Results 821-840 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Immigrant Investor Programme and Start-Up Entrepreneur Scheme: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister and I thank him for his interesting presentation. I thank the previous speaker, Senator Mooney, for his generous response to the Minister's proposal. It is good that in the case of such an important matter all sides of the House can sing from the one hymn sheet. In recent years and in the course of recent months since the new Government took over I have commented...

Seanad: Immigrant Investor Programme and Start-Up Entrepreneur Scheme: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I am sure the invitation will be taken up by Senator Healy Eames.

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I heard the Minister's speech and the contributions of one or two colleagues. It is an interesting debate and, as with most Seanad debates, we do not stick rigidly to the legislation before us but I hope the Minister is taking on board some of the extraneous suggestions. I listened with interest to Senator Brennan, who could become the seanchaí of the current Seanad. His discussions with...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I had expected to speak prior to Senator Healy Eames but feared I was being removed from the debate under a gender quota.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I listened with interest to the Senator's sensible contribution. Six minutes is a ridiculously inadequate amount of time to speak on such important legislation. If we are trying to involve larger number of women and younger and older people in politics, we need to allow a space for debate. The system of politics itself needs to be reformed. In essence, the legislation before us comprises...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: And ties.

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: Senator Ó Clochartaigh's question relates to the human rights of the Seanad, with which I concur. I welcome the Tánaiste to the House. I would like to focus on his role as trade Minister and in particular his proposed visit to New York to promote investment by the US in Ireland. Many of my colleagues were among the tens of thousands of people in College Green last year to welcome...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: -----by becoming a eurosceptic party. It is quite pathetic. The question I had intended to ask if Senator Leyden had not made such a silly intervention is whether the Leader would consider inviting the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, to the House in the coming weeks to discuss the Government's concept of a decade of commemoration. This year marks the 100th...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: Fianna Fáil went mad.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: Senator Leyden never ceases to amaze me or amuse me, as he did his colleagues last week in the Council of Europe when he almost tripped over himself as he rushed to embrace and congratulate Mr. David Cameron, I am not sure on what, but perhaps Senator Leyden might inform the House what words of praise he imparted to Mr. David Cameron. We are having a second re-run of the discussion on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: At the least I would say about my friends in the Sinn Féin Party that since 1973 they have said "No" to every treaty but Fianna Fáil is now trying to find a political purpose-----

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements, Questions and Answers (1 Feb 2012)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister. I apologise for missing his presentation but I have read it. I respect the fact that no significant announcements are due to be made today. We have debated the structures of local government previously. Is the Minister giving any consideration to the concept that was discussed and agreed by all the parties approximately 20 years ago, that is, the concept of a...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2012)

Paul Bradford: I sincerely concur with what the last speaker said. He has set a challenge to all of us to which I hope we can rise. I have heard some of my colleagues talk about the possibility or otherwise of a referendum. Since 1973, when Ireland first entered what was then the EEC, there has been a straightforward approach whereby the Attorney General of the day examines each treaty dealing with Irish...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2012)

Paul Bradford: As has often been stated in this House, we have a significant role to play in debating the broader issues of our involvement with the European Union, European policy making and initiatives Europe can take to assist us with job creation and putting our country back to work. It is not all about yesterday's treaty or a once-off meeting. The entire European concept is ongoing and moving and we...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Jan 2012)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State. I am sure she is pleased that for the second time in a week she has been described as a doughty fighter but we will leave it at that. I welcome the motion and congratulate those who tabled it. The Minister of State's words were inspirational and the work she has done in this field since assuming this position of responsibility is laudable. I also...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Paul Bradford: I do not believe the Order of Business is the appropriate forum to debate the health service plan in great detail but it is important that the Minister for Health attend the House as soon as possible to discuss last Monday's announcement and go through the plan. We must acknowledge that every political party in this and the other House respected the concept of €3.8 billion being taken from...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: I join in the words of congratulations, thanks and best wishes to all of my colleagues, the Cathaoirleach, the Leader, all of the party leaders and all of the staff who contribute so much to the running of our House of the Oireachtas. Senator O'Donovan mentioned the Titanic and 2012 will see our House more like an aircraft carrier with nuclear capacity, and those who might have certain plans...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: We have an interesting 12 months ahead and I hope people will focus on the big political issues. I concur with what the previous speaker stated about the very effective use to date of the public consultation committee and the possibility of using such a committee to deal with matters such as broader poverty issues and other issues which affect many throughout society. When we reflect we...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: As my time is limited to five minutes, I will not be able to do justice to a Bill as complex as this one. I thank the Minister for her presentation and, not being patronising, I commiserate with her with regard to the difficulties she faced last week. It was a Government budget, not the budget of the Minister, Deputy Burton. I understand that the economic management committee of the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: Lifestyle choice. I thank my Sinn Féin colleague for being so helpful in bringing the phrase to my lips. While Sinn Féin is on the sidelines criticising, the Minister is in the Department trying to make a difference. We all know there is a minority of people for whom work is something their families never experienced. It is almost a generational thing. We must ask how we use our budgets...