Results 1,541-1,560 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2007)

Paul Bradford: I support the call from Senators Boyle and Buttimer that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment come to the House at the earliest possible time to debate the Amgen company's decision not to locate in east Cork. The Leader will be aware that one of his party colleagues, a Government backbencher, has already stated that his own Government misled the people of east Cork over the past...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (27 Sep 2007)

Paul Bradford: I wish to share time with Senator Nicky McFadden. It gives me a sense of déjÀ vu to see Senators again debating health insurance, an issue the House debated on numerous occasions during the previous Seanad. One of the Minister's political legacies from her previous incarnation as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment was the change she brought about in the insurance industry. She...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2007)

Paul Bradford: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his elevation to high office and wish him well. I ask the Leader to facilitate two debates on matters which could be termed old political chestnuts but which are still current problems. During the term of the previous Seanad, the House united on more than one occasion while debating the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States of America....

Seanad: EU-US Agreement: Motion (4 Jul 2007)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is possibly a sign of the changed security times in which we live that we must deal with this motion this afternoon. As the Minister said, the world has changed dramatically since 11 September 2001 and security and counter-terrorism are now much higher up the political agenda than they were heretofore. Our responsibility is to try to strike...

Seanad: EU-US Agreement: Motion (4 Jul 2007)

Paul Bradford: Safe seat.

Seanad: Risk Equalisation: Motion (26 Apr 2007)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister. It is not the first time she has been present to discuss the complicated matter of risk equalisation and the broader health insurance market. With regard to the Government's proposals on risk equalisation and health insurance and its performance over the past four or five years, it has achieved the unique and perhaps unwelcome distinction of upsetting Bupa, to such an...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (4 Apr 2007)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister and compliment him on his efforts to bring progress and peace to Northern Ireland. I also extend my compliments to his colleagues in Government and to all those concerned on both sides of the Border and of the Irish Sea. This House and the Lower House have been debating the issue of Northern Ireland and the violence that has arisen of foot of sectarianism on our island...

Seanad: European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State's comments on amendment No. 3. During the Dáil and Seanad debates, Fine Gael speakers advocated a more positive version of what the Minister of State is proposing. We would have preferred the Minister of State to provide that a positive resolution would have to be introduced to keep a statutory instrument alive. He is approaching this matter from a...

Seanad: European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Paul Bradford: May I make a general inquiry of the Minister of State?

Seanad: European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Paul Bradford: Members commented on a Supreme Court case while debating this Bill on earlier stages. The Supreme Court adjudicated further on matters pertinent to the legislation last week. Could the Minster of State inform the House whether last week's judgment has a bearing on this Bill? Will the Government have a further legislative response?

Seanad: European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Paul Bradford: I concur with the previous speaker. I thank the Minister of State but hope that this retrospective legislation will not come back to haunt us if we are still Members of these Houses.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Paul Bradford: I support the motion. If we had a plebiscite system and this request was put before the people for commendation it would be approved because every citizen would want our country to develop and implement an ethical foreign policy. When I read the wording of the motion I wondered if the Government would dare oppose the proposal by coming up with a ham-fisted amendment. Once again, it did not...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Paul Bradford: Emergency legislation concerning risk equalisation in the health insurance market was passed in the House recently. At the time, we were advised the Minister for Health and Children was introducing the legislation to plug a potential loophole in the health insurance market. However, we are not surprised to hear from Commissioner McCreevy that the European Commission remains concerned, not...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Paul Bradford: The debate on the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill is always interesting, with each speaker bringing their own perspective to the policy making forum that is the Seanad. The Minister has on occasion taken on board some of the suggestions made in these debates. All of the contributions to today's debate were interesting. Social welfare is an area of public policy with which any public...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Paul Bradford: A lot done, more to do, next steps. Let us hope it is not a step backwards. While the Bill represents progress, many schemes need attention. If I had a magic wand I would address the carer's allowance and the abolition of the means test.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2007)

Paul Bradford: I want to associate myself with the many tributes paid to all those involved in yesterday's progress in Northern Ireland. It is always important to recognise that no agreement is set in stone forever, but a major step forward was made yesterday. A significant number of people deserve credit. It is 22 years since the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 and it is almost 14 years since the IRA...

Seanad: National Climate Change Strategy 2000: Motion (21 Mar 2007)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion, which I support, and commend the Labour Party on tabling the subject for debate. I also want to acknowledge the contributions of all Members. I listened to three or four speeches. This is a topic on which every Member across the political divide wishes to promote and secure progress. If any party placed a motion re climate change...

Seanad: National Climate Change Strategy 2000: Motion (21 Mar 2007)

Paul Bradford: Yes. That is no longer the politically correct word, but the site at Bottlehill is a dump. It caused significant grief among the local community and local politicians, including me. It seems to be out of step with current thinking on waste management policy, but pouring all of County Cork's waste into a landfill is Cork County Council's solution to waste management.

Seanad: National Climate Change Strategy 2000: Motion (21 Mar 2007)

Paul Bradford: As far as most local authorities are concerned, that is phase 4, but we have not moved to phase 2 yet. It is disappointing that there is no national waste management strategy. What is occurring in County Cork is not occurring in County Limerick and what is occurring in County Limerick is not occurring in County Donegal. This is not the largest country in the world. We need to put in place...

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Paul Bradford: The moral of the story is not to be last in either the car queue or the speaker's queue. I know the Minister's personal commitment to the Bill. However, many questions relating to our approach to tolling and road construction have arisen. I agree with Senator Browne's proposal for a fuel surcharge rather than tolling as a means to raising road-building funds. Several months ago the...