Results 8,501-8,520 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2012)

David Norris: It concerns a drafting error. Well spotted.

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2012)

David Norris: I would be interested in the Minister's reply as the question of hiring retired teachers has been raised previously. As someone involved in the teaching profession, I know it is important to give people a chance. I heard this matter being discussed on the wireless and the point was made that the hiring policy would only operate for a short period, and a change might not be of any...

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2012)

David Norris: I would also welcome an explanatory note because it would seem that there could be a question of fairness at stake. I am intrigued by the niceness, in the 18th century sense of the word, of Senator Mullen's constance when he is dealing with monetary matters but he seems less troubled by the dismissal of people on grounds where their lifestyle comes into conflict with the management of the school.

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2012)

David Norris: I beg your pardon.

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2012)

David Norris: Senator Averil Power's amendment seems to make a good deal of sense, as subsection (4) is unnecessarily rigid. It is good to be flexible. The example given was that of a person on holidays for a few days, who was ill or experiencing a family emergency and so on. It is possible that matters such as registering can be overlooked for a short period. Therefore, the provision appears to be...

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2012)

David Norris: If one is computer literate.

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2012)

David Norris: In the old days one was automatically sent a reminder concerning one's driving licence and so on. For example, if one is like me and has a ten year driving licence, one does not remember having applied for the licence on 4 July or whatever the date was ten years ago. Would it be possible for a reminder to be sent? If so, people would have no excuse and Senator Averil Power and I would have...

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2012)

David Norris: I see.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

David Norris: Good.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

David Norris: The whole thing should not have been privatised.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I call for a full debate on the economy. I am not entirely critical of the Government. It has been responsible for some good management. I did not have the opportunity to contribute yesterday but I am sure the question of Davos was raised. I wish to raise it again because it seems to me that we did not go mad. I strongly resist that statement. I remember saying in this House - and being...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

David Norris: There were those among the audience who were at previous meetings in Davos where they awarded a special accolade to Anglo Irish Bank for its practices. They were the ones who went mad and this was an opportunity that was lost to tell the international audience that the Irish people were suffering to pay for the stupidity and foolishness of the German and French banks.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

David Norris: The other thing that concerns me is the statement of the Minister, Deputy Varadkar. He is a highly intelligent man and he said the referenda were undemocratic. That is an extraordinary statement, but we see this all across Europe. It is a general trend. In the heart of democracy in Greece a Prime Minister was removed because he dared to suggest questioning the people. A referendum is...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

David Norris: Would it not have been better to have had a referendum on the bank bailout?

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I call for a debate on asylum and immigration issues and ask the Leader to inform us when the relevant legislation will be introduced. I do so partly in light of the situation regarding the Polish woman who was mistranslated. I wish to refer to something Killian Forde said, if I could be heard, on the radio last night. He said with regard to the tabloids that the coverage of the issues was...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

David Norris: My question is whether we can have a wide-ranging discussion in advance of the introduction of the legislation and whether the Leader could give us an idea of when the legislation, which is highly appropriate, will be introduced.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

David Norris: It shows gender balance.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

David Norris: Thanks to the University of Dublin constituency.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

David Norris: Some of the religious institutions bear a cultural responsibility in that as well.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister to the House and the introduction of this Bill. I agree that it will fundamentally change the way politics is conducted. In fact, I would go so far as to say it has the potential to transform the political landscape in this State in a very positive way. As the longest-serving continuous Member of the Seanad - the father of the House - it is a matter of pride to me...