Results 861-880 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: I look forward to the Minister's response in the first place. We must be realistic. The country is in the current position because politicians played politics and were not realistic for the past ten years. If we are to have any hope of turning the country around, getting rid of poverty, getting people back to work and growing the economy again, we must have real politics. Real politics is...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: The legislation is realistic. Never in my years here have I seen perfect legislation brought forward. There are always difficulties and, unfortunately, there are always people on the margins who fall outside the scope of a scheme or idea but it is a reasonable attempt at expanding our tax base in a reasonably fair fashion and at a modest level. That is the reason this amendment is not...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: If they are, as proof of their sincerity they should try to get their Northern colleagues who are in Government to introduce similar legislation.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: A €75,000 income limit.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: I referred to the €75,000 threshold.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: Or €75,000.

Seanad: Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (1 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: Are you an extra?

Seanad: Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (1 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: You were a star on the GAA pitch.

Seanad: Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (1 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister to the House. We are not large in numbers this afternoon but we are here to support the passage of the legislation and ensure the Irish film industry will continue to progress. It is fair to say that the Minister brings to his Department a great sense of enthusiasm and drive, which is required not just in his Department but across all Departments. If we want to turn...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)

Paul Bradford: I agree with Senators Mullen and Bacik that it would be desirable and helpful to have a substantive debate on the broader issue of the child sex abuse scandal and the introduction of appropriate Government legislation. I, too, attended yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality at which the question of mandatory reporting and the withholding Bill were...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (30 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: I thank Senator Mullins for sharing his time with me. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He attempted to join this House many years ago, but fortunately for his sake and that of officials, he was unsuccessful on that occasion. The Seanad would never have been the same.

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (30 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: If the country needs anything at this time, it needs jobs, hope and a feel-good factor. Tourism can help provide all of these. The Minister of State has responsibility for tourism and sport in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, and tourism is the area which can produce jobs almost instantaneously with a little help and innovative thinking. Notwithstanding the weather we have...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: I agree with everything said by Senator Norris and I look forward to the debate being ventilated much more strongly in the House and among the broader community. I ask the Leader for a debate on the Croke Park agreement at the earliest possible opportunity. I hope that such a debate can be commenced before the Christmas recess. Ministers are currently attempting to finalise the Budget...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: I agree with the sentiments expressed by Senator Landy on the need to have the Minister come before the House once again at the earliest date possible to discuss health matters and medical card issues in particular. All Members could recount similar examples of people whose medical card applications either are not being processed in sufficient time or are being refused. The HSE has a...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: Can I raise a point of order or clarification?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: I apologise for not tuning into the debate earlier. This amendment, unless I am misreading it, simply relates to the definition of "inspector".

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: In fairness, Sinn Féin never shoots blind.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: I commend Senator Conway on his comments on how the Minister for Health should try to bring some degree of control to spending within his Department. Senator Conway has raised some of the difficult but fundamental questions that need to be addressed. I also agree with him with regard to his aspiration that the budgetary process and debate will be more open and commence earlier. This is...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: The Leader of the Opposition called for the Minister for Health to attend the Seanad for a debate on health services as soon as possible. I hope when he does attend he will bring the most modern cure and strongest tablets for amnesia. That prescription will have to be applied to the Opposition benches. Members on the other side seem blissfully unaware that this day 12 months ago, the IMF...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

Paul Bradford: All I hear from Fianna Fáil Members is what they are against. I know they have much to be silent about concerning what they did over the past 12 years in ruining the country. A debate on the budget could go in tandem with some reflection on how we have progressed with the EU-IMF deal. We need to debate the financial options available to us. As for my friends in the Sinn Féin Party who...