Results 1,301-1,320 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Paul Bradford: I am pleased to have an opportunity to say a few words in support of the legislation and, more importantly, in support of the Lisbon treaty, the vote on which will take place early in October. It is a significant time as it is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall due to people power. It is the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism and the spread of freedom and democracy...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jul 2009)

Paul Bradford: I hesitate to challenge the new alliance of Senator O'Toole and Pope Benedict. Senator O'Toole, however, raised a pertinent issue on which that we must reflect. We all welcome the fact that there appears to be a ray of hope and some progress in the strike. Once talks start we hope progress will be made. Senator O'Toole's perspective is valid in the sense that the electricians had a certain...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Paul Bradford: I agree with the call for a debate on the EPA report. It is with regret I note that two years after the Green Party entered Government it appears that the state of the environment has reversed rather than advanced. I see Senator Boyle shaking his head but the facts speak for themselves and the statistics are there. We debated this matter during the past four or five years and now we have a...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (2 Jul 2009)

Paul Bradford: I listened with interest to the contributions of the two previous speakers and I share some of the sentiments expressed by both of them. However, I very much disagree with the comments of Senator Norris on the BUPA health insurance group. To paraphrase what he stated, he claimed that BUPA arrived into the Irish health insurance market to feed at the trough. I wish to point out to Senator...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Paul Bradford: I support what my two Fine Gael colleagues have said. I appreciate the Minister is paying serious attention to this Bill. I am also conscious he may be making proposals on Seanad reform and I therefore advise my colleagues to tread carefully with him. All our futures may be in his hands. The Minister appreciates we are approaching this legislation with a view to clarifying some of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paul Bradford: Will the Minister clarify the status of second homes following the enactment of the NAMA legislation? I know that legislation will not come to the House for some time but it I presume it will result in NAMA owing a significant number of finished, unfinished or partially finished housing estates, some of which may be let to third parties. If NAMA, as a corporate body, has ownership of such...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Paul Bradford: I thank my colleague for sharing time. I welcome the opportunity to comment on the Bill. The legislation is like a little trip switch because it allows us, if the Cathaoirleach will excuse the pun, to shed light on the broader local government debate and the issues facing local government. In 1999, a constitutional amendment was passed to provide constitutional recognition of local...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Paul Bradford: I support Senator O'Toole's remarks on the need for an immediate and proactive debate on the Lisbon treaty. This House is an ideal forum for the Government to maximise political involvement and discourse on the subject matter. As Senator O'Toole rightly noted, the treaty is being clarified, not changed, and it is important we inform the public on that. The question before us, in October or...

Seanad: Financial Measures (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (25 Jun 2009)

Paul Bradford: I would not speak with the same degree of financial expertise as some of my colleagues, but I have listened with interest to what has been said. At the very core of this debate is the attitude of the banking industry to its broad base of customers, and in particular the attitude of the banking industry to small business and enterprise. It is quite a few months since we had the all night...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (24 Jun 2009)

Paul Bradford: I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak about the plight of the parents, teachers and pupils of Rathcormac national school in County Cork. The need for a new school building has been at the top of the agenda for the local community in Rathcormac for many years. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, for coming to the House. I will give him some background information. A new...

Seanad: Dairy Industry: Motion (24 Jun 2009)

Paul Bradford: I move: That Seanad Éireann: --- recognising the crisis facing the dairy industry and the threat posed to the future viability of the sector; --- considering milk prices have fallen to a low of 20 cent per litre, significantly short of a break even point for suppliers; --- noting the value of the dairy industry, with 2008 exports worth in the region of €2.02 billion to the economy; ---...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Paul Bradford: I second the amendment and fully support what I have heard from my colleague and leader, Senator Fitzgerald. Last week on Committee Stage I made the point to the Minister of State - whether she listened or heard I am not sure - that this Bill is a political challenge to her. She can decide just to process the Bill as hundreds of Ministers have processed thousands of Bills during the years...

Seanad: Death of former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (17 Jun 2009)

Paul Bradford: I am pleased and honoured to have an opportunity to say a few words about my long-standing political colleague, Michael Howard. While all of us will have thousands of memories when we leave politics, only a few will be abiding ones of the things we did and people we met. One of my lifelong memories of my time in Leinster House is the night I was first elected to the Seanad in 1987. After I...

Seanad: SCHEDULE 1. (17 Jun 2009)

Paul Bradford: I wish I could say I felt the Minister of State had a sympathetic understanding of our argument. I feel she does not appreciate or understand the issue. I repeat my question, which was also asked by Senator Fitzgerald. What is the thinking behind this proposal? Before any applicant comes to occupy a nursing home bed, a financial assessment will have been made. The multimillionaires, be...

Seanad: SCHEDULE 1. (17 Jun 2009)

Paul Bradford: I support the amendments. When the Bill was published, the initial response of most people was a general and guarded welcome to the proposal as it was felt it would put in place a system of care with a system of payment which was fair, reasonable, transparent and affordable to a reasonable extent. However, the fine print of the Bill was studied and in advance of the debate in the other...

Seanad: SCHEDULE 1. (17 Jun 2009)

Paul Bradford: The Minister of State said farming organisations have welcomed her proposed changes. Members of the Oireachtas take note of what representative groups say. It is my clear understanding that farming organisations welcomed her Report Stage amendments as a very small step in the right direction. They do not deal with the concerns of the 98% of farming families or small business owners who...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Paul Bradford: I am not sure if the Minister of State answered my question in relation to a person's entitlement to switch from the current scheme to the new scheme. I am sure I heard the Minister of State say in response to Senator Callely that they can do so. However, the section states: "a person in receipt of a relevant subvention immediately before the commencement of this subsection shall continue...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Paul Bradford: Where is that particular option written into the legislation?

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Paul Bradford: Section 39(1)(b) states: "the date from which by reason of the determination of the Executive under section 11(1) State support is to be paid in respect of the person".

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Paul Bradford: Does the person have to apply to transfer?