Results 1,961-1,980 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Procurement Practices for the Purchase of Hospital Supplies and Equipment: Beacon Hospital and Health Service Executive (23 Jul 2015)

Paul Bradford: In a sense, Mr. Cullen has answered my question, but I want to get it firmly on the record. He indicated that his first knowledge of this possible problem was when he was contacted by "Prime Time" early in the month. The indication I received was that the possible difficulty with the Beacon Hospital was raised in the original communication with the Department of Health from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Procurement Practices for the Purchase of Hospital Supplies and Equipment: Beacon Hospital and Health Service Executive (23 Jul 2015)

Paul Bradford: Has any communication been received from the Department since?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Procurement Practices for the Purchase of Hospital Supplies and Equipment: Beacon Hospital and Health Service Executive (23 Jul 2015)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the HSE representatives. The scale of the delegation illustrates the scale of the organisation and the budget. As has been pointed out by Deputy Ó Caoláin, the €1.6 billion figure we are discussing is only part of the equation. I had the opportunity a few days ago to meet with the whistleblower and I was impressed by the recollection and clarity he brought to the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (23 Sep 2015)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Cathaoirleach for giving me the opportunity to raise the important issue of the proposed merger of Cork City Council with Cork County Council. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Deenihan, for being in attendance. I appreciate that the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, who is responsible for the implementation or otherwise of this report, cannot be present. Presumably,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (23 Sep 2015)

Paul Bradford: I appreciate that the Minister of State, Deputy Deenihan, is simply responding on behalf the Minister, Deputy Kelly, and has no discretion in respect of his response. However, it is a matter of some concern and I ask the Minister of State if he would concur that the future governance of Ireland's largest county and second city appears to have been considered and decided upon within one week...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Sep 2015)

Paul Bradford: I support the request from Senator Gilroy that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government would come in to discuss the future of local government. No. 16 on the Order Paper would be a useful vehicle to initiate that debate. It is a Private Members' motion signed by the majority of Senators. I possibly differ from Senator Gilroy in that I have very serious doubts about...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Paul Bradford: No. 69 on the clár relates to the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children on the cost of medical indemnity insurance. It would be good if we could discuss the report and other health insurance costs which all add to the pressure on the health service and the cost of private health insurance. We have had the announcement, over the past day or so, by VHI of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Credit Unions Regulation (30 Sep 2015)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me the opportunity to raise this important matter in Seanad Éireann. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, who I trust is representing the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan. I ask him to pass on to the Minister my concerns about this matter as it relates to credit unions. The Minister of State comes from the constituency of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Credit Unions Regulation (30 Sep 2015)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I think he understands the significance and importance of the credit union movement. Is it possible to facilitate a meeting with the Minister for Finance? A meeting should take place. I know there are many other matters to be dealt with by the Minister, but the meeting needs to take place before the order is signed at the end of the year.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Credit Unions Regulation (30 Sep 2015)

Paul Bradford: We have to ensure that the Minister and those who have been elected, who have a very clear understanding of the significance of credit unions, are very much in the driving seat of this legislation. I do not know what the Central Bank's agenda is on the long-term development of the credit unions, but we need to state that we want to see credit unions maintained, expanded and developed and...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Sep 2015)

Paul Bradford: I subscribe to and support Senator Heffernan's comments on local radio. We must really examine the concept of the television licence, how it is used and how it could best be distributed. The Minister, Deputy Alex White, has presumably kicked to touch the whole issue of a broadcasting fee, but the current pot of people's money is entirely consigned to one supposed national broadcaster while...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Sep 2015)

Paul Bradford: Under current rules and regulations, that is how it happens. It is very difficult to accept that it will be almost six years before the first physical piece of work commences on the rail link infrastructure. Forgetting the politics - because politicians and Governments will come and go - when a substantial block of money seems to be available for a national project, it is depressing to...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (30 Sep 2015)

Paul Bradford: I requested this debate and strongly pressed the need for such a substantial discussion but I will allow the Minister of State to reply because it would be ridiculous to try to make sense of budgetary policy or make a coherent argument in two minutes. Without any difficulty or disappointment, I will give way to the Minister of State and let him reply to the people who at least had a...

Seanad: European Council Decisions: Motions (1 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: I am glad to have the opportunity to say a few words on this important matter. I join in the words of congratulations to the newly-married Minister of State. I had better not say that it goes downhill from here on. We are all at one about what needs to be done, although there may be a different emphasis on the speed of the response. Our first priority must be to get as many of these...

Seanad: European Council Decisions: Motions (1 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: We know it is not acceptable. However, rather than waiting for some theoretical or dream response that might never come, let us get people onto the shores of Ireland and try to work from there. I look forward to hearing further from the Minister and the Minister of State about the plans. I support what has been done to date and I believe the people support it too. Notwithstanding the...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: I agree with much of what Senator Cullinane said about the need for a debate on Irish Water but my prognosis on the company and the future direction of water policy in this country is different to his. What is on the table at the moment from Irish Water needs to be addressed. The company appears to do a very good job of keeping itself in the news, sometimes for good reasons but other times...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (20 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for allowing me to raise the matter concerning the vacancies in public housing stock across the country, as well as the many vacancies in the private housing sector. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, to the House. The Government seems transfixed with rent certainty as it seems to be a cause of ongoing internal debate around the Cabinet...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (20 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I acknowledge she is concerned; the Government is concerned as is everybody else. However, we require action rather than concern. Will the Minister of State simply reflect on the fact that it is unacceptable that houses should be vacant for so long? This might require a change in the law. Certain housing applicants would be willing to move...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: I heard many of my colleagues call for a debate on Northern Ireland in the light of the publication of two important reports yesterday. I certainly support their request. When we reflect on the difficulties on that part of the island which are profound and serious, we must remember that the starting point is that for the past 21 years or thereabouts we have had relative peace in Northern...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: -----which I think is a throwback to former times. It probably consists of some sad old men who are still meeting and talking about the war which they actually lost; their plans to drive 1 million Unionists out of Northern Ireland which they have failed to do; and their plans to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Ireland which they have failed to do. We are sometimes afraid to...