Results 1,121-1,140 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011: Second Stage (25 Oct 2011)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State, who I know has a great interest in this area. This Bill will have gone through the House-----

Seanad: Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011: Second Stage (25 Oct 2011)

Paul Bradford: I wish to share my time with Senator Pat O'Neill. This Bill will be passed in the House, the Dog Breeding Establishment Bill was passed but is not yet in action, and the animal health and Welfare Bill is yet to be introduced to the House. When those three Bills are passed there will be a significant body of legislation to protect animals and see to their welfare. I will strongly support it....

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2011)

Paul Bradford: And there are no quotas.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2011)

Paul Bradford: I concur with my colleagues, Senators Bacik and Mullen, in congratulating Ms Loftus on her appointment to the office of Director of Public Prosecutions. As Senator Bacik remarked, it is interesting that three of the highest judicial posts in the land are now held by women, and I congratulate all involved. It is also worth noting that these high positions were achieved without the imposition...

Seanad: Gender-Based Violence: Motion (26 Oct 2011)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this worthy proposal. We all understand the system of parliamentary democracy in the Oireachtas and how the Government generally proposes and the Opposition opposes. However, we must also recognise that we in this House have been at our best when we were able to act, not independently of Government as such, but with a certain...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

Paul Bradford: I support the request to have a debate on what was agreed in Brussels last night at the earliest possible stage. In so far as I am aware of the outcome I welcome the progress made. However, we must acknowledge there remains a long road to travel. I agree with Senator Feargal Quinn's comments on the Greek debt situation. The cry of some people is that Ireland should default. I concede...

Seanad: Medical Cards (27 Oct 2011)

Paul Bradford: I appreciate the Minister is under time pressure. My question is one I could have placed by way of parliamentary question if there was such a facility n the Seanad but unfortunately there is not. I raise the issues of medical cards, the financial guidelines in place and the deductions allowable, with particular reference to those who suffer from Alzheimer's disease. I appreciate the disease...

Seanad: Medical Cards (27 Oct 2011)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister. This is the first time in my many years in the Oireachtas that a Minister more or less ignored his script and, fortunately, went off message.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: Senator Cullinane proposed that the Order of Business be amended. He requested yesterday that we debate the budget. Obviously, I am not seconding his formal proposal but I believe that, with the budget being announced on Tuesday fortnight and every item discussed here yesterday, today and, I presume, over the next few days proving to be related to budgetary policy, it would be helpful if we...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: I am awaiting the Leader's response to my suggestion. We do not expect a budget debate today. I ask that some time be set aside next week, in advance of the budget, so we can make suggestions to the Government and outline the policies we would like to see therein. I ask the Leader to take the suggestion on board. Amendments to the Order of Business are tabled on the hour but they are...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: That is a good start.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: When a Senator who employs 100 people and provides financial assistance to 100 families every week of the year speaks on job creation and matters pertaining to it, we should listen seriously to her ideas, suggestions and concerns. I support what was said by Senator Mary Ann O'Brien. She is following the lead given two days ago by Senator Fidelma Healy Eames. I look forward to the Minister...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: Of course, Mrs. O'Rourke's late brother, Mr. Brian Lenihan, also spoke a memorable phrase, which could have been patented by his Fianna Fáil Party, when he referred to the futility of consistency. That is the tradition from which they are coming.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: I support what was said by a number of colleagues about the need for a broadly based debate on older people. I have raised this matter on several occasions in the past seven or eight years and have suggested the holding of a referendum to enshrine the rights of older people in the Constitution. We will be having such a referendum in relation to children. We should also consider a...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: It is important for the Seanad that we ventilate our views on such matters. It is not practicable to have a full debate on this matter, as Senator Byrne proposes. I suggest we move on to Nos. 2 and 3 and that the Leader and the Whips explore the possibility of debating No. 1 later in the day. Rather than have a silly vote, the result of which we know in advance, could we not try to find...

Seanad: Overseas Trade: Statements (17 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: In announcing his decision to shut the Irish Embassy in the Vatican the Tánaiste cited economic reasons because of the economic challenges. In other words, our embassies and overseas missions must pay their way. In this context and given that the appointment of ambassadors has always been the preserve of the public service and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is it time to...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (17 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister for being here. His presence indicates his respect for the House, for which I am grateful. The motion before us is simple, yet it is important because it concerns part of the work of the Smithwick tribunal. It is part of a number of measures which I hope when they are all completed, will help to bring about a final resolution of the complex difficulties in Northern...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: The Leader of the Opposition called for the Minister for Health to attend the Seanad for a debate on health services as soon as possible. I hope when he does attend he will bring the most modern cure and strongest tablets for amnesia. That prescription will have to be applied to the Opposition benches. Members on the other side seem blissfully unaware that this day 12 months ago, the IMF...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: All I hear from Fianna Fáil Members is what they are against. I know they have much to be silent about concerning what they did over the past 12 years in ruining the country. A debate on the budget could go in tandem with some reflection on how we have progressed with the EU-IMF deal. We need to debate the financial options available to us. As for my friends in the Sinn Féin Party who...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: In fairness, Sinn Féin never shoots blind.