Results 1-20 of 131 for apply speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (27 Jan 2016)

Paul Bradford: .... I was genuinely but pleasantly surprised to learn that the hundreds of stewards who worked across the country did so in an entirely voluntary capacity. There was a time when one thought the same applied to the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, but it certainly applies to the Turf Club. It is great that so many people are willing to be involved and give of their time and effort on an...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2016)

Paul Bradford: ...system. Now, with a worldwide comparison, worrying trends have emerged. We must ensure every institute, college or university is worthy of its name and the highest academic standards must apply. Undoubtedly, there is a place in society and the education system for every student but we must match each student's needs with the best courses on offer. Just claiming that one can,...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Paul Bradford: ...would hope in today's world of advanced labour relations that most people who lose their jobs would be entitled to some degree of allowance, compensation, redundancy or pension on the way out. What applies now to Oireachtas Members is radically different from what applied to them five, six or seven years ago. It is fair and balanced. The Bill is brief and I have no suggested amendments....

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Paul Bradford: ...would include at least a majority of people who did not previously work for the other agencies? While we are not putting a bar on staff from the Law Society of Ireland or the Bar Council applying for posts, for which some of them will be eminently qualified, we should try to ensure a majority of the staff at the new authority would be new. Can the Minister see some way of providing for...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (20 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: ...pane of glass is broken or there is a minor internal difficulty. I ask the Minister of State to reflect on that. Will her officials also examine the current housing application form? Many people apply for a council house, as they are entitled to do, to qualify for the HAP scheme but the council housing application form is detailed. It is 20 pages long and one would need a PhD. The...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Paul Bradford: ...35% of workers in the private sector are members of trade unions, with a corresponding figure of 70% in the public sector. These participation rates are very low in comparison with those that applied in the 1960s and 1970s and even into the 1980s. I am not sure whether the lower rates are simply because of changed practices on the part of employers or because workers are making the...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2015)

Paul Bradford: ...we need to hear from the Minister and have an opportunity to contribute to the debate. It is important to be aware, however, that should he decide to introduce restrictions, unless they could be applied retrospectively, they would not only be unhelpful but would probably copperfasten the current unsatisfactory position. The need for a debate arises not only from recent events but in the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Second Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Paul Bradford: We are now told that the Minister has no responsibility and it is passed on the HSE. The same applies in other Departments. While setting up authorities, and transferring powers and responsibilities from the Minister's desk elsewhere initially sounds very positive we must reflect on the downside that we always need political accountability. This can be contrasted with the system in...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2015)

Paul Bradford: ...to a Celtic tiger boom and bust scenario? No, thanks. We need to focus on what Senator Ó Domhnaill remarked upon, the need for absolute root and branch reform across the system. Obviously that applies to the health service and the problems raised by Senator Crown this morning. The matter is worthy of serious debate. Our learned colleague, Senator Crown, presented the statistic...

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Paul Bradford: ...that the appointment is in the Minister of State's hands, are those who might be outside the fold already, but who might be interested in this interim appointment, in a position to contact, or apply to, him? The Minister of State is, in a sense, the competition for this job. There is no competition authority and the Minister of State is the person making the appointment. If a person is...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Universal Social Charge Payments (23 Oct 2014)

Paul Bradford: ...that we must be in a position to present ourselves internationally as an economy with a tax that is fair, as low as possible and well administered. The fewer levies, charges and taxes which apply in that regard the better and the more streamlining we can put in place, the better as well. I thank the Minister for listening to me and look forward to hearing his observations.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications (25 Sep 2014)

Paul Bradford: ...that this is a funding issue. In one case, I put much pressure on a family, at the behest of a hospital, to have the person taken home from the hospital on the advice that the Fair Deal scheme wouldapply afterfive or six weeks, but now it could take ten, 12 or 15 weeks. I know it is a funding problem, but the Minister may be in a position to comment. It appears the situation has...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Paul Bradford: ...which everybody loses. The Members of this House of the Oireachtas have a duty to stand up for democracy in every possible respect. We must offer leadership and ensure that the highest standards apply. I ask the Leader to facilitate that debate. I know he has the same view of the need for fair and transparent politics, as do I and every Member of this House. This unnecessary,...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Paul Bradford: ..."a company ... a majority of shares in which are held by or on behalf of a Minister of the Government". I am sure the Minister will be in a position to confirm that the provision would therefore apply to AIB, Permanent TSB and NAMA but significantly it would not apply to Bank of Ireland, presumably because the majority of the shares in it are not held by the Minister on behalf of the...

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

Paul Bradford: I am sure it is a very high rate. I am not aware that his party objected to it. When we conclude our debate on what charges should apply to water and refuse charges and property taxes, the next part of the equation is ensuring value for money. I have no difficulty with the amendment dealing with the poverty impact. We often table similar amendments. However, the other side of the coin is...

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

Paul Bradford: ...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, in applying the parliamentary standard allowance to a member of the Oireachtas —(a) by regulation revoke any regulations previously made under this section, (b) determine in...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: ...Deputies and Senators are in receipt. The parliamentary allowance is vouched half-way through the subsequent year when 10% of Members are selected for auditing. I presume that arrangement will apply. From the perspective of fairness and transparency for Independent Members, I ask the Minister to ensure detailed guidelines will be published early. I speak as someone who was audited...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Report Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Paul Bradford: ..., in some extreme cases, on to the streets? I appeal to the Minister to give us a positive overview of her and the Government's thinking about debt resolution and mortgage distress as it now sadly applies to thousands of families across the country.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2013)

Paul Bradford: ...I missed the commencement of the debate but I am familiar with the motion proposed. The personal side of this does not concern me in the slightest but I believe the issue of proportionality as it applies to Oireachtas committees is one that we cannot remove ourselves from. I understand the make-up of the committee system reflects the balance in the Oireachtas. Unfortunately, due to...