Results 141-160 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Bradford: If we want to put it in context, 20 years ago another McCabe family on this island suffered a grievous moment of terror when a family member and a loved member of the Garda was slaughtered in the line of duty. At the time, it would have to be said, there was not very much concern - there was neither empathy nor sympathy - from Sinn Féin. Matters have moved on and progressed since....

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Bradford: To look to the future, we can never forget the past. We can never forget the losses, the pain, the hurt and the suffering. I am surprised-----

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Bradford: I, more than anybody, have made that point in this House and have called for a truth and reconciliation commission. I have no difficulty in being sympathetic towards all sides, but I agree that we require that balance. What I wanted to raise this morning was my surprise at the comments of one of the leading trade union members on a radio show this morning. There is talk of some type of new...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Bradford: The same gentleman, who, presumably, never in his life created any job or supported any enterprise, or supported any business, made the bizarre statement that business people across this country are stuffing their back pockets with loot. The same business people, the 200,000 self-employed business people in this country, are employing tens of thousands of people and they need support, not...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Bradford: -----such as that from a leading trade union member. I hope that there will be realism at the table of economic dialogue, not some sort of claptrap ideological debate which would be more in tune with the former Eastern European policies of the 1970s.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Death of Russian Politician (3 Mar 2015)

Paul Bradford: I also welcome the Minister to the House. I wish to raise the unravelling, as I see it, of democratic life in Russia. I am speaking in the context of the murder at the weekend of the opposition political figurehead, Boris Nemtsov. The murderous killing of Mr. Nemtsov, which is being investigated but which will presumably not lead to a conviction, is the most recent manifestation of the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Death of Russian Politician (3 Mar 2015)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Minister for his reply. Notwithstanding that it would not produce any dramatic outcome, would the Minister consider summoning the Russian ambassador to his office to have face-to-face talks and express very firmly and very vocally on his behalf and on behalf of the Government and the people his condemnation of the killing and his concern at the ongoing situation, particularly in...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2015)

Paul Bradford: Like all colleagues, I welcome the job announcement made yesterday for the town of Athenry in the context of it being good from a regional policy perspective. However, as I have done in recent weeks, I ask the Acting Leader to attempt to have a broader debate on regional policy. This is because on the day there was good news for the town of Athenry and the broader Galway region, there was a...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2015)

Paul Bradford: I did not expect to be called so quickly. I support the argument on rural development presented at the tail end of Senator Naughton's contribution. We are in the latter part of the Government's term of office and cannot expect miracles at this late stage, but the concept of rural and regional affairs is worthy of more detailed consideration. Some time ago, I suggested to the Leader that we...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Paul Bradford: I support Senator Hayden's request to set aside time for a more substantial debate on housing. I appreciate we debated a Private Members' motion last night on the matter but motions just produce party political statements. It would be worthwhile to have a more substantive presentation on housing problems and options. There are solutions and ideas which need to be debated more fully. I ask...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Feb 2015)

Paul Bradford: I support the comments of Senator Ó Clochartaigh with regard to the greyhound industry, an industry in which our Leader has an interest. We have briefly discussed the industry on a number of occasions but it might be helpful if we asked the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, to come to the House to give an update on the developments on the proposals and plans, and, indeed, on the...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Nash, and give a general welcome to his proposed legislation and apologise for having my telephone switched on. While I concede I have not read this legislation in great detail, I listened to the Minister of State's contribution and certainly was both impressed and content with its tone. In one sense, the necessity to have such detailed legislation...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2015)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State. As I was unfortunately absent for the commencement of the debate last week and did not expect to have an opportunity to speak on Second Stage my words may be ill-prepared and not fully thought out. I hope we will have an opportunity to engage more fully on Committee Stage. I welcome the legislation and thank the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (28 Jan 2015)

Paul Bradford: I welcome Kathleen and her family and all the friends of the former Senator and Deputy, John Carty. It is a sad occasion but also a happy one because it gives us the opportunity to reflect on a life well lived, which is such a stock phrase, but also on a parliamentarian who made a genuine and profound impact on all those who met him and knew him. John was entering Dáil Éireann as...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2015)

Paul Bradford: I, along with the majority of my colleagues, give general support to the proposal on mortgage lending made by the Governor of the Central Bank. It is not perfect - no public policy ever has been or will be - but the Governor made a reasonable attempt to strike the right balance. Perhaps some further tweaking will be required but that can be worked on as we see the impact of the policy. ...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Greek Election Result (27 Jan 2015)

Paul Bradford: The Minister of State referred in some depth and length to the consequences for Ireland. I call on him to comment briefly on the political consequences in view of the shallow analysis and selling of the message by certain extreme groupings, at home and abroad, to the effect that there is a simple solution to the Greek problem and, therefore, a simple solution to our debt problems in this country.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Greek Election Result (27 Jan 2015)

Paul Bradford: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise the issue of the political and economic situation which flows from the Greek election result. I am glad the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, is here to deal with this question and I look forward to hearing his initial observations. I heard him being interviewed on a radio show yesterday morning on which he gave a comprehensive analysis of...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Paul Bradford: I ask my colleagues to be honest about that.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Paul Bradford: I agree that no party today, and possibly no party next year, would countenance such a measure. Having been in this House at the time of the bank guarantee, and having been in the Oireachtas when the State was essentially bankrupt and people were desperately seeking a way to fund it, I ask my colleagues to reflect on how we might respond to the temptation to sell Irish Water if another...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Paul Bradford: Was that Alice in Wonderland?