Results 5,501-5,520 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Yes, absolutely, but I do not welcome any Member of this disgraceful Government to this House. The Government has behaved barbarously in this and in many other areas. When I listen to people on that side of the House talking about protecting the vulnerable and the weak, I wonder how they dare to engage in such bare-faced hypocrisy, following the budget and the destruction of the Combat...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Well, I believe it would be unconstitutional, and the Minister of State is not a lawyer and so my opinion is as good as hers.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: In that case, why does the Government not do the decent thing and get rid of it altogether?

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach, although I do not mind. They can disgrace themselves as much as they like and I shall give back just as good as I get. It is also cack-handed. The Government was warned about this and took no notice. It received a report from the Department of Finance, wondering whether the significant risks had been spotted, apart from anything else. The Departments of...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I should declare an interest. I am lucky in having plan E, the most expensive plan available. I can be sick at my leisure any time I want. However, it is disgraceful that the most vulnerable, about whom the Government side prates all the time, are not protected in this way. As for the millionaires, I ask the Minister of State to show me one. I live in the north inner city. There are...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: A programme of nationalising the existing private hospitals would accelerate the positive elements and provide the capacity necessary to implement a national scheme. It could be done. Universal health care could be provided promptly, and fairly inexpensively, by the simple measure of giving a medical card to those who cannot afford it, and selling it to those who can. The Government has...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Is the House quorate?

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Yes. Notice taken that 12 Members were not present; House counted and 12 Members being present,

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: The Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, will withdraw that. How dare she attack the public.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: That is outrageous. There is no logic to it, and the sooner the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, is put out the better.

Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 30 (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I ask that the House be adjourned to discuss a matter of urgent national interest, namely, the destruction of the Combat Poverty Agency and the Equality Authority. I understand it is not possible for those supporting me to be named on the instrument, but I am being supported by Senators Frances Fitzgerald and Phil Prendergast. Everybody will agree this is a matter of national urgency, and...

Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 30 (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Could the Cathaoirleach give me some information as to what matters are considered by the Seanad to be of national urgency?

Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 30 (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I recall a day when one of the Chair's predecessors ruled that something was not a national emergency when, within hours of the debate, the Taoiseach was ruling it was, in the Dáil. Are we on a different planet? Why is the Standing Order not abolished altogether, for all the use it is?

Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 30 (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: No. There will be no co-operation on this.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Do not encourage him. He will take the Cork-Dublin route with a bicycle if we are not careful.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I wish to move an amendment to the Order of Business that we take No. 28, motion 31, "That Seanad Éireann condemns utterly the disgraceful action of the Government in destroying the Combat Poverty Agency [which we are doing today by the way] and the Equality Agency and the gutting of the Irish Human Rights Commission and calls on the Government to rescind these decisions." It is a shameful...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Do not be such a fool.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: You really make yourself a piggy when you behave like that. This is a serious matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I am on the Order of Business and I want to say this, which is very important because it leads to a situation where I believe the Government is in great moral danger. I remind the House and you, Senator Walsh, that it was a Minister for Justice on your side who spent some time in jail for corruption.