Results 6,621-6,640 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

David Norris: Perhaps you might indicate when that barrier has been reached so that I can break it. This is not a tsunami and is not an inevitable naturally occurring phenomenon. It is man-made and there must be a way out of it. It is a mirror image of the 1929 crash, of which people of my generation heard but have not experienced, and that is worrying as we are back in the same situation. However,...

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

David Norris: Yes, there is. The other side is spinning it furiously in the opposite direction. I am not interested in that but I am interested in one fact, that in none of the contributions so far, by the Minister of State, Government speakers or Opposition speakers, has there been any mention of the moral parameters which led to this crisis. This has been instigated by greed, folly, gambling,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear. Put it down and I will sign it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

David Norris: Senator Keaveney has asked that those who changed their minds on the Lisbon treaty be instructed to say why. I am one of those who did so. I was the first, or among the first, in this House to oppose, campaign and vote against the Lisbon treaty but I changed my mind because we had made substantial gains - we had retained the Commissioner and protected the tax regime. Most important,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

David Norris: She will be greatly missed here.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

David Norris: It is very relevant, if I may, with the greatest respect, contradict the Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I hope Senator Bacik will take a seat in the Government to come and that she will be made Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the tradition of Nora Owen from Fine Gael and Máire Geoghegan Quinn from Fianna Fáil. I believe she will be outstanding in that role.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

David Norris: We remember him bringing war to Iraq.

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (6 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I support the amendment which seems obvious and logical. If an operator is deemed unfit, he should be deemed unfit right across the board, in which case it would be inappropriate for him to operate with another licence. I have no difficulty in supporting the amendment which seems to be logical and which should be dealt with quickly.

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (6 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I have a small point. This is a refining of the import of the Bill because as I see it, a licence is a permission to operate. A contract suggests both the permission to operate and a slightly greater emphasis on the duties, obligations and responsibilities of the operator, both morally and legally. For that reason it is perhaps the better word.

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (6 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I support this amendment. This is an important section because it decides the principle under which large elements of the legislation will operate. It is important that we support our public transport system as strongly as possible. I was never an advocate of privatisation. I regard the privatisation of Aer Lingus and Eircom as disasters. Without any suggestion of a party affiliation,...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (6 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I am not shattered by surprise that Senator Cannon agrees with his former colleague, Senator O'Malley. They would not be ideologically poles apart. With regard to the transport service, I am reading a very interesting history of north Dublin city and county, illustrated by antique photographs. One of the stories is about the collapse of certain sections of the private transport service in...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

David Norris: In your statement on privilege, a Chathaoirligh, you indicated that you would tolerate no abuses of privilege. That is appropriate. However, as you spoke it seemed to me that you are allowing no use whatever of the privilege. A privilege that cannot be used is meaningless. I have used this privilege. It must be used sparingly and judiciously. I used it, within the term of this...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I take it-----

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

David Norris: -----rubbish for Wednesdays.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

David Norris: The Senator is a slow learner; we have tried to distil that into him.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

David Norris: What about meeting the Minister for Finance?

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

David Norris: What about Fianna Fáil's Minister? Fianna Fáil always targets its partners in government.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I do not need six. I shall take Senator Quinn's leavings.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I thank Senator Quinn for allowing me to speak in his time. Planning matters are very important, particularly as they impact on housing. The Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, has been in the House on a number of occasions dealing in a progressive manner with housing developments. We have had very interesting and useful debates. I am not as big a fan of An Bord Pleanála as some of my...