Results 1,581-1,600 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (9 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: Is it my turn now? The previous speaker appears to have concluded.

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (9 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, and her colleague, the Minister, Deputy Shatter, who made the opening remarks. Whatever about this being an amazing week, the contribution from Senator Daly was not particularly amazing. I heard much of it when he spoke on the personal insolvency legislation, which was very important, but the Senator's contribution was by way of a single...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State, the Bill and the interesting suggestion made by Senator Quinn. It is fair to say that this Bill, in tandem with other proposals on public expenditure and reform and planning and development matters, is part of the Government agenda of not simply trying to modernise our economic planning and development but to ensure taxpayers get value for money....

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: I was getting some looks of admonishment. I hope that in a Chamber where we encourage debate there would not be a restriction on Members' interventions. We have a great opportunity between now and referendum day to reflect more fully. Ten minutes to make Second Stage contributions was not sufficient and I have not been able to engage in the Committee Stage debate but I want to comment...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: There are examples and let us consider those countries. I believe the Minister of State is as interested in local government and regional government as I am. We can look to the Scandinavian countries where there is real local government and real parliamentary debate and where they certainly are not handing over cabinet powers to three or four people. Parliament actually means something-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: There is debate, discussion and dialogue and oppositions are not only the people who say "No", but some of their opinions are taken on board. If we want to compare those so-called slimmed down parliaments, let us be realistic and consider what they are doing with their regional and local structures of government. I met the Austrian ambassador a number of months ago and he told me about the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: What we are proposing now by way of local government reform maybe might make us more efficient from a financial perspective but if want to pretend that our new super council structures of so-called local government areas stretching 100 to 150 miles is local government, fair enough, but it is not. If we believe in engagement with the people on politics, it is very difficult to say that fewer...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: -----a group of favourite or token experts. Our current form of democracy in all its imperfection is certainly better than having unelected advisers and favoured select interest groups.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on this very important but sensitive legislation. It is fair to say a ten minute contribution in no way allows a Member to discuss the full range of matters before us, but I trust that in the normal tradition of the Seanad, our Committee Stage amendments and discussion will allow us the scope and latitude this most serious topic deserves. For many...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: I thank my colleagues for presenting these amendments to us. At their core, they are the type of political shades of grey which generally make politicians shudder. I heard the Minister respond to a similar series of amendments in the Dáil and I presume I can, with reasonable accuracy, predict what he is constitutionally and politically obliged to say in response to the amendments....

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: The Minister of State said he does not wish to be prescriptive. Nothing can be as prescriptive as the language of section 22 which states, “It shall be an offence to intentionally destroy unborn human life.” That is a very black-and-white statement. I cannot see how anyone could have a difficulty with how Deputy Walsh’s amendment would impact on sections 7 and 8. This...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Tairiscint chun Bille a chur faoi Athchúrsa - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (17 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: On a point of order, before the House divides, will the Cathaoirleach advise on the impact of the recommittal? What would it entail?

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Tairiscint chun Bille a chur faoi Athchúrsa - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (17 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: Would that entail a full debate of the Bill, section by section?

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Tairiscint chun Bille a chur faoi Athchúrsa - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (17 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: Would there be a prescribed time for such a debate?

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on this amendment and on the motion. I assure Senator Darragh O'Brien that the Government Whip, the Minister of State, Deputy Paul Kehoe, is not a boot boy and was not present tonight to perform as a boot boy. He was here to perform as a postman. He came to deliver a letter to me and to my colleague, Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, informing us that...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: If we need any proof as to the need for a second House and the idea of independence of thought in politics, or any proof of the need for a second Chamber, a second voice and a place and space for people to speak their minds, the letters delivered by the Government Chief Whip to me and Senator Healy Eames during the course of this debate make the case more strongly for us than we could make...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: We must accept that a referendum will be held. I accept this was a commitment made by my party, one of those we are managing to keep. We must also accept that if most colleagues here believe in the House in which we serve we will have to take a message to the people asking them to reject the referendum, not to save our jobs but to save an institution which, since the foundation of the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: Rather than being depressed, we must now go forward and begin to explain to the people of this island why we believe the Seanad should be maintained. As I have stated on numerous occasions, I would be the first to accept that we need considerable reform, not only of this House but of Irish politics. We need reform of the Dáil and of local government. When my Government colleagues and...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: It may be an uncomfortable comment.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: It may be an inconvenient comment but it is a truthful one.