Results 5,921-5,940 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I do not know about that.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I welcome the call yesterday by the leader of the Green Party and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, for Ireland to withdraw from the European Defence Agency, a call I have been making for a long time, in particular since that group, which coyly changed its name from the European Armaments Group, is interested in the manufacture of armaments and in...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: They make good headlines.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: It has been 16 years since Ireland signed the Hague Convention. That is quite a long time gap. That may explain one point which I find interesting. The Minister of State spoke persuasively about the power and significance of the English version. Then there was the matter of the French version. I wonder is there an Irish version of the Hague Convention. This would predate the position...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I support Senator Bacik, especially her final remarks. It would be cruel to inhibit the adoption of a sibling because adopted children, particularly if they are of a particular age group, can often be bereft and in need of support even though they may be placed in a positive family. Concern has been expressed to me about Vietnamese adoptions and, in fact, people have even indicated their...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Concerning my earlier comments on the Department's attitude regarding Vietnamese adoptions, there seems to be a certain amount of confusion. The closing of the existing bilateral agreement was triggered by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. That was in spite of a general acceptance that the Vietnamese experience has been a model one and was promoted as such by the...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I welcome the fact he has taken up the invitation extended to him by the House to provide a clearer commitment. He has certainly done so. There was a precision, clarity and materiality about what he said, particularly in respect of Vietnam, and I am sure his comments will be welcomed by the international adoption agencies. I welcome his...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: The Senator can give the IAA the good news.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: The Senators' concerns related to financial resources.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Does the Minister of State's office have enough money?

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: The Minister of State has addressed them.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Yes, it was.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: It definitely was discussed.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: My amendment is somewhat different. It seeks to insert in chapter 3, page 29, section 33, which states that the authority shall not make an adoption order or recognise an inter-country adoption effected outside the State unless the applicants are a married couple who are living together, a new subsection (b) which states that that the applicants are a couple of the same sex, over 21 years of...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: It is idiotic, contemptible and inhumane and it does not redress this human situation. Moreover, if we are interested in the rights of the child, why then do we not listen to what the children affected are saying? There have been a number of marvellous, courageous and splendid interviews on radio, television and in the newspapers by these children who want to know why we do not recognise...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Well said.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Gay people who agree.