Results 5,161-5,180 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris
- Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)
David Norris: Excellent. I will push those amendments with renewed vigour. I thank the Minister of State for his help.
- Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)
David Norris: What is acceptable harm to civilians?
- Seanad: Human Rights Issues (25 Nov 2008)
David Norris: I am glad the Minister of State is in the House. I am sure he will be interested in what I have to say on this significant matter. On 18 November, only a week ago, I attended a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Human Rights at which a presentation was given by Mr. Polansky, head of mission, Kosovo Roma Refugee Foundation. He told an unimaginable...
- Seanad: Human Rights Issues (25 Nov 2008)
David Norris: I thank the Minister of State for his humane reply, which I know comes directly from the heart. The UNMIK people at the UN have obfuscated all the way along the line. We cannot accept what they say and the Minister of State should not take anything they say on trust. We must really put teeth into the monitoring process and push for those unfortunate people to be removed from the source of...
- Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Second Stage (26 Nov 2008)
David Norris: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Second Stage (26 Nov 2008)
David Norris: It is the Senator's human right.
- Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Second Stage (26 Nov 2008)
David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State and the Bill. As indicated, it is a substantial Bill. There is no need for the Minister of State to apologise for his lengthy introduction to it because it was necessary. This is the first regulation in a long time on the issue. The Minister of State cited a statute of Queen Elizabeth I, which was a long time ago. I will be constructive, as have been my...
- Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Second Stage (26 Nov 2008)
David Norris: In that one minute, I will deal with a couple of items. First, I strongly support the business about Daffodil Day. I never have collected and loathe having anything to do with money. I am awful at it and it makes me shiver. Sometimes they make me take up the collection in St. Patrick's Cathedral and I have taken to refusing to do it. I simply will not do it. However, I did help them...
- Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Second Stage (26 Nov 2008)
David Norris: It was no problem whatever. I know how terribly important it is. This is a question of change and of being able to give change when using a sealed box. The Minister of State will consider this issue. Another matter, which also was mentioned by Senator Buttimer, was raised by the Respond housing agency. It pertains to the withdrawal of previously agreed State funding, thereby leaving an...
- Seanad: Stem-Cell Research (Protection of Human Embryos) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Nov 2008)
David Norris: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Stem-Cell Research (Protection of Human Embryos) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Nov 2008)
David Norris: I welcome the clear and balanced position adopted by the Government in the Minister of State's speech. I was very heartened by it. I do not support the Bill. I do not believe a fertilised embryo is a full human being. I never have believed that and I never will. It reminds me of the abortion debate in which I do not think the men in this House distinguished themselves by valuing their...
- Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)
David Norris: Most of us do not have any hair left.
- Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)
David Norris: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)
David Norris: I would like to take up one of the points that was made by my colleagues, Senators O'Toole and Walsh, about FÃS. It would be good to have a debate on this issue. My colleagues, particularly Senator Ross, have called for this for some time and I add my voice to theirs in seeking that. There is a significant and legitimate role for investigative journalism. It can often do things that the...
- Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)
David Norris: I would like to know when we can have such a debate. It is urgent that we should have it and I will tell the House why. A number of errors have been spread and when mud starts flying it can stick to people who do not deserve it. Senator Boyle behaved in a very dignified way when he was asked on radio, inaccurately, to defend a statement from the Green Party supporting Mr. Molloy. No...
- Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)
David Norris: It is important that we get these things right.
- Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)
David Norris: We should have a debate on the specific issue of the space programme. Other cheap shots were made about spacers, Disneyland and the like, but that is rubbish. One of the problems with this country is that we are not at the forefront of science. One of the initiatives Mr. Molloy was trying to progress was to push Ireland forward in that area at Cape Canaveral. We have been involved in...
- Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)
David Norris: I suggest that Members read the article by Mr. John Walsh in the Irish Independent about the visit there, the significance and importance of it and the fact that he believes that a good job was done. I will end with this point.
- Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)
David Norris: I will come down very much to earth. What have the consequences of this been? Let us honestly face them. The consequences have been that the work of the Committee of Public Accounts has been interrupted. Mr. Molloy will not now appear before it and he cannot now be questioned. It is not a question of â¬400 for nail varnish and a few hairdos, he will get from the State straight away...
- Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)
David Norris: Hear, hear.