Results 7,141-7,160 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I am sure the Senator will attempt to address what he sees as my failure of logic but this is the Upper House of the Oireachtas, not the debating chamber in which, I read in The Irish Times, he did extraordinarily well as an undergraduate.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: There is an argument that hunting is as humane as and as much in concert with the realities of life in the wild for it to occur as a culling mechanism. If it is a choice between the hunt, with its long traditions in the country and so long as it is at least humanely controlled, and the process of gassing, shooting or trapping foxes in a cull when they become regarded as vermin, it is better...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I imagine those involved in fox hunting are made of sterner stuff. All of us have received obnoxious material through the post. My distinguished colleague, Senator Cummins, read out a very unpleasant message and I certainly do not approve of such behaviour. The Animal Liberation Front is basically an English movement which has carried out some horrible and inexcusable terrorist escapades...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: However, it is a marginal element in Irish society and I am not aware that it has done much, other than picketing Barnardo Furriers at the bottom of Grafton Street. I imagine the sort of pamphlet described by Senator Cummins would cause more concern among shop assistants than among the hardy members of the hunt fraternity, many of whom are well known to me. I assure Senators they would give...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I think so.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I find it increasingly worrying that I concur with Senator Mullen.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: If it arises that somebody feels threatened, it would be useful to know what recourse or protection is open to him or her. Perhaps in unusual circumstances, names could be withheld from the public. However, in terms of dog breeding establishments, I have no difficulty with making full information available because the public should know how many dogs are being kept. Professional dog...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I would like to clarify that when I spoke about a minority, I was referring to the Animal Liberation Front and not any group lobbying——

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I am not sure whether minorities or majorities were lobbying. I was lobbied by both sides. To a certain extent, I am supporting the Government against my own interest because I have been heavily briefed by opponents of the legislation, including in a rather interesting and intelligent letter from a constituent of mine, a Trinity graduate, who says he is very concerned about the impact that...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I am well aware of that and this point is directly relevant. He continues: Hunt kennels are very different, they are run on a not for profit basis, [I am sure the Chair can see now this is directly relevant] any hounds that are given to other clubs nationwide are gifted or drafted to other clubs and no money is exchanged. Similar legislation was put in place in various parts of the UK,...

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I would like to share time with Senator Quinn.

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for lifelong education. Many mature people are going back to college. I would like to raise two specific cases, the first of which relates to a woman who was born and educated in Ireland and lived here for some years. She has recently returned to Ireland after spending four years abroad working with a voluntary organisation. When she...

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: It is important we get this right and encourage people because the economy is in difficulty and skills deficits have arisen in certain economic sectors. For example, the medical technology, chemicals and pharmaceutical industries have increased their share of Irish exports from 32% in 2000 to 51% in 2008. As a result, the number of applications for science degrees has surged, which I...

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I have made most of the points I intended to make. I am sure Senator Quinn concurs with my final point given that he pioneered the advocacy of electronic communications in the House. It seems daft that we still send out 80,000 CAO application forms and handbooks to students when almost everybody applies on-line. Why are we wasting so much paper? The handbook is sent out in hard copy which...

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I thank Senator Ross for kindly sharing time. I do not need to welcome the Minister of State as the Senator already did so. The Labour Party should have been allowed to call a division on the motion as it would have won it. That no Government Senator was present when the motion was moved created a rather awkward situation in such a serious debate. I remember winning a vote against the...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

David Norris: The Senator should move to these benches where he would be made very welcome.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I call for an urgent debate on homelessness in Dublin. I raised this issue previously in the context of what I felt was a rather bureaucratic approach by the Homeless Agency on the collection, harvesting and retention of data on the homeless. It was rather insensitive. Now, the situation has become much worse because the Salvation Army in conjunction with Dublin City Council has announced...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

David Norris: The chaotic ones are the problem.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

David Norris: It is the chaotic people who are vulnerable.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

David Norris: Out with him. Off with his head.