Results 3,941-3,960 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Shannon Airport: Statements (10 Oct 2007)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I would like to share three minutes of my time with Senator Ivana Bacik.

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I congratulate the Labour Party for tabling this motion that is at least partly in response to the critical situation in Balbriggan. I notice it is causing the usual Wednesday evening ping-pong match, whereby the Opposition criticises the Government for its failures and the Government amends the motion noting and welcoming various achievements. This debate should be taken more seriously...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I second the non-contentious proposal by my colleague, Senator O'Toole, for a change to the Order of Business. I commend Mr. Justice Carney. I listened to the broadcast this morning and read the text of his speech. I thought it was sensitive, measured and judicious. It raised a number of extremely important points that we should debate. It was the right forum. It was a lecture and he...

Seanad: Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2005: Motion (11 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I second the motion.

Seanad: Civil Partnership Bill 2004: Motion (11 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I second the motion.

Seanad: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I also wish to record my appreciation. The Minister of State will recall I tabled two amendments on Committee Stage. One concerned the establishment of the board and the other concerned limiting to 10% or less the amount of moneys generated to be spent on administration. While I considered tabling them again on Report Stage, I consulted the bodies that had briefed me and they expressed...

Seanad: Burma: Motion (11 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I wish to share time with Senators Ivana Bacik and Rónán Mullen.

Seanad: Burma: Motion (11 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I am glad to welcome the Minister of State to the House. I know of his interest in this matter. I commend the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, for his work in New York. Other European countries have also played a positive role. The British Prime Minister was very clear in this regard, as were both the French President, Mr. Sarkozy, and his Foreign Minister, Mr. Kouchner,...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I recognise that time is short but when I came into this House there were no such restrictions on speaking time and such restrictions weaken the democratic nature of our Parliament. This is a great mistake and time allowed should be extended. These issues of a guillotine on speaking time during the passage of Bills is not a good practice——

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I understand, and I do not wish to waste the time of the House. I will put down another amendment as the last time I did so I obtained an extension of ten minutes. I join with those who celebrate the nomination of Archbishop Brady to the College of Cardinals. This country has made a disproportionate contribution to the Roman Catholic Church over many centuries and it is appropriate this...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

David Norris: One listens with one's ears.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (17 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. We are former colleagues who served together on the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. The Minister of State and I were together at a debate in Trinity College a week or so ago. It was greatly appreciated that he had taken the trouble to come there and talk about the difficult problem of drugs to an audience of young students. He had to leave...

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I thank my colleagues for allowing me the opportunity to contribute. I welcome the Minister. I refer to Senator Quinn's comment on the question of arming the Garda. The Minister referred to Katherine O'Toole, a most distinguished woman. I listened to her on radio the other day and she came across as extremely clear and cool and as a very practical woman. She did not want the Garda to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I call for a debate on the role of the Seanad. We are supposed to be a reflective, revising and reforming House, but we increasingly encounter inroads into our speaking time. It is important, for example, to review the format of the Order of Business. It is the most relevant and most widely covered aspect of our business, yet we wish to reduce the time allowed for it. I succeeded in...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I do not at all mean to impugn the Cathaoirleach, either his role or the manner in which he carries it out. However, it is nonsense to restrict the Order of Business in the way it is being restricted. I accept that the Cathaoirleach is simply obeying the rules of the House. However, it is something we should review.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2007)

David Norris: That is my point. However, the Committee on Procedure and Privileges is capable of opening its little mind on this issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2007)

David Norris: No. 4 on today's Order Paper is the Defamation Bill 2006, which is listed for Committee Stage. However, two thirds of Members are newly elected to this Seanad and thus have had no opportunity to contribute at the most important level of the debate on this Bill. That is not democracy. This contentious Bill should be reintroduced on Second Stage. We are all aware that the Privacy Bill 2006,...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I also welcome the fact that Gerry Adams has condemned the outrage that took place and indicated that members of the nationalist community should give evidence to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. I strongly agree with Senator Harris that this awful, brutal incident took place within the context of Republicanism, about which there is no doubt. The chilling words, "Now you know who is...