Results 1,361-1,380 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister and, like other Members, the legislation before us. It is impressive to learn that approximately 80,000 complaints have been handled by the Ombudsman since the office was put in place in the 1980s. The first Ombudsman, Mr. Michael Mills, set a very positive agenda for his office, and the outstanding work has been followed through right up to the current Ombudsman. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Paul Bradford: I join in the tributes to Deputy Róisín Shortall on her resignation. She addressed this House on many occasions and did so with passion, commitment and a knowledge of her brief that was second to none. While she no longer holds a ministerial portfolio I am sure she will have a great deal to say politically as well as interesting comments to make on public health policy. The questions she...

Seanad: Smarter Travel: Statements (27 Sep 2012)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, and the debate. We have had previous debates on smarter travel. It is an evolving process but one which politicians from all parties welcome. Progress has been made and I hope will continue to be made. When we think of smarter travel, from the perspective of the public it must be reliable and cost effective. Senator Barrett or Senator...

Seanad: Smarter Travel: Statements (27 Sep 2012)

Paul Bradford: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 2 October 2012.

Seanad: Radical Seanad Reform Through Legislative Change: Statements (3 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the opportunity to comment on this important topic. I am sure this will be the first of many occasions on which we will be afforded the opportunity to discuss Seanad reform, a matter on which I have much to say. Given the time constraints, I will be obliged to withhold a great deal of what I wish to say until a later date. I congratulate Senators Feargal Quinn and Katherine...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: In general, I am supportive of the concept that we have a discussion on the health service, but saying we should approach it by expressing confidence or no confidence in the Minister is neither useful nor appropriate. I will broaden my request, therefore, and ask the Leader that we have, starting in the next two to three weeks, a debate with each Minister on his or her own particular...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: Perhaps the same station is intervening-----

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: In any case, it would be appropriate, if those at RTE want to report on the US election, that they do so in a balanced fashion and keep their bias to their private conversations.

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Motion (4 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister. I enjoyed the debate very much. I would call it a discussion rather than a debate because of the minimal difference between the Fine Gael motion and the Fianna Fáil amendment. It is fair to say that from an agricultural perspective the Fine Gael Party and the Fianna Fáil Party have always worked closely to ensure the enhancement and advancement of rural Ireland,...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: I agree with my colleagues who have spoken on the prison issue, in particular the comments of the previous speaker. One of the structures which has traditionally been in place to monitor, observe and make recommendations in each place of detention, is the prison visiting committee. Traditionally, such committees were unfortunately seen by many as beneficiaries of political patronage and...

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (Resumed) (18 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: It is becoming an annual ritual to have a debate on social welfare policy. Even though the Department has been renamed the Department of Social Protection the traditionalists among us still regard it as the Department of Social Welfare. The Minister has a very difficult job in advance of the budget. I acknowledge her efforts to date in examining a range of options in an attempt to produce...

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (Resumed) (18 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: It is becoming an annual ritual to have a debate on social welfare policy. Even though the Department has been renamed the Department of Social Protection the traditionalists among us still regard it as the Department of Social Welfare. The Minister has a very difficult job in advance of the budget. I acknowledge her efforts to date in examining a range of options in an attempt to produce...

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (Resumed) (18 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: It is becoming an annual ritual to have a debate on social welfare policy. Even though the Department has been renamed the Department of Social Protection the traditionalists among us still regard it as the Department of Social Welfare. The Minister has a very difficult job in advance of the budget. I acknowledge her efforts to date in examining a range of options in an attempt to produce...

Seanad: Amendment to Terms of Reference of Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (24 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister back to the House. I support the motion he has presented before Members and compliment the previous speaker on his support for the motion and on outlining some of the background to the problems on the northern part of our land. When the Minister came before the House previously, it was hoped that such an extension as is now being proposed would not be necessary. What...

Seanad: Amendment to Terms of Reference of Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (24 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister back to the House. I support the motion he has presented before Members and compliment the previous speaker on his support for the motion and on outlining some of the background to the problems on the northern part of our land. When the Minister came before the House previously, it was hoped that such an extension as is now being proposed would not be necessary. What...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Role and Functions: Discussion with Civil Defence Board (24 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their presentation and ongoing efforts. I have a question on the recruitment of volunteers. In what way is admission to the Civil Defence advertised or how is it encouraged? Is it done directly by the local authorities or through a national advertising campaign? In the board's new format with, presumably, some degree of new thinking coming into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Role and Functions: Discussion with Civil Defence Board (24 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: Perhaps Mr. Smith would elaborate on the possibility for engagement with younger people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Role and Functions: Discussion with Civil Defence Board (24 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: Is there consistency in the approach of local authorities with regard to leadership in training and management? Do they work together or does each local authority have a separate detached plan? I appreciate various counties have different priorities but do they come together to discuss planning and future strategies?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Role and Functions: Discussion with Civil Defence Board (24 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: Civil Defence.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2012)

Paul Bradford: I have sympathy for Senator Darragh O'Brien's comments on electricity prices. We need an urgent debate on the broader cost of living. The current economic equation in which we dwell - there is a general public acceptance - means that people have less money in their pockets and, therefore, less disposable income at the end of the week or month. We all wish that was not the case. The other...