Results 4,361-4,380 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

David Norris: I sincerely hope it does not.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: We often hear bad news on the Order of Business. We should, however, recognise that internationally there is some very good news. The electoral success of Mr. Barack Obama in the United States suggests that great country may at last be finding its conscience and moving away from the criminal enterprises of Mr. Bush. I hope Guantanamo Bay will not be closed, but cleansed of the present...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: No, I do not want it taken at all. I am signalling that I am going to remove it from the Order Paper because it is a waste of time.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: In that case I shall move an amendment to remove this Bill from the Order Paper.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: To clarify a point of order, how is a matter sub judice if it is not before the courts? As I understand it, the matter is in the tribunal at present.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: It is relevant to Senator Feeney.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: I move: "That the Bill be withdrawn", for the reasons I have stated. I have done everything possible to have it taken. I pay tribute to other Members of the House, on all sides, who spoke in a very humane way on this matter which is significant and confronts this House. On my desk I have two piles of cases involving persons in this situation caught in an agonised fashion and for the past...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: I indicated also that there will be a meeting at the end of this week of people who are launching a campaign for full civil marriage. I feel I am entitled——

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: I thought you said I had an opportunity to propose this.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: You misled me then. I am sure you had a good intention.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Second Stage (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: I thank Senator Bacik for allowing me to take part in this debate and for sharing her time with me. This Bill is very welcome but is it not an appalling comment on human nature that such a Bill has to be introduced, that there are persons among us, and around the globe, who are prepared to treat other human beings merely as commodities to be bought and sold and ground into slavery of the...

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: A left winger.

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate, which has been very well informed in nature. I was impressed by the Minister of State's contribution at this morning's meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, which was a useful exercise. It will come as no surprise to the Minister of State or other Members to realise that I fully support UNFPA. I had the privilege to visit...

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: The then Minister of State also said: Frequently, I receive letters from domestic and international groups on this subject stating that we fund all sorts of services, but that is not the case and the UNFPA does not carry out those services. For example, it does not support or fund the one child policy in China, a main focal point of the criticism we receive. The UNFPA is a good agency . . .

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: In November last year, just a few months ago, there was also a smear made on the UNFPA that it exaggerated maternal mortality statistics for some extraordinary reason. The position is quite clear that it was speaking about a case of underestimating maternal mortality. There can be very manipulative and selective quotations, which can be angled in a particular way. For example, the following...

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: Does the Senator want to hear more? Other teams, including one from the United Nations, a parliamentary group from the United Kingdom and a multi-faith panel of religious leaders from the United States, came to the same conclusion. The annual human rights report of the United Kingdom indicated, "these allegations are without foundation." There is plenty of good news, including in China....

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

David Norris: The Senator was not correct and I have placed his statements in the correct context. I would not be inclined to mention Nicaragua as I might come back and bite the Senator with that one.