Results 8,561-8,580 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: The Senator should not be such a tease. Was it about ruminants?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: We are all geesed here. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I will be very brief and this will be my final contribution. I will start by reminding my good friend and colleague, Senator Bacik, that balls is a metaphor and is completely gender neutral. I can provide a number. It was not directed at the gonads but rather it is a political metaphor frequently used-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I was answering a point raised by my colleague.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I agree very much with Senator Mac Conghail on the question of-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: -----corporate donations and the nuanced nature of the Bill as reflected in some of these amendments. It is very important that there be transparency, and the role of the Standards in Public Office Commission is a crucial one. We have seen in America how the political system can be corrupted by massive corporations. Just look at the tobacco industry and the criminal activities in which it...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: This Government controls everything - the councils, the Seanad, the Dáil, the Presidency, although we are lucky in that we have an Independent rump in this House.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I am making the point, if I may, about the Independents. I will finish on this point because it has been raised a number of times. It is a very populist thing to talk about vouched and unvouched expenses. I suggest the Minister gives me accounting services so that I can hold on to all these things and have them assessed.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: One gets a much lower level if one is unvouched. One has a choice between grabbing the honey pot and getting something much more.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I am a professional politician, as are we all in this House, including the Independents appointed by his Government. Why does the Government not permit election expenses to be allowable against tax, as a business expense? They are a business expense. We are in the business of politics. That is the kind of thing that improves political life.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: Yes, absolutely.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I do not think I said that.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: The Government has a pretty full house and now it has its eyes on doubling it.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I did not quite catch that remark.

Seanad: Food Wastage: Motion (15 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister. It is appropriate and helpful that he is present because he is a highly-competent individual who is well on top of his brief. The Minister has authority to do certain things and I am going to suggest one further action he might take. There does not appear to be any conflict between what Senators Quinn and Mary Ann O'Brien have proposed and what is contained in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I revert to a matter ventilated in the House yesterday, the review of embassies and, in particular, representation at the Vatican. I strongly support the work of the diplomatic corps. Ireland is extremely well served by it, although it is small when compared with that of other states such as the Netherlands. It does very good work and we get good value from it. As for the Vatican, I...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I seek a debate on the subject. I refer to the question of bin collection by Greyhound. This is a very serious matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I thank Senator Denis Landy. I will be brief. I am concerned about this matter because I myself have received completely contradictory notices from the Greyhound company as to the day on which I should leave out the bins. Everyone is in a mess and there does not appear to have been a proper tendering process. The company has a bad record and was obliged to repay money to CIE. In...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

David Norris: The elected representatives were not listened to. Moreover-----

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I seek a debate on this serious issue, particularly in the light of the waste of money. I understand Ernst & Young had its services secured, at a cost of a €250,000 to provide a list. I could do it in half an hour. Someone should, please, appoint me as a consultant, as I could do with €250,000. Moreover, I would do the job efficiently and for less. Next time, let the council seek...