Results 2,601-2,620 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Supreme Court Judgment on Statutory Rape: Statements. (31 May 2006)

David Norris: I too am glad the Minister has come in here this evening. It is important that he has done so. He came in to confront the issues forthrightly and by and large he did that, although there are some areas with which I am not satisfied. The Minister was very angry. He used the phrase "incandescent with rage" but as he spoke I felt he was incandescent with rage. The country feels the same way...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: I agree with Senator Brian Hayes. The Leader has done the House a valuable service by bringing us back. It shows that at moments of crisis in the national life the Oireachtas can respond. The atmosphere is very fraught. People are naturally outraged but I anticipate that, as usual, calmness and proper discussion will prevail in this House. While I do not wish to detract from the seriousness...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: I wish to share my time with Senator Ross. I am glad the Minister is in the House. We are lucky to have a skilled and brilliant lawyer in the position of Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform because he can give us a very clear insight, from his experience as a lawyer, into these matters. Some of the comment in the media about the Minister has been extremely unfair. I regret that his...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Splendid. I congratulate the Minister and the team involved in that case. This is a very good day. I am not a vengeful person but I am glad to hear the good news that this man will pay for his crimes, for crimes they were and of a most loathsome nature. I brought a case to the attention of the Iranian ambassador recently, which concerned two youths, one aged 16 and the other 17, who were...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: The recommendations of the Law Reform Commission should be listened to. There will be further attempts at clarification and definition through the courts process. I am supported in this view by an interesting article by Carol Coulter in today's edition of The Irish Times in which she said difficulties could also arise when the courts come to define further a person in authority. She wonders...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: It would not have killed those in the Dáil to have been asked to wait around for a couple of hours in order to pass the amendments. It is perfectly clear that the contribution of this House is not taken seriously by the Government. I deplore that. Our tabling of amendments is largely redundant, apart from the exercise of making the case for what may well be a re-examination of this...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Although I have not tabled an amendment I wish to raise a point that should be borne in mind. The Minister explained that a sexual act meant an act consisting of sexual intercourse or buggery between persons who are not married to each other. He explained that it was crucial people could not have their married life interfered with and that it was possible for people younger than the age of...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: I welcome the Leader's indication that she will be flexible and will review the time allowed for the debate. It is important that every Member who wants to make a contribution on the amendments can do so. The amendments should be taken. Senator Hayes made a good point in highlighting that less than a third of the amendments tabled in the Dáil were taken — they were not even heard. It is...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: To add to what Senator Cummins said, on Second Stage I cited a hypothetical case which is real in prospect, namely, that a 16 year old girl could seduce a 14 year old boy and if the boy complained and his parents went to the police the girl might get off scot free while he went to jail. That is obviously a nonsense and is the kind of area in which this legislation needs to be scrutinised.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: On foot of personal experience, I am in favour of financial penalties. As an innocent bystander in Parnell Street talking to a neighbour, I was punched in the face by a young person — a queer basher from the working class. The pleasant consequence of that was that I received the sum of €1,000, which has been mentioned by Senator Cummins. I wish to refer briefly to what Senator Higgins...

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: The Leader gave a commitment that the time allowed for debate would be reconsidered.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: The House is in uproar on all sides.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: This House decides its own business.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: She stated that it would be reviewed, not that she would review it. The Acting Leader has proposed an extension that has unanimous approval in the Chamber. There is open revolt in this House.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages. (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 6: In page 3, subsection (5), line 8, to delete "honestly" and substitute "reasonably". The Minister has partly answered this in his response to understanding the mind of the offender in respect of guilt and responsibility. There can be situations where an accused person tells the court he or she honestly believed the recipient of his or her intentions was of a certain...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages. (2 Jun 2006)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 8: In page 3, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following subsection: "(10) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section— (a) where a person who has attained the age of 15 years engages or attempts to engage in a sexual act with another person who has attained that age and the difference between the ages of those persons is not greater than 2 years, neither...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Following from what Senator Bradford said, I agree we should continue to examine this very important area of public life. Although it was an important debate in its way, this House was prevented last week from fulfilling its constitutional role as the amending Chamber by virtue of the fact that the Dáil was allowed to evaporate and there was no possibility whatever of amendments being taken....

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

David Norris: I ask that we secure copies of the Marty report and have it circulated it to all Members and have an early debate on this matter. The subject of CIA rendition flights has been ventilated in the House already. The report was published in Paris this morning. What people like myself have been saying for the past couple of years has been absolutely vindicated. Ireland has been, to use a phrase...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Hear, hear.