Results 6,221-6,240 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

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

David Norris: I will leave it at that, but I want the record of the House to show that it is a complete absurdity and that there is no possible charge on the Exchequer. Once again this is being used to get an amendment out of the remit of the Seanad. They shove it down as a charge on the Exchequer. It is patent rubbish.

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

David Norris: I cannot. We cannot have a vote.

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

David Norris: Does the Senator think it creates a charge on the Exchequer, after my explanation? It does not.

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

David Norris: I thank the Senator.

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

David Norris: It must go on the record that the Government spokesperson has said it is a good amendment. He thinks it is correct and that it does not create a charge on the Exchequer, and he has asked the Minister of State to consider the issue. That is an important point. In light of this, we need to review our procedures in the House. I say that with no disrespect to the Cathaoirleach or the staff of...

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

David Norris: With the greatest respect, I challenge the Cathaoirleach's view on that. I have served here for 21 years and, traditionally, Members spoke, at some moderate length, particularly on an important Bill such as this one. It would not be appropriate to close such provision and I am glad the Cathaoirleach, in his wisdom, did not do so. I welcome this Bill. I believe everybody would agree that...

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

David Norris: The Senator did not get one from me.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2009)

David Norris: I second Senator O'Toole's amendment. I support the call by Senators Fitzgerald and O'Toole for a debate on the report on child abuse, particularly in light of motion No. 9 on the Order Paper which refers to the extraordinary exemption of the churches from the operations of the equality legislation. The churches are now placed above the law with regard to equality, which gives them the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: I apologise to the Minister for this small intervention but I was at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and heard the vote. In regard to the section and the vote we just had, will the Minister outline why, for example, none of the principals in the present rather awkward financial situation has been addressed under the existing legislation dealing with reckless trading? I...

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: I thank the Minister for her response because I somewhat jumped the situation. I will have to go back to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs but I would like to signal to the Government that many people would be concerned. I was director, chairman and chief executive of two small companies and I was very conscious that if one behaved in a certain way, one would be in danger of...

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: The road to Limerick?

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: May I suggest that the phrase, "Put a cork in it", would be appropriate?

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: Come on, the Minister is losing credibility.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: In 2008.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: I wish to share time with my colleague, Senator Feargal Quinn. The Minister of State is a decent man, as I know only too well, but he has a brass neck to come into the House and deliver that drivel. I am glad to say, however, that he looked miserable doing it and he has every right to be so. He mentioned the question of percentages. It is perfectly obvious that since the matter was...

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: It is absolutely outrageous. The whole thing is a spin. On "Prime Time" on 5 May, in response to a question from Mr. Justin Kilcullen, the Minister of State said we were protecting short-term emergency humanitarian aid because that was where our focus was. We want to save lives, but we are saving lives with our programme in any event. Yet when the researchers contacted the Minister of...

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: It is on page 4, where he talks about the wonderful generosity of the Irish people. It is not his generosity, I would say. He says he is continuing to work towards the target. He continues to work towards missing it. This is disastrous. He says he accepts that the cuts, which are savage, will have an effect. He does not even have the nerve to acknowledge that it is a negative effect....

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: It is correct. I will dispute that with the Minister of State and we can bandy figures, but these are the cuts. I said the Minister of State had a brass neck, but I do not believe he wrote that stuff. Neither do I believe that he framed the motion. I believe that if he was left on his own he would fight and I hope the strong words he has heard in the Seanad tonight will give him armaments...