Results 21-40 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Universal Health Insurance (24 Nov 2015)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister for his reply. The five points on which he is trying to make progress are a significant part of his contribution this afternoon and I wish him well on advancing those necessary improvements. We could end up being fixated on the concept of what we frame as universal health care and universal health insurance to fund it. In Britain, for example, there is what is supposed...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2015)

Paul Bradford: I join colleagues who wished First Minister Robinson well. In recent times, he has played a very considerable role in the politics of the island and we thank him for that. We wish whoever will be his successor the very best of luck. It is obvious that the arrangement arrived at in recent days is helpful and progressive. Senator Cahill mentioned the legacy issues. Until they are dealt...

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

Paul Bradford: Thank you very much, Acting Chairman. I wish you had not said that because it is unhelpful from my perspective. The Minister is welcome and I am sure we will have a substantive debate this afternoon and beyond. I concur with what was said previously to the effect that this is really a new or fresh start. To use the awful phrase, we are where we are. I am unsure whether it was Peter...

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

Paul Bradford: I ask the Minister to take on board a suggestion of mine in advance of Report Stage. I think it is fair enough that the first review will take place not later than two years after the establishment day. Obviously, there will be teething problems. Everybody takes time to settle in. It is proposed that the possible subsequent reviews will take place after three-year periods. I suggest that...

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

Paul Bradford: I wish to make an observation on the appointments process. There has been much reference here to the work of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. Oireachtas committees in the main have been quite effective over the past decade or so since the committee structure was improved and enhanced. What has been proposed here is that the members shall be appointed by the Government...

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

Paul Bradford: I support my colleagues on the residency-in-the-State clause. If we wound back the clock two decades or so, the lady from County Down who was eligible and elected to become President of Ireland would not have been eligible to be a member of this authority. We have debated this in the context of such clauses in other Bills. It is worthy of examination. The concept of some outside eyes...

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

Paul Bradford: The section provides that a quorum shall be five, of whom not fewer than two shall be lay members and not fewer than two shall be members other than lay members. If one looks at the breakdown of the membership, the lay members will be in the ascendant from a numerical perspective. I hope I do not come across as entirely conspiratorial, but a situation might arise some day where there could...

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

Paul Bradford: While I respect what the Minister said about the balance being provided for in a very careful fashion, the way we have it written here allows for the deliberate vetoing of a meeting between the lay and non-lay side - and we hate marking this distinction - by virtue of the way the quorum provisions are put in place. The Minister might reflect on it. Although it would almost certainly never...

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

Paul Bradford: I wish to comment briefly on what Senator Barrett has said. He has issued a note of warning and given an example of experience from which we can learn. I appreciate what is being proposed and understand the necessity for it because people who have a degree of expertise can bring it to the new authority. I presume the Minister is expecting that a sizeable number of the authority's staff...

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

Paul Bradford: I wish to ask a question of the Minister. Members are being snowed under with paper and, in that context, I hope I am reading the amendment booklets correctly. Amendment No. 63 provides for the make-up of the review committee and outlines the work it will do. Will it be necessary to make provision for a reporting timescale for such reviews? The amendment makes provision for who will sit...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2015)

Paul Bradford: It was appropriate that we marked the appalling tragedy in Paris with a moment's silence. What we should attempt to do is have a full and frank debate on the security and political crisis facing both Europe and civilisation in general. The attendance in the House of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, has been requested and I echo that call. I heard the comments of...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2015)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State and I apologise for missing his initial presentation of the amendments. I have heard him make the case in this regard previously. I agree with Senator Sean Barrett's comments on the broader scope of the industry and on the problems affecting so many families who are on various housing waiting lists. I recall asking the question of the Minister of State in...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Paul Bradford: I support what Senator John Kelly said about the spectrum of price increases in health, home and motor insurance. Unfortunately, whatever gains will accrue to the average family from budgetary changes will be swept away by the increase in the price of insurance. During the years we have ignored the fact that there is a need for a renewed war on the cost of living. It is important that the...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2015)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the wise comments of Senator Feargal Quinn on the fracking debate. We are all very ill-advised as to the scope of that industry. A lobby group is presenting here today and I am sure it will make a valid contribution to the debate. We have to be willing to examine all these possible sources of energy in a balanced fashion. Senator Quinn has pointed out the difference it has made...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: I support Senator John Crown’s request to deal with the Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013. It is over two years since the public voted to keep the institution of the Seanad and to bring about a reformed Seanad. It was the cornerstone of the Taoiseach’s pre-election commitment, namely the whole issue of democratic and political reform. To ignore the concept of Seanad electoral...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: I heard many of my colleagues call for a debate on Northern Ireland in the light of the publication of two important reports yesterday. I certainly support their request. When we reflect on the difficulties on that part of the island which are profound and serious, we must remember that the starting point is that for the past 21 years or thereabouts we have had relative peace in Northern...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: -----which I think is a throwback to former times. It probably consists of some sad old men who are still meeting and talking about the war which they actually lost; their plans to drive 1 million Unionists out of Northern Ireland which they have failed to do; and their plans to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Ireland which they have failed to do. We are sometimes afraid to...

Seanad: United Nations Principles for Older Persons: Motion (21 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State and the motion. I thank the Senators for moving it. I am surprised that we had ratified the 1999 UN convention because when one looks at the services-----

Seanad: United Nations Principles for Older Persons: Motion (21 Oct 2015)

Paul Bradford: Not old age, I hope. I was surprised to learn that we actually had ratified the 1999 UN convention because we are certainly not complying with it and I am not even sure what efforts we are making to comply with it. Are we doing anything? Have we done anything over the past ten, 15 or 20 years to assist our elderly people to reside at home as long as possible? Absolutely not. Have we...

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

Paul Bradford: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for allowing me to raise the matter concerning the vacancies in public housing stock across the country, as well as the many vacancies in the private housing sector. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, to the House. The Government seems transfixed with rent certainty as it seems to be a cause of ongoing internal debate around the Cabinet...