Results 6,481-6,500 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

David Norris: The Senator would love to dilute any bit of decency, celebration or human rights out of it. We know that perfectly well.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

David Norris: He is inviting it.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

David Norris: It is part of the tradition of this House to interrupt contentious comments.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Second Stage (30 Jun 2009)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State. Like many preceding speakers, I am an amateur and do not have legal qualifications. Unfortunately, I missed the contribution by my colleague, Senator Bacik, who has an astute, professional view on these matters. However, I have some comments to make. I will comment first on the Minister of State's speech and then on a short briefing I got from the Irish...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Second Stage (30 Jun 2009)

David Norris: On one or two, but it is a pity the Senator is such a sour puss on gay rights.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Second Stage (30 Jun 2009)

David Norris: Perhaps we will subject the Senator to surveillance, put a tracking device on him and see what he is up to see if we can embarrass him into supporting it - a bit of blackmail.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Second Stage (30 Jun 2009)

David Norris: No. We must not let this debate get too light-hearted because this is a serious matter.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Second Stage (30 Jun 2009)

David Norris: I notice the Revenue Commissioners can apply to carry out surveillance. This must be considered only in a serious situation. I do not believe every little person who is massaging his tax returns should be subject to this. They deserve a little slack and not this kind of surveillance. The Minister of State spoke about ex parte applications. Of course the application would be ex parte as...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

David Norris: I support the call by Senator Leyden for a debate on the Middle East. At this hour, as we speak, my former partner of many years, Ezra Yitzrak Nawi, is being sentenced in a court in Jerusalem. His crime is that he took part in a non-violent demonstration against the demolition of the home of two elderly Palestinians. Film clearly shows him removing stones from the hands of some of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

David Norris: Senator Regan is a victim of friendly fire.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

David Norris: When will the Government accept our amendments?

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

David Norris: The Leader's party has had its hands in our pockets.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

David Norris: I wish to share time with Senator Quinn.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State. I listened with interest to the contribution of the Minister, Deputy Gormley, and I note he intends the charge to relate not just to rental and holiday homes but also to vacant properties. That is a good development because it will provide an incentive for the charge to be passed on. It is critical the Minister should make clear that the most important...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

David Norris: I am sure the Acting Chairman, who is a good Roscommon man and very flexible, will allow me to make a concluding point.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

David Norris: I take this opportunity to scotch the rumours to the effect that I am interested in pursuing the position of elected lord mayor of Dublin. Establishing a directly elected office of lord mayor is a good idea.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

David Norris: If there is to be a directly elected mayor, he or she must possess the right talents. I am modest enough to state that I do not possess them. In addition, he or she must have access to a proper, decent, good, independent budget.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

David Norris: Senator Quinn would make a very good lord mayor. I would campaign on his behalf and vote for him.

Seanad: Unemployment: Motion (1 Jul 2009)

David Norris: I will join the debate from a specific angle because it could be a wide debate. The Minister of State has honourably and honestly put on the record of the House a serious situation, namely, the more than 400,000 people who are unemployed. It is a catastrophic situation that we would not have contemplated some years ago. What will our response be? I will not savage the Government and there...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

David Norris: I am floating in on this rather opportunistically. Senator Doherty raised the spectre of self-catering units and asked whether the fine was to be applied to each unit. I received communication at a very late date from somebody I know who is engaged in the self-catering chalet business. The cost of levies and fines would apparently be sufficient to put him out of business. If possible, I...