Results 2,681-2,700 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Bluster.

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Does the Minister of State know what de facto means?

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Next the Minister of State will tell us he went penniless to school with a sod of turf under his arm.

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

David Norris: That is one of the most shabby and disgraceful performances I have ever witnessed a Minister of State come out with in this House. I am astonished it has come from this man. I did not think the Minister of State would sink so low. I wish to correct some of his comments. How dare the Minister of State suggest that I deliberately highlighted and stated that category A was the most serious...

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

David Norris: If the Minister of State cannot read, it is his problem and it is certainly not mine.

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

David Norris: If the Minister of State did not bother to listen it is also his problem. The Minister of State also made a comment which is deliberately, clearly and demonstrably untrue. Just five minutes ago he stated there was no single case in the Marty report which had any connection with Ireland. That is absolute tripe. I present the case of Abu Omar. Senator Marty's explanatory memorandum to the...

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

David Norris: I never stated I had any evidence that prisoners were being brought through Shannon Airport. I made the point, which has been clearly proved time and again in a number of cases, that the aircraft were refuelled. That constitutes collusion. With regard to what was said about assurances, they are not worth a damn. Both the Minister of State and I know that. The Minister of State knows the...

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

David Norris: I will give a further comment. The Minister of State quoted the business of assurances which were given. It has been made expressly clear by the Venice Commission that those assurances are not worth anything unless they are legally enforceable against the country giving the assurances. Paragraph 233 of the explanatory memorandum states: The principle of trust has been invoked by other...

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

David Norris: The view of the European Union was that it was absolutely essential that there be legally enforceable guarantees. It is not surprising, and we are not the only country involved, and certainly not the worst offender. I never stated that and I bitterly resent that such a lie was told in this House. I demand it to be withdrawn.

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

David Norris: I accept the Minister of State's withdrawal. Even the Swedes, neutral during the war and who did such wonderful work, collaborated in one of the worst examples of rendition. There were many decent speeches on the Government side of the House. Even people whom I always thought were very much against what we say on this side of the House were reasonable to a certain point. Then there was a lack...

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Perhaps we should look at the Official Report.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Some of us are.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Yes, 120,000 of them.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

David Norris: I welcome the new agreement, although my feelings are slightly ambiguous. Due to my natural greed, which we all share, I am delighted at the prospect of a 10% pay increase but I am worried that we might price ourselves out of international markets. We must be careful to stay competitive. Last night there was an interesting debate here on foreign policy issues and the use of Shannon Airport....

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

David Norris: There may be a sinister element accompanying this wonderful weather. We heard this morning of a plague of mosquitoes in Drogheda. It may sound amusing——

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

David Norris: ——but it indicates a substantial shift in the climate. For that reason I ask for a debate before the House goes into recess on the subject of climate change, global warming, the Kyoto Protocol and an underlying factor of the extraordinary expansion in population numbers. The leaving certificate examination is taking place at this time. Since I did my leaving certificate the population on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Do not get snotty about Montenotte.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

David Norris: I share my colleagues' concerns about the extraordinary rise in house prices. There is a middle class investment in this matter and a paradox in that many people are quite pleased by the situation. The aeroplanes going to central, eastern and southern Europe are chock-a-block with Irish speculators who will make the situation just as bad in Budapest and elsewhere as it is here. We must bear...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

David Norris: Absolutely. The Senator is 100% correct. It is wonderful that he is awake. He must visit this side of the House. We have often exchanged pleasantries across the floor of the House. I compliment Senator Morrissey on his courage in suggesting that we should have a debate on housing and the relevance of councillors and the planning situation. The Senator is a brave man, but I guarantee that he...