Results 1,461-1,480 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Lisbon Reform Treaty Report: Statements (5 Jun 2008)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He is almost becoming part of the furniture at this stage. The report before us is important and I concur with what all previous speakers said about the perceived democratic deficit at political level in Brussels. When we lecture Brussels about a democratic deficit, we could look at little closer to home and at our system of Cabinet Government,...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Paul Bradford: I agree with Senator Alex White's call on the Taoiseach to clarify the issue of concern to SIPTU regarding the Lisbon treaty. We were happy when clarification issued to the IFA earlier this week and the assurances given allowed the association to come on board to support the treaty. The key issue affecting unions and workers is that we will continue to have a strong economy and create and...

Seanad: Charter of Fundamental Rights: Statements (4 Jun 2008)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on his personal drive and enthusiasm in presenting the case for the Lisbon treaty, the charter we are debating and the broader European political project. The Minister of State has been in the House on many previous occasions and even his greatest opponents must concede that he has total commitment to the work of the EU and total belief...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Paul Bradford: I support the amendment and concur with the previous speaker. I appreciate the practical difficulty of implementing what the amendment proposes. It is, however, a question of trying to be sensitive, of reaching out and of ensuring our broadcasting service is for the entire population and not only the under 30s, 40s or 50s. Much lip-service is paid to senior citizens. However, there is a...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Paul Bradford: I listened to it frequently as I traversed the country at all hours of the night and early morning. If he puts on his leisure hat, the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, will recall Val Joyce's "Airs and Races" programme on a Saturday evening. RTE made an error removing "Airs and Races" approximately 20 to 25 years ago which gave us all a little insight into the wonderful world of...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Paul Bradford: Mr. Joyce has been removed from the show. His programme showed that radio broadcasting is not only about young, vibrant disc jockeys and that every sector has a role to play. Perhaps we are reminiscing a bit too much. I am coming across as a fuddy-duddy but another programme which reaches out to the elderly is Donnacha O'Dulaing's programme, "Fáilte Isteach" on Radio 1 on a Saturday night...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Paul Bradford: The Senator can watch Galway win an all-Ireland title.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Paul Bradford: The Senator is still waiting.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister for his earlier comments on some of the amendments before the House. I look forward to the further development of his thoughts on Report Stage. I agree with the remarks of Senators O'Reilly and Mullen on amendment No. 16. I agree that we need to use the national broadcast service — our television and radio channels — for the maximum good. Senator O'Reilly argued...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Paul Bradford: I second Senator O'Reilly's amendment. I referred to this matter on Second Stage last week. In th past five or six years I have raised this matter of subtitling on a number of occasions in both Houses. From the point of view of those who suffer from impaired hearing, adequate subtitling of television programmes gives them an opportunity to follow programmes, to derive maximum enjoyment...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Paul Bradford: I will revert briefly to the Minister's response to amendment No. 13 concerning subtitling. I take his remarks on board and I am encouraged by his indication of the additional quantity of programmes that will be made available under the subtitling service. As I did on Second Stage, I want to concentrate on the quality of much of that subtitling. Without labouring the point, I ask the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Paul Bradford: I join my colleagues who have expressed satisfaction at the decision of the Irish Farmers' Association and the ICMSA regarding the forthcoming vote on the Lisbon treaty. Rural Ireland has benefited to an unprecedented degree from our involvement in the European Community and the European Union. It would be tragic if there was not full support from farming communities for the Lisbon treaty....

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2008)

Paul Bradford: The Lisbon treaty has been mentioned by a number of colleagues. The referendum will be on this day fortnight when people will have a fundamental decision to make. We must concede that, so far, apathy and confusion have been winning. In so far as Senators can, we have a duty to bring some degree of clarity to allow the electorate to reflect on the issues fully. The statements on the treaty...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2008)

Paul Bradford: Given our political responsibility to the electorate, further debating time and clarity are necessary to wipe away confusion and apathy in so far as is possible and to maximise the number of people voting. The majority of Senators hope the referendum will be carried and 100% of Senators hope for a high turnout, with the people coming out in their droves to cast their verdict. However, this...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (28 May 2008)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on his appointment. I wish, once again, to bring to the attention of the Oireachtas the position concerning the national schools at Rahan and Glenville, County Cork. Some months ago, I raised the matter of Rahan national school on the Adjournment. Rahan is a townland in the parish of Mallow. The school at Rahan has been a major success...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Paul Bradford: For shame.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Paul Bradford: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on bringing forward this important piece of legislation. This feels something like "Back to the Future" because during my first term in the Seanad in 1988, when, due to renovations here, we sat in the ante...

Seanad: Transport 21: Motion (21 May 2008)

Paul Bradford: I wish to share my time with Senator John Paul Phelan.

Seanad: Transport 21: Motion (21 May 2008)

Paul Bradford: I welcome this opportunity to contribute on the broader transport issue. The motion is rather bland, hence the need for the Fine Gael amendment to it. This a topic to which we should return and devote a day to debating. Whether it be a town or country setting or an urban or rural setting, serious transport issues facing the country need to be resolved. I listened to the contributions of...

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements (Resumed) (21 May 2008)

Paul Bradford: I want to make a brief comment on the confusion being once again created regarding the veto issue and then ask a specific question on the Minister's proposal on the veto. Senator Doherty outlined the Sinn Féin perspective on the veto. I welcome Sinn Féin's conversion to the view that Europe is good for Ireland and I welcome its willingness to support Ireland's membership of the broader...