Results 5,961-5,980 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Is that Fine Gael policy?

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I greatly fear that Senator Alex White might be correct in his perception that this House is becoming increasingly irrelevant. That could explain why, once again, less that one third of the Members are present for the Order of Business, as has been the case over the past two weeks. I welcome the indictment of the President of Sudan on war crimes charges. His response was to exclude a number...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: There is also the problem with taxis. Taxi drivers were forced to increase their prices against their wishes. They are protesting on the streets today. It is absurd. A ridiculous number of unqualified people are coming into the taxi sector. The Competition Authority is now opposing the freezing of drink prices. What is going on? Finally, there is what happened to the most vulnerable...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Has it had an effect?

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I merely put a question.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Last year, the same people said there was nothing wrong with the economy.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: We need a commitment on the European Defence Agency.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: That was a question.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: That is bang on.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Second Stage (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I had not anticipated being the first speaker from the Independent group and I am certainly not the most qualified. I have some observations to make with an unusual degree of humility because I recognise my lack of expertise in this matter. I also recognise the expertise of the Minister of State in this area. However, I have some questions to ask about this legislation. As I entered the...

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Second Stage (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: What a relief that the Minister of State has some, but he is disposable. That is the thing. He is a mere ephemera in the situation. It is like the old Robert Bridges poem which includes the line, "But I go on forever". We have the permanent Civil Service. I am just wondering what the level of expertise is because apparently the contrast was that there are 100 civil servants in the...

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Second Stage (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I just want to come to a full stop. These loans should be put into a national property management agency. At the same time, we could bring all the banks together and have a State bank, a real bank of Ireland. That is where we could don the green jersey, roll the good elements together and put all the nasty stuff — it might be only nasty for a temporary period — into a national property...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I had intended to raise several issues today. However, this is such a tragically important day that I will, like other Members, confine myself to the tragic events in Northern Ireland. I agree entirely with Senator Hanafin that these people are gangsters. Before coming into the Chamber, I heard a speaker on RTE radio claim they are not gangsters. What else are they? They operate in armed...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Senator Harris has used it now.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Mar 2009)

David Norris: On a point of order, I do not believe for one second that anyone in this House was guilty of posturing and I ask Senator Harris to withdraw that suggestion.