Results 7,401-7,420 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

David Norris: I will sit down in that case. It is important for people to tell the truth. I wish I had more time because I would like to highlight some examples of dishonest and selective journalism. There is very little investigative journalism in this affair. If they are so interested, let them investigate the degree and quality of the contributions. Voting is a technical matter and we always lose...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

David Norris: I agree with my colleagues who welcomed the massive intervention of the EU in the form of its financial rescue package. The position is serious. If one considers the figures in terms of public debt expressed as a percentage of GDP, Greece is No. 1 at 124.9% and Ireland is No. 4. However, if one examines other figures, such as the budget deficit expressed as a percentage of GDP, Ireland...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

David Norris: I beg the House's pardon. Archbishop Martin is a courageous and decent man. It is difficult to hear him say he is disheartened and that there are forces within the church. We know there are forces from yesterday's newspapers, according to which Cardinal Schönborn of Vienna stated that one of the principal officers of the church, perhaps Cardinal Sodano, had inhibited the inquiry into...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

David Norris: I welcome the decision of the European Investment Bank to make a loan of €500 million available for the development of metro north. This is a very positive move which I think the House will welcome, especially since the idea was originally given legislative form in this Chamber. It is important that we do this now because the money will be comparatively cheap, labour will secured be at a...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

David Norris: I accepted their advice. I went back to my office and cleared my desk. My participation was not important but the event was. I listened this morning on radio to Vincent Browne who felt the response of the gardaí involved had been proportionate. A woman said she had attended many demonstrations and had always been impressed by the behaviour of gardaí. They had always been friendly,...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 May 2010)

David Norris: I believe I have already congratulated the Minister of State, Deputy Connick, but if I have not had that opportunity, I do so now and welcome him to the House. I am particularly glad he is present because, approximately one week ago, a very interesting meeting on safe food was organised by our colleague, Senator Buttimer, with John Dardis, the head political person in Safe Food Ireland,...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 May 2010)

David Norris: They were the Minister of State's lot. That is fine by me. I am not prejudiced at all. I am totally politically promiscuous, as the Minister of State knows. I have friends in all parties and do not believe I have too many enemies in any of them. These people were involved in beef farming, both dairy and meat production. The point they made was that the new grading system introduced by...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

David Norris: May we have a debate on how we can maximise the resources available? I was at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham last night for the O2 ability awards ceremony, an event which was really inspiring, at which people who had overcome difficulties were recognised. Companies benefit because of their immense loyalty and the immense energy and drive they bring to them. The awards scheme was founded by...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

David Norris: I second the amendment to the Order of Business. It is very important to have debates on the economy. If the Minister is able to come to the House - I hope he will be able to come - we should discuss the ratings agencies. I have been talking about this and so have other colleagues and it has now belatedly come to the attention of the European Union. Hedge funds are going to be addressed...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

David Norris: It is really disturbing. There may be a few little bits and pieces, some of which comes from the Independent benches. We are contributing legislatively this week at least as much, if not more, than the Government, and that is ludicrous. I note Mr. Hamilton said we may need, in certain circumstances, to move white collar crime to non-jury courts with panels of expert judges because such...

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State. The matter I want to raise concerns depleted uranium and its use in weapons systems. I raise it in a very positive context. Earlier in this session a very useful Bill was introduced by Senator Boyle to ban uranium weapons. This was in the aftermath of Belgium becoming the first country in the world to introduce such a ban. We are in a useful position...

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: If the Leas-Chathaoirleach would be kind enough to indulge me, I am about to reach a conclusion. The position with regard to Bosnia-Herzegovina is disastrous. NATO continues to refuse to provide co-ordinates in respect of unexploded depleted uranium weapons. Some of these weapons are buried over 1 m beneath the surface of agricultural land on which vegetables are still grown. The relevant...

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: That is not true.

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: I am glad the Minister of State carefully distanced himself from support of the content of the reply and made it clear that he was simply a puppet acting on behalf of the Minister. I would be surprised if the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, supports this attitude. I do not know what gobdaw produced this rubbish. The Minister of State said: "To date, no evidence of an unusual incidence of...

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: Would the Minister of State regard a 200% increase in cancers and birth defects as evidence? The US and UK armies and various military pension funds have all found this association and an international panel of scientists have absolutely-----

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: No, I have not.

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: In this country we are rightly concerned about low levels of radon which is one of the by-products of depleted uranium. What is the Minister of State's response to Senator Boyle's Bill? The Green Party is in government and most Fianna Fáil Members supported the legislation. The Minister provided clear support and would be horrified by the statement that depleted uranium does not pose a...

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: Neither has Belgium and that did not stop it banning them.