 2009)

Paul Bradford: I congratulate Senator Carroll on his maiden speech. It is interesting that the first one was on climate change while the second one concerned the budget. I suspect there is stormy weather on both fronts. In recent days, on the Order of Business, we tried to preview the budget. Yesterday, I said I hoped it would be a redemption budget for the economy and for our country generally. I also...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Hanafin. I apologise as I was unable to attend yesterday's Second Stage debate. My colleagues have given an overview of our political approach to the legislation. I am the first to acknowledge the scale of the difficulty the Minister faces in trying to put a social welfare budget together. We would be removing ourselves from reality if we did not acknowledge...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Paul Bradford: I agree with Senator Norris's point that this is about money but we must reflect on the fact that this is taxpayers' money and it is not printed automatically by a money printing machine. Where stands the Irish Republic on this policy in respect of our colleagues across the European Union? Is the situation envisaged by this section the norm, extraordinary, more favourable or less favourable...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State. No one is thrilled that the Bill has been brought before us, but we are realistic enough to know that what is being done has to be done. Every Oireachtas Member has suffered a reduction in income through salary and expenses cuts and levies. If one is human, one could not but dislike accepting a pay cut, but we must be responsible and accept that the...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Paul Bradford: I hope the so-called green shoots will emerge and while the economic hope about which we read on a weekly basis must be welcomed, we still have to be concerned that we are on the precipice and cannot continue, as a people, to borrow €500 million a week. I agree with Senator Harris that the public fully understands the scale of the problem and, once again, we, the politicians, are playing...

Seanad: Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House and the legislation, which I appreciate is brief in nature. It is also important for Coillte's long-term planning. I am reminded of the line from the poem we learned in school, "Cad a dhéanaimid fasta gan adhmad". If this Bill and its intentions come fully to fruition, the poem need not be on the curriculum any longer. We have had...

Seanad: Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Paul Bradford: You might move towards a conclusion now.

Seanad: Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2009)

Paul Bradford: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.-Section 24(2) of the Forestry Act 1988 is amended: (a ) by the insertion of the words "but shall not exceed €100,000,000, without receiving the express approval of Dáil Éireann" after "the consent of the Minister for Finance", and (b ) by the insertion of a new paragraph in subsection (2) as...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2009)

Paul Bradford: Where exceptional circumstances are deemed to apply, the Minister can amend the regulations and, accordingly, make a decision to exclude a group of workers or amend the imposition of section 2. I again ask that the Minister of State take note of the submission I presented to his officials on Second Stage concerning a company, the employees of which appear to be in no man's land in regard to...

Seanad: Employment and Competitiveness: Statements (21 Jan 2010)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State. I congratulate him on his performance in the past 12 months, which has been a very difficult time for the Government and the country. What was required politically was straight talk, honest analysis of the problem and a willingness to prescribe the tough medicine that we all know is required. A small number of Ministers, including the Minister of State,...

Seanad: Banking Sector: Statements (26 Jan 2010)

Paul Bradford: I am glad to have an opportunity to say a few words on this important subject. I look forward to hearing from the Government over the next few weeks a more fleshed out presentation of what the banking inquiry will comprise. I am at one with my colleagues in saying I hope and demand that it be as public and as transparent as possible. In the words of the old adage, not only does justice...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2010)

Paul Bradford: I support what Senator MacSharry said about the crisis in house repossessions. It will be one of the major political and social problems in the coming 12 months. I read documentation from the Senator and from Senator Butler, but we need an urgent debate with the appropriate Minister on how it intends to deal with the growing number of repossessions. We are all meeting constituents whose...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2010)

Paul Bradford: The previous speaker may have been the first visitor to the head shop in Roscommon.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2010)

Paul Bradford: On a more serious matter, the Leader will be aware that since the Office of the Ombudsman was instituted 25 years ago, on only two occasions since then has it placed a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas, it is presumed for contemplation and consideration. A report recently brought before the House deals with the lost at sea scheme. This is an extremely serious report which was...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2010)

Paul Bradford: We must take a much more holistic approach to them. It is absolutely shocking that after all the reports and investigations we again today read of another 150 cases of gross maltreatment. This matter needs to be the subject of an urgent debate and response. There is a famous speech entitled, "The Perils of Indifference". We are absolutely indifferent to the elderly and the disabled. The...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Feb 2010)

Paul Bradford: We spoke yesterday in the House about the care of disabled persons and persons in nursing homes. We have a long way to go in those two areas from a regulatory point of view. In a sense it is ironic that we are debating the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill and the regulations to apply to the breeding of dogs. A significant number of people in rural Ireland have a difficulty with the Bill in...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2010)

Paul Bradford: I agree with the speakers who have addressed the banking crisis, be it from the perspective of the Central Bank and its entertainment policy or, more pertinently, the home owners and small borrowers who are now becoming victims of the collection culture. I appreciate that where money is due or a debt is legal the banks have an entitlement to seek collection, but there must be an urgent...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2010)

Paul Bradford: ——and recognise that in all conflicts there are at least two sides and that we must continue to reach out to each of them. My question to the Leader, to facilitate the Leas-Chathaoirleach——

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2010)

Paul Bradford: The Leader should arrange a debate as soon as possible on Northern Ireland. There have been ten, 12 or 15 days of talks now, but I have no doubt that the problem will be resolved. Such progress has been made since 1994 that there is no going back. For the future, however, we must examine culture, emblems, flags and sectarianism anew and re-engage with our friends and neighbours on the...

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Feb 2010)

Paul Bradford: I ask the Minister to excuse my hoarse voice as I make my contribution. I hope he can understand what I am saying. The contributions to date have been interesting and wide ranging. I listened with interest to the Minister's party colleague, Senator Ó Brolcháin – I hope my pronunciation is correct – give us the example of the oil being used as a fuel by Galway City Council. The...