Results 6,001-6,020 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: If it was the GAA it would be a different matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I welcome the presence of Mr. John Drennan in the Press Gallery on what I think is his third visit in a long, distinguished and somewhat acerbic career as a political analyst ——

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I hope his newspaper group will show a sustained interest in this House from now on.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: On the issue of the proposed strike, I am glad to be a member of three trade unions, IFUT, the NUJ and Equity and support the trade union movement. However, on each occasion I have voted against this strike. Senator O'Toole may well be correct that the trade unions are angry, but an angry response is not necessarily a rational one. I have heard of people cutting off their noses to spite...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: —— and ability to keep the pressure on consistently according to plan until it achieved victory in a difficult situation. These are the kind of qualities the Government needs. Consider too how the team united the country. There was not much political verbiage. I saw the team coming back at the airport and saw Ulstermen there delighted to see the tricolour. Ulster voices intimated...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Let us not forget either the victory of Katie Taylor, another world champion and a woman. That was a day of which we could all be very proud.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear. Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I find myself in the highly unusual position of disagreeing with my distinguished colleague Senator Joe O'Toole on virtually everything he said. I disagree first on the issue of fees. I have always objected to the phrase "free fees". It is an ugly phrase and a complete oxymoron. It is nonsense and means nothing. There is no such thing as free fees because someone somewhere is paying. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: This must be our fight if we really value education. Another battle to be fought is that for an appropriate means test. We must not disadvantage anybody. It would be shameful to take money from the poor to educate the rich. I know that argument does not appeal to Senator O'Toole, but I feel strongly about it. I have spoken to my friends on the left who have talked about changing the tax...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I am about to put a question through the Chair to the Leader. On television on Friday he stated he facilitates and responds to every single question in this House. That is not accurate and I ask him to reflect upon it. I understand opposition from the Leader has placed the Cathaoirleach in the embarrassing position of having to say continually he must hear contributions from Members that...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I only need a minute.

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I am most grateful to Senator Ó Domhnaill for so graciously allowing me to speak because otherwise I would not get a chance to contribute to this debate at all. A minute should be more than sufficient time. As I understand it there are two principal problems. The first is geographic spread and the second is speed. I do not think they have been completely addressed by the Government...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: ——which was then raided by Tony O'Reilly. It was a smash and grab raid and then there was asset stripping and absolutely no investment in broadband. That is where the whole problem originates. If this side of the House wants to condemn the Government and State institutions for their lack of investment and lack of progress, why does it not condemn equally private business for what it...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I share the views of Senators Fitzgerald and O'Toole with regard to the satirical portrait of the Taoiseach. There may be a slight sting attached to it, but the Taoiseach is a man of strong satirical humour. I am very glad he was not consulted about the reporting of this matter to the Garda. There is a very long tradition of political satire. One need only think of Rowlinson, Gillray and...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: This is the central mystery and tenet of the Christian religion. It is not only Roman Catholics who are offended, I am offended. It is blasphemous, but there should not be criminal laws for blasphemy. However, one should express the fact that young people are being demeaned for commercial purposes. The Islamic faith regards Jesus Christ as one of the principal prophets, and to mock the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: ——why this had not been addressed in legislation. When told it had been addressed, he said he knew that. If he knew it, why did he ask the idiotic question to which he already knew the answer? Will the Leader raise again the issue of line rental for telephone services. Our charges are the highest in Europe — I have raised this matter repeatedly. We nationalised ground rents and...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Senator Walsh needs to circulate it.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Not to me.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I hope I have the Leader's support for the park.