Results 8,421-8,440 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

David Norris: I think it more appropriate to extend sympathy to the Minister than to welcome her to the House, although I accept that she has fought a sterling battle in this area. The title of her Department is a misnomer. It has not acted in terms of social protection but in terms of social devastation. I am reminded of the United Nations designation of areas as "safe zones" during the Balkan war....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

David Norris: I am grateful for the Chair's indulgence and I apologise for being greedy.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

David Norris: I would like to ask for a debate on values. We start every day here with a prayer and the Constitution invokes the central mysteries of the Christian religion. People are sometimes diffident about this and every year we hear that in certain places Christmas trees are found objectionable, although I have never heard any Muslim, Jewish person or Buddhist object to them. I object strongly,...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

David Norris: We had here yesterday a Minister from a party that at one stage had some socialist leanings who seemed in at least one statement to epitomise the most ruthless form of capitalism, saying that people should receive in proportion to what they put in. There is a mysterious text in the Bible, "For he that hath, to him shall be given, and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

David Norris: We have an opportunity to stand up and on the budgetary matters, we should look at this and stand not for parties but for the people or Ireland and strike a blow, because it is our constitutional responsibility to revise legislation if it is not satisfactory, if it conflicts with the values of the Irish people. It is our moral responsibility, each and every one of use, whether we are members...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

David Norris: Yes, I am calling for a debate on the values that lie beneath what is happening in this country. I do not think they should be commercialised. I was horrified to learn the largest selling game in history is a violent war game that is sold at Christmas. What are our values? Are we Christians? I have previously expressed reservations about the prayer not because I am anti-religious but...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

David Norris: No, it would be the "Ballad of Joe Hill".

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

David Norris: Hear, hear. Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

David Norris: Good.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

David Norris: They did.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

David Norris: And peerages.

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

David Norris: I am pleased to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, back to a House where he was a clear and concise performer whose contributions to debate I remember well. I would like to join in the accolades to my colleague Senator Barrett, who is not a Member of the Opposition but a Member of the Independent group. It is a pity that Senator Sheahan could not resist the opportunity to score a...

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

David Norris: Yes, but it was unnecessary because the situation is far too serious and I know the Senator is a serious man with a clear view on the issue. I share Senator Sheahan's regret regarding Senator Barrett. I greatly regret that Senator Barrett was not elected to the Seanad at least ten years ago. If somebody of his clarity of vision, expertise and technical competence had been elected, those...

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

David Norris: If obligations are imposed upon us from outside and by institutions outside of the State, without the democratic consent of the people, and we are left paying the bills of other people, we should certainly negotiate. I think what Senator Quinn's father was suggesting was that while one should pay one's bill, one should not pay everything that is demanded by a bully. Rather, one should...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

David Norris: January will mark the beginning of an important year and a milestone in literary scholarship. The works of James Joyce will partially come out of copyright. They first came out of copyright in 1991 and they were retrospectively reinserted into copyright some years later as a result of harmonisation measures by the EU. I warned the Government and specifically the Minister responsible that...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

David Norris: I thank the Leader.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Norris: I appreciate the position in which the Minister finds herself. I speak as an independent Senator and I understand that she is being obliged to honour arrangements that were made before she came to office. That is a very complicating factor. I was spoke out and voted against all of those arrangements, including the bank guarantee. I saw this difficulty coming down the tracks and I knew...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Norris: Yes, I know. However, the Minister framed some of her comments in a general context. I am sure the Senator would not wish to usurp the role of the Leas-Chathaoirleach in this matter. I will stand to be reproved by him but not — even though I have great respect for her — by the Senator.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Norris: Most of my comments to date have related directly to the section. It is rather a pity — perhaps this is due to the fact that we are dealing with the usual cascade of work at the very end of the session — that the list of amendments is filled almost entirely with recurrences of the term "Section opposed". I suppose this indicates, to a degree, principled opposition to the entire Bill,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Norris: The penny has dropped with me.