Results 1-20 of 2,017 for speaker:Paul Bradford

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (27 Jan 2016)

Paul Bradford: I too am glad to have the opportunity to join in the tributes to our former colleague, the late Senator Brian Friel. Mention has been made of his reflection about making the end less frightening. It is an appropriate reflection for the Houses of the Oireachtas over the next two or three weeks for many, or all, of us to try to make the end less frightening, if it is to be an end. I was...

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

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister to the House and acknowledge the great deal of thought and attention given to this legislation by him and his officials. I also thank them for their briefings on the legislation during its passage through the pre-legislative stage and in the Dáil. This legislation is welcome on the basis that it should help in the long-term planning and funding of an industry...

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

Paul Bradford: That particular programme, which was on a Saturday afternoon, was responsible for a huge number of people following the sport of horse racing, although some in only a passing way. Attendance at race meetings has decreased. The failure of a new generation to emerge as racing fans is a cause for concern. We must push those State agencies over which we have some control to ensure greater...

Seanad: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jan 2016)

Paul Bradford: This relates to the accounts of the racing regulatory body. It goes back to some of the initial comments we made and which the Minister heard in the earlier stages in regard to drawing the regulatory body closer to the bosom of HRI through the legislation. Is the Minister satisfied the drafting of this section gives a fair and balanced opportunity to the regulatory body to maintain its...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2016)

Paul Bradford: I appreciate that we will be having a debate on local government structures and ancillary matters later but there will probably not be sufficient time to allow all members to make contributions. Last Thursday, with the permission of the Cathaoirleach, I had the opportunity to discuss, by way of a Commencement matter, the issue of local government reform and, in particular, municipal...

Seanad: Local Government Review: Statements (26 Jan 2016)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State. I am glad to have an opportunity to say a few words on this matter. We are having statements and I concur with the sentiments expressed very strongly by Senator Craughwell that there was a motion before the House requesting that certain actions be carried out or contemplated. While statements are useful and may be an opportunity vent our feelings, little...

Seanad: Local Government Review: Statements (26 Jan 2016)

Paul Bradford: Local government is seen as a necessary nuisance. We occasionally allow it to bring forward councillors who advance onto the national stage of politics but, uniquely in Europe, we squash local government and the functions it should be carrying out. Its purpose is replicated here in this Chamber and in the other House. In the strange type of politics that we practise in this country, we...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (21 Jan 2016)

Paul Bradford: I am grateful for the opportunity to ask the Minister of State to outline the current position regarding the promised review of the 2014 local authority boundaries, workload and ancillary matters. The reform of local government in 2014, which resulted in the abolition of town councils and the creation of municipal districts, was a sea change in local government. In retrospect, many people...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (21 Jan 2016)

Paul Bradford: Would the Minister of State agree that if the advisory group is made up of representatives of local authority chief executives etc., as we have learned here, and if, as we are being advised by the Minister, there is no going back to pre-reform days, then the people most affected by the changed structures, the people who would have represented town councils which have now disappeared, are not...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2016)

Paul Bradford: I agree with Senator Craughwell on the question of debating the Technological Universities Bill. It would be remiss in the long-term interests of the country's educational prospects if we were to rush to put in place structures about which there is great uncertainty. I understand how the concept of technological universities can seem attractive, particularly from a political perspective....

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jan 2016)

Paul Bradford: I concur with Senator Barrett’s general welcome for the many proposals on Dáil reform being discussed and presumably decided on in the other House.The process of political reform, which is sought and accepted by the public, is undermined by decisions such as the one raised by Senator Ó Clochartaigh, namely, the appointment to a significant post of responsibility of a person...

Seanad: Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (17 Dec 2015)

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and generally welcome this legislation. We debated the original changes to our bankruptcy laws in this House under the stewardship of the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, two or three years ago. We had a very substantive debate on that occasion. Indeed, the record shows that a more substantive debate took place in this...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Paul Bradford: I will try to remain within the time limit. I support the comments of Senator Colm Burke on adaptation grants. He cited a number of cases in the Cork City Council area but the problem is nationwide. Until a few years ago, local authorities operated an uncomplicated, flexible and locally generated scheme known as the disabled person's grant. When this scheme was transformed to become the...

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

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister of State and support the legislation. As Senator MacSharry said, I was previously a member of the second commission, I think. I enjoyed my membership and got a very good insight into the workings of all those associated with it. It is commendable that we have this three-year budget model. It allows for review and overview. It could be reflected upon by all...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2015)

Paul Bradford: I have listened with interest to the views of Members concerning the revelations last night in the "RTE Investigates" programme. It is literally the talk of the country today and people are surprised, shocked and angry. Where investigations are necessary I am sure they will be conducted and presumably, should prosecutions be necessary, they will follow in due course. We need to recognise...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2015)

Paul Bradford: I have listened with interest to the comments on the jobs strategy for the north west and north east, which was announced yesterday. I am not sure about the number of jobs that will be created but I certainly hope it will help retain two jobs in the Seanad.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2015)

Paul Bradford: I would very much agree with the comments of Senator Quinn on the conflict in the Middle East. Perhaps it is time for a substantial debate on the matter. It appears that any time we talk about the politics and the conflict of the Middle East in the House we automatically revert to a position in which Israel is seen at being at the core of all problems, and we need to be balanced in our view...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2015)

Paul Bradford: I join colleagues in the tributes to Mr. Bernard Hand and wish him well for the future. I am sure like many of his previous colleagues, he will continue to visit us here from time to time. He will probably learn, as all of us have learnt, that nothing much changes. I concur with what has been said about Senator Norris as he collects another award of distinction tomorrow. I support Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2015)

Paul Bradford: It has caused huge destruction and I certainly hope it will not be visited on the Irish people.

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

Paul Bradford: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for coming in here to respond to my query on the plans or otherwise for universal health care insurance. I am sure he has responded to this matter in the Dáil and, if not, I am sure he will do so over the next couple of days. Of course, he has taken some media queries on the subject but it is useful that we avail of this opportunity for...