Results 6,201-6,220 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: I thank the Minister of State for clarifying the point that the proposed provision is already met in legislation.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 61: In page 39, to delete lines 1 to 4 and substitute the following: "(3) However, if the court decides to determine the question of the custody of the child, the court shall do so having regard for the welfare of the child as the first and paramount consideration.". This goes to the heart of the primary importance of a child's welfare. I cannot imagine there could be...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: The people who briefed me on this wanted to have a further reassurance on this matter. They wished to have the legislation reflect and be embedded with best practice for children's welfare. I assume they will be satisfied by the Minister's response.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: I second the amendment. I agree completely with the argument made by Senator Fitzgerald. It is human to want to trace relatives as some stage in one's life, no matter how successful and happy is the adoption. In addition, increasingly adoptees are seeking information about their parental background in terms of illness profile and genetic predisposition to certain illnesses and so on. The...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: Does the Minister of State agree that is worrying?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

David Norris: I support the calls for a discussion on NAMA. It is extremely worrying that Dr. Michael Somers has said he does not know how it will work. He does not appear to have the staff or resources to deal with the role and appears to be pleading ignorance about it. That is very worrying from the person supposed to run NAMA. I would welcome the opportunity to talk on the issue because, on 10...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: I apologise to the House for my lateness. I had a long-standing appointment to meet the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Martin Cullen, on two very serious issues. Senator Ivana Bacik kindly moved my amendment in my absence and there was a useful and interesting discussion on it. I hope the Minister of State can make some movement on this issue. The amendment proposes that...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: I have heard all Senator Healy Eames's emotions. I am trying to deal with the matter rationally.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: Those families should also be considered. As human beings we must ask ourselves why so many children are being given up there but not here and what we can do in the best interests of the children. I am not at all antagonistic and I understand the human feelings of people in this country who want children, but that is not sufficient. It must be the welfare of the child. I say that with the...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: A visit.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: I support the amendment. The development of post adoptive services needs a legislative basis. Like almost everybody in the House, I have been contacted over the years by numerous people who needed to trace relatives, people who had been placed in various well-meaning adoption societies, particularly some of the Church of Ireland ones. Many societies seem to have dumped their records for...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: I understand that and will obey it as unctuously as I can. However, it is one of the great mysteries, whether a joyful, sorrowful or glorious one.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: I feel that as amendment No. 69 was allowed, discussion of amendment No. 71 should also have been allowed. If the Minister of State proposes to accept the idea of promoting the development of post adoption services, I put it to him - this shows my ingenuity - that among the areas that might be developed should be the undertaking of or assisting in research projects and activities related to...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: We managed to discuss it obliquely on another amendment.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: I would be interested in an explanation for this as amendment No. 81 simply states: "one shall be a person with direct personal experience of adoption, namely an adopted person". It is simply a back-up. The position will be filled and paid anyway. I am astonished at this. It defies common sense that the amendment could possibly create a charge on the Exchequer that does not already exist....

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: I have just pointed out that it could not possibly do so.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: Yes. The amendment simply states that one of the people shall be something or other. I have just explained it in terms of six people nominated to the Seanad under legislation, each of which costs €50,000. If an amendment stated that one of them must be a Roman Catholic or one of them must be from Ulster, that is a qualification but it does not create a charge on the Exchequer. I do not...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: Where did this ruling come from? It did not come from the Cathaoirleach; that is a polite fiction. It must have come from the Department of Finance. It does not know what it is talking about. I agree with the point made by Senator Fitzgerald, but whatever the argument about amendment No. 80, which might appear to add additional personnel, mine does not. It simply adds a qualification. I...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: How?

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

David Norris: I ask the Minister of State to give an explanation for this because it cannot possibly involve a charge.