Results 1,941-1,960 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Nov 2003)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister for his attendance. Question put and agreed to.

Seanad: Humanitarian Issues in Post-War Iraq: Statements. (4 Nov 2003)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State. He has been here on several occasions debating the ongoing and changing situation in Iraq since last Christmas. I was interested in his words of optimism and satisfaction concerning the situation in Liberia and I note what he has said. One has to concede, however, that Mr. Charles Taylor of Liberia on his worst day was probably not as bad as Saddam Hussein....

Seanad: European Convention/Intergovernmental Conference: Statements. (22 Oct 2003)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, to the House. He has addressed us on a number of occasions concerning matters on European policy. It adds greatly to the debate in the House and I thank him for his contribution. All of us have received copies of the proposed draft constitution for Europe. When it is finalised in the near future, hopefully with minimal change and some...

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

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

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Paul Bradford: If we were debating a Government announcement that €1.2 billion per annum extra at current annual value would be spent on the public services over the next ten to 12 years, we would all welcome that such money would be spent on housing projects, hospital beds, school buildings, etc. However, the amount of €1.2 billion is not being spent on those valuable social projects but rather on wage...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2003)

Paul Bradford: Will the Leader arrange at the earliest possible date for a substantive debate on the Comptroller and Auditor General's report of last week? Arising from his report there was much public discourse, and rightly so, and it will continue in terms of the church and State. The report indicated that in respect of many public projects currently under way and presumably being planned, there is an...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2003)

Paul Bradford: What about my Westmeath constituency recall suggestion?

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2003)

Paul Bradford: In the past year the House debated the health insurance Bill and regulations dealing with risk equalisation. The Leader will be aware that the Minister for Health and Children promised that the risk equalisation policy, which was foisted upon the health insurance market by the VHI, would ensure health insurance would remain affordable. I ask her to arrange for the Minister to attend the House...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2003)

Paul Bradford: I support the call of my colleagues, some of whom are on the other side of the House, for a full debate next week on agriculture. There has been an indication that some time will be allowed but a substantial time will be necessary. We are talking about the future of Irish agriculture. As the Cathaoirleach knows, one of the big issues is that young people are drifting away from the land in...

Seanad: Military Neutrality: Motion. (25 Jun 2003)

Paul Bradford: I move: That Seanad Éireann: –considering that the Convention on the Future of Europe will shortly be finishing its work on the drafting of a new constitutional treaty for Europe; –noting that the published draft articles of this new constitutional treaty refer specifically to the creation of a common defence for the European Union which will be reflected in the new constitutional...

Seanad: Military Neutrality: Motion. (25 Jun 2003)

Paul Bradford: Old and new Labour.

Seanad: Military Neutrality: Motion. (25 Jun 2003)

Paul Bradford: I suppose it would be wrong for youngish bachelors in the House to respond to Senator Terry's question about virginity. I thank everybody who has contributed to this very interesting debate. On all sides of the House there was an acknowledgement that in bringing forward this motion for discussion the Fine Gael Party was being courageous. More importantly, however, we are doing a public...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2003)

Paul Bradford: I want two issues in relation to next year's local elections discussed in the House in the presence of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The first refers to the election turnout which, as we know, has been falling dramatically in recent years. The first time I stood in the local elections in 1985 almost 65% of the people voted. If current trends are anything to...

Seanad: OECD Economic Survey of Ireland 2003: Statements. (19 Jun 2003)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State. I am pleased that we can discuss this report. It is, however, only a report; it is not a Bible of economic certainty, nor is it the only economic road map charting the country's fiscal future. It is simply an analysis. the report provides much food for thought and we need to study it, picking and choosing from it where appropriate, but the bigger political...

Seanad: OECD Economic Survey of Ireland 2003: Statements. (19 Jun 2003)

Paul Bradford: —but regardless of whether it is a dismal science, economics is certainly not rocket science. The challenge for the country in the years ahead, in an economy without the Celtic tiger, is to ensure that whatever taxes we collect are gathered in the fairest and broadest fashion possible. We will face the challenge of ensuring that public moneys are spent in such a way as to get the best...

Seanad: OECD Economic Survey of Ireland 2003: Statements. (19 Jun 2003)

Paul Bradford: And the author.

Seanad: Humanitarian Issues in Post-War Iraq: Statements. (11 Jun 2003)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister of State for returning to the House to give us his views on the ongoing situation in Iraq. It is important for us to have such a debate and continue to monitor the developments very closely. It is some weeks since President Bush formally declared that the conflict was over. I wish it was as simple at that but it is not. To paraphrase another party and politician, "The...

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (10 Jun 2003)

Paul Bradford: I appreciate that the Minister of State is under pressure in terms of time and I do not propose to delay him unduly. As the work of the Convention nears its conclusion, I join him in thanking everybody for their efforts to date. I thank the Minister of State for bringing energy, commitment and passion to this job, the results of which, it is to be hoped, will be fruitful. As the Convention...

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (10 Jun 2003)

Paul Bradford: The current proposals from Brussels are causing no difficulty for the official Irish position. The anti-EU brigade which continues to argue that our neutrality – if we wish to remain neutral – is threatened by Brussels is simply wrong. I welcome the view emerging from the Convention that the European Parliament will retain its number of seats as agreed in the Nice treaty. The Parliament...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Paul Bradford: I support the programme of decentralisation but I am worried by the Minister of State's speech. He takes a very different view of decentralisation from that laid out by the Tánaiste in replies to parliamentary questions and speeches. He has said many of the gateway and hub towns are already significantly developed and seems to be indicating that these should not be considered for...