Results 1,701-1,720 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: Therefore, there have been multiple snapshots in time.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: I ask the Minister to reflect on what he has said. He has said that there is a single snapshot in time and that the allowance is determined on the basis of how people voted at the time of a general election, but the formula and language used in the legislation providing for this refers to when a person is elected in a general election or subsequent in a by-election; therefore, there is no...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: There have been times when people joined and left parties.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: Calculations have been reflected on and, obviously, we are not going to agree. It is becoming more of a political argument than one based on interpretation and the law. The suggestion of the Senator that this is something which should be challenged legally is worthy of deep consideration because it is not the party's but taxpayers' money about which we are speaking.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: It amounts to hundreds of thousands of euro per annum, €1 million plus between now and next general election; that is a great deal of money. We can return to Senator Martin Conway's point when we come to deal with later amendments. He has stated his view that parties should be funded directly by the taxpayer or the State. It is an interesting argument, one that has been made...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: I move amendment No. 7: In page 12, after line 42, to insert the following:“Amendment of Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 2009 4. Section 3 of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 2009 is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3):“(3) The Minister may,...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: Whether it worked or not, it was a falsehood. We appreciate that we are fortunate, honoured and privileged to be in this House. By virtue of a salary of €65,000 we are well paid with the entitlement to claim €12,000 per annum in expenses. That should be payable under fair and achievable categories. Deputies have a much better salary, entitled to two staff and funded...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister. As I said, my motion was for debating purposes, so I will now formally withdraw it.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I support Senator Norris's remarks on the need for a cold weather shelter. I am sure every Member would support his request and I hope the Leader will try to pursue it. That the matter is before us for debate must cause us to reflect on the fact that while there is a positive and welcome degree of economic progress, there is still, to put it mildly, a subset of society that is living on...

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motion (4 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I am having a mental image of the Leader, Senator Cummins, in his short communion pants marching up with his stilling to the tote at Tramore races. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, and the proposal before us. For once, I am in disagreement with my colleague Senator Barrett in that the record will clearly show that every punt, euro, shilling or cent invested in the Irish...

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motion (4 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: The Minister of State could lose his seat.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I join my colleagues in paying tribute to the late Nelson Mandela. I trust the Leader will arrange a more substantial timeframe for additional statements in the coming weeks. I note with satisfaction Senator Bacik's comments on the unveiling of a memorial to the former President of Czechoslovakia, Václav Havel, who was a politician of huge moral substance. To speak of Havel and...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: Perhaps my question is not appropriate to the section but applies more to the way legislation is written in general. The Minister of State referred to the expenses incurred by the Minister in administration of the Act. Does the section refer to the overall expenses for bringing the new system into force? Is it strictly for administration? Obviously a large bill will be incurred for the...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I wish to raise the issues of costs. I might have a more relevant opportunity to raise the issues later in the discussion.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I wish to raise the broader expense element, particularly in the context of an interesting article published in The Sunday Independent last week. Perhaps the Minister of State has not read the article but I hope that it has been brought to his attention. The article was written by Mr. Colm McCarthy whom Senators will know as the author of an bord snip. He raised problems of a fundamental...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: He raised some very worrying policy areas for our consideration and reflection.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Senator for moving this amendment, but I cannot support it. He referred in his contribution to public concerns regarding privatisation. In the case of the ongoing difficulties at ESB, the public concern was not whether that company was publicly or privately owned but whether the service would be provided. The outcome of this legislation and of the Government's deliberations...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: Yes, it is probably a discussion for another day. There is an onus on every party in government to do its best for taxpayers. My concern is that the legislation as currently construed, with the provision for a 12-year service level agreement, is effectively saying that there will be no great change and that the dawn of a new day, with a new authority acting efficiently and effectively in...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I will ask the Minister about the setting of dates on service level agreements and whether the forum has played a role in it or made submissions about dates and service level periods. If so, can the Minister of State provide more information on the forum? Who decided or dictated that it should be set up? What is the genesis of the forum?

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I appreciate section 16 deals with the charges for water services. Like every service, water provision has always been paid for by somebody. It is not the case that water was provided free of charge for consumers. It was paid for in one shape or form through taxes. The Bill brings a new structure to paying for water. Senator David Cullinane has referred to the long list of charges which...