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

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: Yes, it is probably a discussion for another day. There is an onus on every party in government to do its best for taxpayers. My concern is that the legislation as currently construed, with the provision for a 12-year service level agreement, is effectively saying that there will be no great change and that the dawn of a new day, with a new authority acting efficiently and effectively in...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: Perhaps my question is not appropriate to the section but applies more to the way legislation is written in general. The Minister of State referred to the expenses incurred by the Minister in administration of the Act. Does the section refer to the overall expenses for bringing the new system into force? Is it strictly for administration? Obviously a large bill will be incurred for the...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I wish to raise the issues of costs. I might have a more relevant opportunity to raise the issues later in the discussion.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I wish to raise the broader expense element, particularly in the context of an interesting article published in The Sunday Independent last week. Perhaps the Minister of State has not read the article but I hope that it has been brought to his attention. The article was written by Mr. Colm McCarthy whom Senators will know as the author of an bord snip. He raised problems of a fundamental...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: He raised some very worrying policy areas for our consideration and reflection.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I join my colleagues in paying tribute to the late Nelson Mandela. I trust the Leader will arrange a more substantial timeframe for additional statements in the coming weeks. I note with satisfaction Senator Bacik's comments on the unveiling of a memorial to the former President of Czechoslovakia, Václav Havel, who was a politician of huge moral substance. To speak of Havel and...

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motion (4 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: The Minister of State could lose his seat.

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motion (4 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I am having a mental image of the Leader, Senator Cummins, in his short communion pants marching up with his stilling to the tote at Tramore races. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, and the proposal before us. For once, I am in disagreement with my colleague Senator Barrett in that the record will clearly show that every punt, euro, shilling or cent invested in the Irish...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2013)

Paul Bradford: I support Senator Norris's remarks on the need for a cold weather shelter. I am sure every Member would support his request and I hope the Leader will try to pursue it. That the matter is before us for debate must cause us to reflect on the fact that while there is a positive and welcome degree of economic progress, there is still, to put it mildly, a subset of society that is living on...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister. As I said, my motion was for debating purposes, so I will now formally withdraw it.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: Whether it worked or not, it was a falsehood. We appreciate that we are fortunate, honoured and privileged to be in this House. By virtue of a salary of €65,000 we are well paid with the entitlement to claim €12,000 per annum in expenses. That should be payable under fair and achievable categories. Deputies have a much better salary, entitled to two staff and funded...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: I move amendment No. 7: In page 12, after line 42, to insert the following:“Amendment of Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 2009 4. Section 3 of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 2009 is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3):“(3) The Minister may,...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: To be helpful to Senator Martin Conway, I advise him that my second series of amendments would offer the appropriate vehicle for him to pursue that interesting, welcome and well argued proposal.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: I think some of our colleagues believe they should work for nothing.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: In fairness, it is not the Minister's view; he did not wish us to work at all.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister for his response and my colleagues for their comments. The more one listens, the more one learns and the more one debates, the more angles that emerge. To use the analogy of Inspector Clouseau, I was waiting for the one statement, the one comment or the one obvious line in the debate that I had missed which might have drawn it all together. The Minister has said, as he...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: Tragically, during the terms of various Governments there have been three, four or five by-elections.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: Therefore, there have been multiple snapshots in time.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: I ask the Minister to reflect on what he has said. He has said that there is a single snapshot in time and that the allowance is determined on the basis of how people voted at the time of a general election, but the formula and language used in the legislation providing for this refers to when a person is elected in a general election or subsequent in a by-election; therefore, there is no...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: There have been times when people joined and left parties.