Results 1,261-1,280 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: No.

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: It is fair to say the dreadful weather of the past week has visited disaster on tens of thousands of families. My colleagues have clearly outlined the significant scale of the problem in counties Cork, Galway and Tipperary. As with the state of the economy, we are where we are and it is a question of what we can do, what leadership can be provided by politicians and what approach we will...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: I congratulate Senator Carroll on his election to this House. He will find it an extremely interesting and challenging place of political debate. I hope he enjoys his time here. No doubt he has plans to wander down other corridors in Leinster House but I hope he enjoys his time in the Seanad. I sincerely wish him the best. I hope my history and geography are correct. I learned with...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: It is important that we would have a much more lengthy debate on the flooding. There is a crisis across the State, but we will get to that later. I hope the Leader will reflect on the fact that one hour is inadequate. I am disappointed with the Leader. We are two short weeks away from the most crucial budget in the history of the State and most of my colleagues and I have been asking him...

Seanad: ^ Bio-fuel Obligation Scheme: Motion. ^ (18 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: I second the amendment. I wish to share time with Senator Paddy Burke. I welcome the Minister. It would be relatively difficult in a spot the difference competition to identify significant differences between the proposals set out in the Government motion and Fine Gael Party amendment. As the Minister will acknowledge, the Fine Gael Party has in recent months produced substantial policy...

Seanad: Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State. In also welcoming the Bill, I express disappointment that it has taken many months to have the legislation prepared for debate in the House. I understand from the Minister's contribution that the Bill has its genesis in the negotiations to form a Government in 2007. While I appreciate a number of Departments and agencies were involved in producing the...

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: The Senator has covered all bases.

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: I thank Senator Donohoe for apparently giving way, probably operating on the age principle. From his attendance at debates in the Seanad the Minister will notice that interesting little nuggets of information often emerge. I was interested to learn that my colleague, Senator McFadden, has sergeant-major blood in her. An immediate word of warning will need to be issued to Deputy Bannon in...

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: I am not sure exactly where he was coming from but I ask him to put his money where his mouth is in respect of this amendment. He should take this opportunity to show how he and the Government value the Seanad by giving it a full role in respect of this legislation.

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: We are not second class politicians in a second class House.

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: I ask the Minister to accept our amendment so the triple lock requirement will encompass the support of this very important institution of our democracy. That would show how seriously the Minister values the Seanad.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources indicated yesterday there will be an obligation on retailers of petrol and diesel in the near future to have a minimum of 4% bio-fuels and alternative fuels as part of the fuel mix. This was mentioned previously by the Minister but it is to be enacted into law. The other side of that equation is that it gives us the opportunity...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: We would not doubt the Senator.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: I am glad of the opportunity to say a few words on this important legislation. When the then Governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton, was travelling the length and breadth of the United States in the summer and autumn of 1992 seeking election to the presidency, he coined the phrase, "It's the economy, stupid". He was referring to the fact that among all the issues affecting the people of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: I support Senator Boyle's comments that we are having our daily dose of economic debate and analysis. It is time we moved on from analysis to a prescribed solution. Unfortunately, all of us seem unwilling to begin to address the economic reality. Nothing is more removed from the economic reality than the proposed day of action and the proposed strike. Therefore, I very much support...

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (4 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: I have not engaged so far in the Committee Stage debate but hope to do so at the latter stages. I appreciate the Minister's presence, but this is a substantial Bill and an additional hour would presumably not bring proceedings to a satisfactory conclusion. I ask the Acting Leader to arrange the recommencement of the debate on another day. It is important that we try to get this right....

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: In the Leader's absence last Thursday, I raised a matter that has been raised again by Senator Marc MacSharry today and Senator Jerry Buttimer yesterday. It runs along the lines suggested by Senator Joe O'Toole that we would use in the immediate future this House as a forum for a genuine economic debate and presentation, where social partners and people concerned with the economic...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: I do not normally leap up with a point of order, but I wish to clarify something. Will the Leader address my specific proposal? I understand that we have within our power the authority and ability to use this important Chamber of the Oireachtas to engage in debate and dialogue on the current economic crisis——

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: ——and to invite witnesses, as we did with Members of the European Parliament——

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Paul Bradford: ——the President of the European Commission and the EU ambassador to the United States of America. At this grave point in the country's history, this House in particular has an obligation to respond politically. Will the Leader use his powers and engage with the Cathaoirleach and the appropriate body of the House to put in place the mechanism for urgent and immediate debate and dialogue...