Results 5,001-5,020 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I agree with every single word uttered by Senator Mary White. I was present at the church. It was an astonishing spectacle. I have never experienced anything like it. It was the risen people. It is extraordinary that Fianna Fáil, which was always the party par excellence in terms of being in touch with the grass roots, seems to have lost its antenna. It did not listen to the people on...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: When will the Minister come to the House to address with Members matters such as the scrapping of the Combat Poverty Agency when poverty is being created all around us? The Government has halved the budget for the Equality Tribunal and is proceeding with its decentralisation to Portarlington. This is all in advance of a report it has commissioned about efficiency and value for money....

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: The authority failed in its duty because it neglected a deadline by which it could deal properly with a major multinational but it was able to crucify the members of Irish Equity on the sum of €7,500 when it would not allow the organisation to engage in collective bargaining. It was deemed a cartel——

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: ——and that is a disgrace. On universality, we on this side of the House were asked whether we had ever seen millionaires in accident and emergency departments, etc. I can tell this House honestly that I have seen the equivalent, as have we all. I have seen very wealthy people taking every handout, grant and free gift from the taxpayer and using them as pocket money.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: That is why I am in favour of means tests, but if the Government has means tests to exclude the rich, it must have proper and decent ones to save the poor who are being betrayed by the Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

David Norris: That is what we are asking for today.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I take it Senator Ann Ormonde is seconding Senator Joe O'Toole's amendment to the Order of Business. If not, I am happy to formally do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

David Norris: For several weeks I have attempted to highlight the manner in which the Government is using the budget to dismantle all those organisations which speak for the vulnerable and the oppressed, such as Combat Poverty, human rights agencies and the Equality Authority. That is the real danger. The Government has failed to listen to the people. Now the people will not listen to the Government....

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

David Norris: By 43%.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

David Norris: With your indulgence, a Chathoirligh, I would like to withdraw a word I used during my contribution. You have not asked me to and neither have any of my colleagues, but I used the word "perjury" and that was in anticipation of a hypothetical Supreme Court judgment. The privilege we all have in this House is something very precious. It needs to be used judiciously. I would wish to do so,...

Seanad: Health Promotion Priorities: Statements (23 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I welcome this debate and I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I must say, as a random observation, it is interesting that the Minister of State and the overwhelming number of speakers in the debate were women. Women have demonstrated that they are the people who care about the basic issues. The basic issues are clear, and they have been dealt with fairly extensively. They are...

Seanad: Health Promotion Priorities: Statements (23 Oct 2008)

David Norris: This is one of the practical matters which should be dealt with in the context of the educational curriculum.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I would welcome a debate on the decision made by University College Cork, which has behaved extremely responsibly. It did not pre-empt legislation in this area because such legislation does not exist, despite the efforts of my colleague, former Senator Mary Henry, who produced a Bill in this regard that was not adopted by the Government. University College Cork did not pre-empt anything and...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

David Norris: In the absence of such leadership or analysis of the financial situation, one is left dealing with the queries of individual people. I conducted a radio interview the other day with an economic commentator and while I do not know how serious he was, he came up with a serious question. If a deposit taker, that is, the bank that has accepted the money, goes into liquidation, how long will it...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

David Norris: The Senator's party is in Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Exactly.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Bravo, Senator O'Toole.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I have a mobile telephone but it is turned off completely.