Results 801-820 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I asked the Minister to provide some clarification on a matter and he advised me to seek that clarification from SIPO. However, there needs to be some political direction in relation to the ability or otherwise of politicians to make significant donations to their parties or general political work. Many politicians have claimed that they live on the minimum wage, with the remainder of their...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I would appreciate the Minister obtaining that clarification for me. Every politician in the Oireachtas uses virtually all of their income from politics for political purposes. We need to ensure the public is not misled into believing that a particular category of politicians are working on a reduced salary. As far as I am aware, every one of us is taking the entire salary and spending it...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: Sorry?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: It might be helpful if the Minister, in conjunction with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, were to write to each Member of the Oireachtas to inquire of them whether they want to draw down their full salary. It would be helpful to the public to know what would be the response if all Members were asked whether they wanted to draw down a full or reduced salary.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: What does the Senator do with the remainder of his salary? Does he, like all of us, spend it on political purposes such as offices, clinics and advertising?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: Perhaps the Minister will respond to that point. Senators Keane and O'Keeffe summed up our difficulty. We would love to live in a perfect world, but we do not and will not. Later this year the constitutional committee will examine the electoral system. That might be a little removed from this debate but in one sense it is central to it. Most countries in Europe do not have a facility for...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: As we all do.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: We do not believe the Senator.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: Go on.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I do not have any difficulties with section 6 but it allows me to raise one point. In this section the Minister reduces the donations that can be accepted by political parties and politicians in general. He is responding to concerns expressed by the public and by some politicians in recent years. We will never get this perfect because we do not live in a perfect world. Somebody has to fund...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: Senator Mullen should be made aware that the race meetings were a bit more problematic than the race nights.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister's response to our debate and look forward to the publication of the new Bill. A balance must be struck in this regard, and it is difficult. We are engaging in theoretical politics here but it is different in the real world. On this section, regarding the private little groupings that seem to be funding the American presidential election, which were set up to...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: The debate is very interesting. I doubt that we will reach either a conclusion or agreement today and much of this will probably drift back into the Minister's new Bill in a few months. I listened with interest to Senator Cullinane. I trust his ban would also include the famous money from America.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: That would ensure that poor Deputy Adams would have to cut back on the first class transatlantic transport.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I am trying to be helpful to Senator Cullinane because his party leader would not have to spend all his time travelling first class across the Atlantic to meet some members-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: It is probably something superior to first class.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I am advised by a colleague that she has met the Sinn Féin leader in the first class section. Perhaps he was only passing through. If we intend to be realistic and not hypocritical, can the Minister outline the position with all those politicians who appear to live on very high moral ground and claim they do not accept their salaries, but live on the minimum wage and transfer tens of...

Seanad: Household Charge (14 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister for coming to the House this evening to respond to my contribution on the household charge. Following the decision to introduce this tax, there is great maturity and acceptance among the majority of the Irish that the country and local government must be funded. While no one wishes to pay taxes, there is significant and substantial take-up of this tax. I have a few...

Seanad: Household Charge (14 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: The word is from a former era. It will be an arrangement rather than an amnesty. My colleague, Senator Walsh, when he realised this matter was being raised, brought it to my attention that we might get some clarification on the issue of people who are currently residing in Britain, for example, but who own a house in Ireland which is let to tenants. Do they pay both the household charge and...

Seanad: Household Charge (14 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: Could the Minister reply to my question about houses that are owned by Irish people who are living abroad?