Results 2,581-2,600 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: As Gaeilge, más é do thoil é, a Sheanadóir.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: I enjoy listening to the language. I like the blas.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: I agree with Senator Ó Murchú on the need for an independent inquiry into the assassination of Pat Finucane. It is dreadful when such murders occur but even more dreadful when a government agency of some description is suspected of involvement. Contrary to Lord Denning's view, appalling vistas must be confronted rather than avoided because if they are avoided they will continue to occur. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: Such relationships are not always vicious. I know of a number of reported cases where a couple went on to marry and have families. Obviously when a teacher is involved there is a potential violation——

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: As a teacher I assure Senators that as a principle I never had anything to do with any of my students in that regard. The Law Reform Commission has produced a sensitive set of proposals that treat the matter in a subtle way. There is no point in using the arm of the law to crush people in consensual relationships. If we are concerned, as Senator Glynn and I are, about the welfare of youths,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: The Senator should leave a little room for——

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: Unlike my colleagues I have not received any prepared scripts, so I will have to do a free-range job on this matter.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: I welcome most of the timely provisions in the Bill. I have raised as a humanitarian matter the plight of migrant workers. I remember seeing two unfortunate young Turkish lads in floods of tears on Butt Bridge. They had come to Ireland on the understanding they had jobs and work permits. When they arrived, they discovered they were defrauded and viciously exploited by Irish employers. Without...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: I am glad to hear that, perhaps my information is out of date. I welcome that and I am happy to be corrected.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: That is the sort of information I welcome because my information is anecdotal and if the situation has improved, I welcome it. Senator Leyden referred to the situation in Kenya. It is a country that must be beautiful in certain areas but the economic situation is horrendous. Many people want to leave and do not want to return. One of the problems arising from this is sophisticated and...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: I am happy to welcome the Minister of State to the House. She and I are old colleagues from the days when we soldiered together on the former women's rights committee. We got on well and I think we still do. Although I will have some criticism, as others have said it is not a criticism directed personally at the Minister of State. I recognise the difficulties in terms of expenditure,...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: I hope so, although I am not fully convinced, because the Minister of State has said that the fitting of safety belts will be mandatory for new buses entering the service from 20 October 2007. That is great, but it is 18 months away. That will make it about seven years since I first raised the issue. The Minister of State went on to say that the only exceptions are the buses used on single...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: Good. By what date?

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: Will they all be retro-fitted by then? That is fine by me.

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: I may not be in the House but will read the reply of the Minister of State with interest. I am glad to hear the positive drift of her comments. Safety belts must be worn once they are fitted but that requirement is absurd when some of them are not fitted. We are making it mandatory where they are fitted but we not living up to our obligation to have them fitted. The Minister says they will be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

David Norris: I support my colleagues who have called for an urgent debate on the implications of last week's Supreme Court decision and yesterday's decision in the Mr. A case. The man involved has admitted and acknowledged that he fed drink to a 12 year old girl before violating her. The State has failed to protect the young girl in question, who has said she is in fear as a result of the release of this...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

David Norris: I wonder whether the members of the Government read the reports of the Law Reform Commission. If so, do they act on them? They seem to do so in a pathetically small number of cases. If what I read in the newspapers is correct, it seems, with the greatest respect to the Supreme Court, that there is a little degree of timidity in that court. It could have struck down one section of the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

David Norris: I do not think the media should engage in the kind of commentary I heard this morning, when a responsible broadcaster read what was described as a very important comment, which was "we are being governed by a crowd of eejits in Leinster House". That is not responsible commentary, in my opinion. We should examine the issues in a calm manner, not in the interests of political advantage but in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

David Norris: He did not say that.