Results 3,321-3,340 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: It is also cheap, costing only €250,000 a year. The college is acting in a penny-pinching matter by closing it.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, line 42, after "television" to insert "and digital radio mondiale". I am happy to welcome the Minister of State back to the House and regret I was not present on the previous occasion. I spoke extensively on Second Stage and tabled many amendments, which my colleague Senator Henry moved on my behalf because I was detained at a symposium in Trinity College....

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: Imagine that. Could it happen here? It might even be Senator O'Meara, if she manages to squeak into Dáil Éireann.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: She will not but she could be quite effective in the Lower House. One never knows; Tipperary, look out. The Honourable Helen Coonan——

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: ——Australian Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, states: Let's face it, adoption now [this is the Australian view of what we are doing] of a standard that is already 10 years old and may well be superseded, for implementation in another 2 to 3 years, would, in my view, be irresponsible.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: She is talking about the DAB standard.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: We will have no frivolity, please. Senator Norris without lewd interruptions from what should be his own side of the House.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: The Danish have had experience in this matter. A newspaper, Politiken, quotes Mr. Paul Samsøe, the head of engineering from the Danish equivalent of BBC Radio — or Danish state radio: [W]hen asked whether owners of DAB receivers would have to replace their DAB radios in five years time, Paul Samsøe replied: "Yes — just like you'll also have to get a new television set and a new mobile...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I acknowledge that I was briefed and that, to a certain extent, the technical material is beyond my capacity.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: It is no wonder the Government tabled those amendments to cover the situation.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I understand that it is pestiferous and in violation of the rules of the House to refer to a Member's absence. I am sure my elderly colleague, Senator Mooney, and my even more elderly colleague, the other one whose name I have forgotten, will remember this in future.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: It is the other way around. The RTE Guide is the Irish equivalent of the Radio Times. It existed long before the RTE Guide. The Senator should not be parochial.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I know that is the attitude here.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: The Senator has got it the wrong way around.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: Even more important than the Senator.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I understand that as the proposer of the amendment I have the right to make a brief reply. I thank the Minister of State for his reply which was gracious and generous, unlike that of the first spokesperson for the Government whose contribution reflected the usual snotty dog in the manger Government attitude.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: On the other hand, it was refreshing to be patronised by my old friend Senator Mooney. It took me back to the old days and I felt that I was really at home. I shall explain myself and why I did this. I was not in the House at the time as I was chairing a symposium in Trinity. The Senator on the other side of the House knows only too well that one goes where the voters are.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: There are not that many voters here. There are one or two but their votes are already sewn up. I went where my voters were.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I was perfectly right. We are going to save a planet so that the Senator's old airwaves can go whizzing through it.