Results 4,941-4,960 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2008)

David Norris: It is highly interesting and revealing that there are voices, including some from the Government benches, indicating that choppy waters still lie ahead and this must be taken into account. The Oireachtas acted yesterday and earlier this morning to address all it could, which are the local symptoms of an international difficulty. I believe it all goes back to neoliberal economics. I refer...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2008)

David Norris: The younger Members.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I welcome the fact that we are having statements on the banking system tomorrow, which may or not be replaced by the detail of the Bill. The debate in this House on the detail of the Bill will be critical because the Minister got a blank cheque last week. It is now very important that we use the wisdom and expertise in this House, including on these benches, which can help to guide the...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his suggestion and I may well do so. I appreciate very much his guidance in this matter.

Seanad: Hunger Task Force Report: Statements (7 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I sat next to him at a meeting last week at which the Society of St. Vincent de Paul launched its report on poverty in Ireland. It made the point that on hunger in this country that the proportion of income spent on food is much higher among the poorer. If that is true in a wealthy country like Ireland, how devastatingly more true must it be in...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I thought the Senator was saying that everybody understands it.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I do not understand it.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2008)

David Norris: We will have to return to the international financial crisis. I am confused because Senator Butler stated that it was a disgrace for Fine Gael to say that the Minister did not understand the situation, then he accused Fine Gael of not understanding the situation either. I am not fully sure I understand the situation, or that I have heard anybody who has given a clear, comprehensive view of...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2008)

David Norris: ——and that the banks were guilty of the irresponsible leverage situation. When I heard those two voices agreeing, I said to myself that there is no need for me to worry because I am happy to admit my lack of understanding. However, I now believe the problem is capitalisation, as several people here have indicated. There is now a discordance between the regulator on the one hand, who...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I am asking that we should discuss this and I am giving my reasons, such as members of the Garda Síochána planting bombs and lying on oath and so on. Mr. Justice Morris suggested it was wrong to go to the Minister; I think it was very responsible indeed. They did not come into the Oireachtas and use privilege and destroy the reputations of people by name. They went to the Minister....

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2008)

David Norris: We do not have the resources. We have barely enough resources to cope with our workload. We are not an investigative agency and it took the Morris tribunal however many years, however many millions of euro and however many barristers to produce this report. How on earth does Mr. Justice Morris think two honourable, decent representatives could be expected to do the same?

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I will finish on this point. Deputy Howlin made the point that he was given this information by a senior barrister with 22 years' criminal experience at the Bar and he believed it. It was appropriate to pass on this information to the Minister. I share the concerns about immigration as expressed by various speakers, including Senator Mullen. The Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill,...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I wish to make this point because it is in anticipation of the Bill. I have arranged for a briefing for Members of the House by the two legal experts who gave the original briefing because I think we can have a much more informed debate if we listen to a detailed analysis. The briefing will be held in the audio-visual room at the end of the month.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I wish to make a few comments on this important Bill. First, I welcome the Minister back to this House, with which he was so familiar in the past and to which he paid great tribute in his speech. The first note he struck did not surprise me, given my knowledge of his character. He spoke about the human dimension of the housing situation and the financial downturn we are facing. I will...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Is it not a problem? Is there a quarantine area? Do we shove all the people onto Spike Island or some such place? One aspect of the explanatory memorandum to the Bill that I found to be very positive and refreshing was the fact that it does not have significant financial implications. This means it is probably safer than much other legislation that has been floating around the Houses...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

David Norris: She is being heckled.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Was that a "hear, hear" from Senator Mary White?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I join with colleagues in welcoming the possibility of a debate on the banks. What we are essentially seeing is the nationalisation of the banking system, and I strongly welcome this. There will be a requirement for a further inflow of public funds, and so the taxpayer should be entitled to equity for that investment. I heard somebody on the radio yesterday saying that we needed a return...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

David Norris: It is the same in The Irish Times regarding the metro. This project was delayed 20 years ago, even though it was known to be the best solution, because we hit a rock in finance terms. We cannot afford to do it again, and we need to discuss it openly in the House.