Results 481-500 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (17 May 2013)

Paul Bradford: He has not replied to the question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (17 May 2013)

Paul Bradford: I welcome our visitors. I express my disappointment that the Minister is not here. I find this bizarre. I want to take up the question raised by my colleague, Deputy Billy Timmins, which Dr. Holohan may not have had time to answer. It is a very important question relating to the expert group. We are here because of the decisions taken by the expert group, of which Dr. Holohan was a...

Seanad: OECD Review of Irish Pensions System: Statements (15 May 2013)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister for her co-operation and assistance.

Seanad: OECD Review of Irish Pensions System: Statements (15 May 2013)

Paul Bradford: Is that agreed? Agreed. The final ten minutes speaking time will be for Senator Harte, Senator Reilly and the Minister. I thank Members for their co-operation.

Seanad: OECD Review of Irish Pensions System: Statements (15 May 2013)

Paul Bradford: I look forward to the Senator's next episode on some other day.

Seanad: OECD Review of Irish Pensions System: Statements (15 May 2013)

Paul Bradford: The final speaker will be Senator Harte, who is to be preceded by Senator Brennan.

Seanad: OECD Review of Irish Pensions System: Statements (15 May 2013)

Paul Bradford: I made a slight error in my time allocation. We have just enough time for a contribution from Senator Harte, who might share an extended period of five minutes with Senator Reilly.

Seanad: OECD Review of Irish Pensions System: Statements (15 May 2013)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Senator for her interesting conclusion.

Seanad: OECD Review of Irish Pensions System: Statements (15 May 2013)

Paul Bradford: Half a minute.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

Paul Bradford: I ask the Leader to facilitate, over the next number of weeks, a general discussion on the current economic situation with either the Minister for Finance or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Such a debate would cause us to reflect on economic reality. The Government came to power two years ago and held a subsequent Seanad election. In the early days and weeks that followed...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Apr 2013)

Paul Bradford: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Apr 2013)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State and my former colleague, Mr. McDonald. He was one of the first Irish Members of the European Parliament. When Ireland entered Europe in 1973 and our first representatives were appointed rather than elected, people wondered what the impact of European politics would be. Mr. McDonald's presence is appropriate, given the fact that we are dealing with...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2013)

Paul Bradford: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this important legislation. I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for being here, especially as it is such a busy time for him and his Department. I wish him well in his ongoing negotiations vis-à-vis securing certainty and sanity regarding our public sector pay bill. I am sure the Minister has listened to the debate with...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2013)

Paul Bradford: I support Senator Cullinane's call for a debate on housing. I have raised this matter on previous occasions in the House. In view of the fact that there are massive housing lists in place at present, it is important to pose the question as to why so many thousands of people are obliged to live in dreadfully inadequate conditions when there are tens of thousands of vacant accommodation units...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Paul Bradford: I join my colleagues in welcoming the election of the new pontiff. I thank Senator Norris for his very generous and interesting theological response to last night's event in Rome.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Paul Bradford: It was interesting to hear about Coghlan railway station in Buenos Aires. Some of my colleagues will recall the old jibe of that hero of some socialists, Joseph Stalin, who asked how many divisions the Pope has. Anybody who has been observing the events in Rome over recent days and reading the media, social media in particular, over the past 24 hours will certainly agree that the Pope still...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Paul Bradford: -----should not be encouraged. That is wrong because thousands of people are employed in the industry in the country. It is the only sport in which it is clear that Ireland is the absolute world champion. A debate considering the new structures would be very useful. There is a new chairperson in Horse Racing Ireland. The question of future funding of racing arises.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Paul Bradford: It is a matter very close to the heart of the Leader. A debate would be very useful. Perhaps we can have it over the next few weeks.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Paul Bradford: I will not comment. I look forward to participating in this crucial debate over the next few months. I do not know of any country or society which has found that less democracy was better than more. I do not know of any houses of parliament which have found that reducing the number of participants, of those asking questions, resulted in better politics. As we said yesterday in discussing...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Paul Bradford: What a pathetic political joke that is. I thank Senator Crown for his work. I am not attempting to be patronising but for several reasons I do not expect that should he push the matter to a vote this afternoon it will succeed. I therefore ask him not to let the Government off the hook by having that vote. I ask that he adjourn the matter this afternoon so that it remains on the agenda,...