Results 3,121-3,140 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: I regret if some of my colleagues on this side of the House feel slighted but, as Senator Ross told me, I am very pleased I was mentioned. Perhaps it was because I was the only one who opposed the defamation legislation. It is very good this House should reflect a dissenting voice. The situation in regard to the press ombudsman is a laugh. The Insurance Ombudsman was funded by the...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: Absolutely. Can I tell the Cathaoirleach today's news?

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: Many Members on both sides of the House told me they were delighted I said what I did and that they would have liked to have done so but they are terrified of the press. That is what we are heading into. I call for a debate on landmines perhaps in the context of the Middle East because 1 million landmines were dropped in Lebanon in the past 72 hours. No. 25, motion 28, on the Order Paper in...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: An excellent idea.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: That is splendid.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: I have spoken on the issue of nursing homes on a number of occasions, but not on this Bill, of course. I am reluctant to regurgitate what I have said on the subject before. However, this is a very important area and it has been highlighted by the media, in particular the investigations by RTE and others into the tragic situation at Leas Cross. From the outside, what a lovely place it...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: It was Leas Cross, I believe, and there was no admission. In other words, they did not want to send patients from Leas Cross. Again, when one considers the phrase, "bed blockers", it precisely fits the description of people such as this old man. People describe them as bed blockers. That has ramifications whereby people do not want them admitted to hospital. It is a dreadful phrase——

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: ——but in any case, they found that the ambulance did not turn up. A real ambulance had not been called, rather a type of patient care vehicle. It was only when the family said they were taking him into hospital that an ambulance was produced. In the event, that ambulance was there in ten minutes, so sometimes the services exist, but are not properly being called on. There is a growing...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: I beg the Acting Chairman's pardon. I did so in the most positive possible manner. However, the name cannot now be withdrawn. In any event, she is representative of——

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: They will. However, there is a large number——

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: She is. She is much better than nice as she is also very effective and capable.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: As my good friend, the Leader of the House, is aware from her own ministerial responsibilities, a number of people in Departments never receive the accolades they deserve. Some years ago, an aunt of mine who had reached her 90s needed to enter a home. She decided on this herself and, while I was abroad, had gone in and out of a particular place, which turned her down. She was extremely...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: It was marvellous. Moreover, there was a smell of cooking from the kitchen. They did not use bought-in television dinners, rather they made their own bread and all the rest of it. It was lovely. Its managers immediately wrote to me and asked me to visit them at once. It was run by the old girls of Alexandra College, who were charming. It was a real old-style St. Trinian's effort....

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: Great. I thank the Acting Chairman. I refer to the grand nephew of James Joyce, who is a financial wizard and does not have an artistic bone in his body. However, he put together a scheme whereby if relatives paid in money — I forget the name of the mechanism — they could get the income tax back.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: Eventually, yes. However, she lasted for ten years and lived to be 103.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: The term is covenanting. Between the document we drew up on covenanting and the assistance of the Government, I am pleased to say the establishment has its doors open to this day, which is terrific.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: It is in Harold's Cross. It is also extremely disturbing for elderly people, who are used to a regime, to be moved somewhere else. This is a problem, regardless of whether it is as good.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: I accept the Government must regularise the position, particularly after it was discovered that there was an illegality in taking money from people. However, one of my concerns regarding the Bill is that it states that older people with an income of more than €9,000 per year, or savings worth more than €36,000, may be refused subvention. The sum of €9,000 per year is very small. I am...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

David Norris: This is not a large sum. Moreover, a subvention is merely a top-up and if these figures are accurate, it seems to be extremely mean-minded. The question of the home also arises. In a small number of cases, there is a possibility that people might be able to return home after some restorative care. It seems to be unnecessary in every case to sell a modest suburban home. It seems that under...