Results 4,681-4,700 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: The Minister is right, particularly since we were talking earlier about safety. If somebody is injured because of a dereliction on the part of a transport authority, particularly if Senator Donohoe has his way and it is running railway trains, buses, boats, canal barges, etc., then the public should have the right to sue. The right to restore something that was proposed to be deleted...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: I withdraw my remarks because I am now completely confused. I have been made dizzy by this sort of thing, and it now appears that the immunity is left intact. I am not sure this is a good idea for the reasons I gave when I thought matters were the other way around. I do not see why a citizen should not have a case for redress if he or she is damaged by the actions of the authority. It...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 46: In page 42, subsection (1), after line 47, to insert the following: "(d) Any new such public service contract within the greater Dublin area shall be offered first to Dublin Bus and or Bus Eireann.". The Minister has more or less addressed this amendment already because he suggested a European directive required the existence of an open, public and competitive regime....

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 48: In page 43, subsection (4), line 15, to delete "5 years" and substitute "10 years". At an earlier stage of our consideration of the Bill the Minister was lyrical on the need for what he described as a "level playing field" in these areas. If one is giving ten years to other providers, it seems that public service providers should be given exactly the same treatment....

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 49: In page 43, subsection (5)(a), lines 19 and 20, to delete "unilaterally make amendments to such contract" and substitute the following: "can amend such direct award in objectively justified cases and in a proportionate manner". This is a precautionary amendment because the powers granted to the Minister in this regard are quite serious and swingeing. The section...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: While the Minister's response again makes clear that this section is in compliance with the European directive, nothing in my amendment is in conflict with it. Although the Minister has more or less stated this would be the manner in which the authority would act in any case, enabling an authority to act unilaterally in such a way is a strong power. I propose the inclusion of a safeguard of...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

David Norris: Will we get a question?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

David Norris: Such an interesting question.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

David Norris: I appreciate the Chair's decision to allow me to speak. I congratulate the former Senator, Deputy Mansergh, on being appointed as a Minister of State. The portfolio that has been allocated to him may appear to have been downgraded, but it is up to him to make it clear that is not the case. Perhaps he could do that by coming to this House at an early date to discuss some of the motions on...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

David Norris: His appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for the arts is an interesting one. While it may appear that the position has been downgraded, I do not believe that is the case. This responsibility has been given to an active person who has been a senior advisor to many Taoisigh and carries a great deal of weight at Government level. While I share Senator Donohoe's concerns about...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

David Norris: I agree with Senator O'Toole about the manner in which the proposed changes in the HSE have been handled. It has been done in a clumsy and unfeeling fashion. There is a human context to the proposed changes with people facing mortgage repayments and so forth and it must be managed sensitively. On the other hand, it is appropriate that we examine whether there is excess fat at managerial...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

David Norris: Very clearly, I have something to ask. For example, the west African ministers said they deplored the pressure exerted by the European Commission and the African Union said that the process leading to the conclusion of interim economic partnership agreements did not build on what was negotiated earlier and was a result of pressure being exerted. I want to make three points. First, the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

David Norris: If the Punch and Judy show is over may I state that frequently in this House I stated that both Bush and Blair were liars and nobody ever stopped me. Perhaps this is because they are.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

David Norris: With regard to Libertas and the "No" vote campaign, Senator Regan referred to an interesting piece about the background of a number of these people. A majority of them are employed by——

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

David Norris: ——an American armaments firm. I will make this point.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

David Norris: This strengthens the point I made in this House with regard to my reservations about the military aspects of the Lisbon treaty and the development of the European armaments group and its desire to go into competition with the United States armaments industry. This would be a clear explanation as to why people with links to the United States arms industry——

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

David Norris: ——do not want it passed. I do not want it to pass, but for other reasons.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

David Norris: I was clarifying an issue for Senator Regan. I join with colleagues in calling for a debate on the collapse of the social housing programme. This calls into question our very values as a society. We can have the Shelbourne Hotel and the Thornton Hall super-prison but apparently we are spancilled when we try to do something for the most disadvantaged sections of our society. I happen to live...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

David Norris: Yes, because the Government is responsible. It allowed the housing industry to overheat and encouraged it by giving incentives to pals. The new Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, has a challenge to resolve this problem and reassure the Irish people that the standards are those of which he spoke so movingly in Clara, County Offaly. No. 38 on the Order Paper is linked because it is an attempt to face...