Results 5,521-5,540 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I want to help the House because questions have been asked about these influences. The front page of The Irish Times carried an article about the Equality Authority making a complaint to the Garda because of the alleged disclosure of information which is prohibited under the Act. This was disclosure of information that came about during the course of an investigation. A Roman Catholic...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I have not made the point, but I am going to make it. The point is that the person involved is now the Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The destruction of the Equality Authority, the authority that filed this complaint, is coming from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In these circumstances there are grave questions to be answered...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: No, I will not.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I am going to finish what I have to say, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I ask to be allowed to finish what I have to say.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: It is time for the Green Party to walk from Government. If its members threaten it, the Government will give in.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Look at the somersaults that have been performed by the Minister for Education and Science. The Green Party members can do it if they make such a threat. This Government is terrified it will be wiped out by the people.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I will finish my point by saying this. If the Government wants cuts it should look at the €10 million it is handing out to look after the election prospects of junior Ministers——

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: ——or the €10 million kiss-off to its council electors.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I certainly will.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Yes.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I concur with Senator Fitzgerald. I am aware that there has been a problem for some time and it has been accepted practice that processing claims takes eight to ten weeks. The Department gave an explanation and stated that people receive an immediate gratuity or some other payment from their employer to tide them over. It seems harsh that people should be placed in this position. The...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I welcome the clarification the Minister has given. It is a good idea to have payments collected weekly. Another element in the article I read stated that people are not normally asked for clear or photographic identification. Can the Minister consider introducing that through regulation? The same article had a build-up of so many incidental facts that an accurate case was suggested. It...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, between lines 10 and 11, but in Part 1, to insert the following: ""Spouse" shall be construed to include marriages and civil partnerships between persons of the same sex which would be recognised in other jurisdictions.". This is an attempt redefine the term "spouse" to include same sex couples. In an extraordinary move a number of years ago, the Minister's...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: While I do not wish to impugn the Minister's honour or goodwill in this matter, since the Social Welfare Bill was used as an instrument to discriminate viciously against gay people, it is perfectly appropriate that it be used in a positive manner to remove the discrimination. There is nothing to prevent that in the future. It can be done now quite easily, simply and technically. It would...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I thank the Minister for her courteous response. This will be my last intervention on this matter. To have something in the heads of a Bill does not matter a tuppenny damn. In the Charities Bill 2007, we had a clear indication that human rights would be included as it had been included in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and even Australia. However, it was suddenly whipped out....

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I, too, support the amendment, particularly the element Senator Prendergast singled out, the issue of mortgages. I raised this issue on the Order of Business for many months before the situation became disastrous. I am concerned about it. At least, mortgage interest rates have fallen. However, we are moving towards a situation of considerable unemployment and the point made by my two...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I will comment briefly on section 28? I pay tribute to the work that is done by the money advice and budgeting service. It is an important arm of the social welfare system. It does a great deal to assist people who are bewildered by the financial predicament in which they find themselves. I commend any provision the Minister might consider that would strengthen this worthwhile service, to...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I oppose this section of the Bill, just as I will oppose every section in Part 5. It may seem like a slight waste of time to oppose the definition of "agency" for the purposes of this part of the Bill. I will give my reasons for opposing Part 5 when we reach section 31, which provides for the dissolution of the Combat Poverty Agency.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

David Norris: We are speaking about the section that sets out the definition of "agency".