Results 2,361-2,380 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: The Minister cut back the budget and was then obliged to reinstate it after protests.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: The Minister changes the prices on the menu, even if the menu itself does not change.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: The Senator will get them anyway.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: They are all over the country.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister to the House and will make some statements with which he will not agree, but he is a lively debater.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: Perhaps we can reach some accommodation. I agreed with much of what Senator Ormonde said about the lack of accountability, openness and transparency in planning. I do not need to rub people's faces in it but Members of both Houses are under a serious cloud because of the appalling corruption prevalent throughout local authorities in this land. That is an outrageous situation and one which...

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: Goodness, Minister, I always knew you were a man of extraordinary intelligence but I did not realise this extended to extrasensory perception.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: The Cathaoirleach will be as delighted as I am to realise the Minister has the gift of prophesy because I had not mentioned the second case. If the Minister thinks it is the Standish Sawmills case, I will be very pleased if he provides good news on this. He and the Government have prevaricated on this matter on the numerous occasions I attempted to raise it in this House. I was told there was...

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: That is an extremely traumatic interruption.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: I thank the Cathaoirleach. May I state to the Minister in departing that it lies within his power to appoint an independent commissioner. He replied that it would require extraordinary circumstances. The circumstances in Standish Sawmills could not possible be more extraordinary.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: I apologise. I was enjoying the Cathaoirleach's concert on the cow bell.

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: I wish to share my time with Senator Quinn.

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister to the House. I take it as given that we all appreciate the fact that she is a highly competent, intelligent, sensitive and good Minister. I am not partisan on this nor am I am as surprisingly politically naive as my friend and colleague, Senator Ross, if he imagines for one minute that the Government will accept a motion that refers to regretting the Government's...

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: They are only words. However, I have managed this trick in the past but always when there was some degree of accommodation between the two elements. That is a good move but I do not see any realistic possibility of it in this case. Although Senator O'Toole has good relations, by and large, with the Department of Education and Science and the Minister, he is right to be critical because we...

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

David Norris: In that case I shall sit down and let my colleague speak.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

David Norris: I draw the Leader's attention to an issue I regret is once again missing from the Order of Business, namely, the proposed terms of reference for the Committee of Selection of the Seanad to inquire into the passage of CIA aeroplanes through Shannon Airport. I raised this issue at the end of November 2005 and on 6 December the Leader gave what seemed to be a clear commitment that the committee...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

David Norris: It is not democracy. It may be other Members' understanding of democracy but it is not mine and I doubt it is that of the public. Today we have another report from the United Nations committee which recommends that the Guantanamo Bay detention centre should be closed immediately. It will be dreadful if we allow ourselves to be compromised in this regard. It seems we have once more given into...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

David Norris: It is not nonsense. Let us have a debate on this matter. Senator Dooley is nodding in agreement. Perhaps more Members from the Government parties will also agree. I thank Senator Dooley for his implied suggestion and formally propose an amendment to the Order of Business to allow us discuss the establishment of this inquiry and its proposed terms of reference, which have already been agreed....

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

David Norris: The Senator should not inflate the Cathaoirleach's appetite as it could have unfortunate results.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

David Norris: It was a lot of lies.