Results 8,661-8,680 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2012)

David Norris: Last week we had a very interesting debate on the media in which we heard a limp speech by the Minister. For me, what was most significant was that when I took on the media, I looked around and noticed that some of my colleagues on all sides of the House were applauding, where they could not be seen by the cameras or picked up by the microphones. I call on the Taoiseach to come to the House...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2012)

David Norris: -----if he would send a representative, he replied, "No." When I asked him if he would initiate an inquiry into ethics and standards in the Irish media, he replied, "No," and when I asked him if he would pass or promote the privacy Bill, he replied, "No." It is not good enough.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I am proposing an amendment that the Taoiseach come to the House today to answer the questions I have raised, namely, why did he, as the Prime Minister of this independent republic, write a leading article in The Sun on Sunday and was he paid for doing so?

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2012)

David Norris: It certainly is being pressed, particularly in light of the performance of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, who only came alive when seeking to hide behind the words of the former Deputy, Michael McDowell.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: Not necessarily.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: He cannot speak for me.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: Europe is getting money out of us, hand over fist.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: With regard to the campaign for the new fiscal treaty, I believe this treaty will impose considerable austerity for generations to come. We will undoubtedly be in a vice. This is tying us in; it is bullying from Germany. That country is at it again. The entire system is rotten and should be pulled down. This Government is collaborating. It has appointed Goldman Sachs as advisers for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I appeal to the House to balance this.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: We have an international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights. This will protect the homeless, the people who are now wandering the streets looking for somewhere to live. What about them in all this economic theory? We signed this international covenant but we have not signed the protocol that was agreed in 2008, so there is no method of enforcement. If we are serious about...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: On a point of order and if I might correct the Leader, I referred to bringing down the European financial system.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: It is a point of fact. I do not like to be misrepresented.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I am glad to have this accidental opportunity to pay tribute to the late Senator Mickey Doherty. I say accidental because it is not on the Order Paper and I was taking a briefing about a completely different matter and I came back here thinking I might have missed an amendment I was interested in on the other Bill. By pure accident, Senator Doherty has served me well. I am one of the few...

Seanad: Standing Order 30 (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: I wish to raise a specific and important matter of public interest, that is, that the report of the commission on the review of Ireland's finances has been leaked by the Bundesbank and is currently being discussed by the finance committee of the Bundestag and on Bloomberg television in advance of the material being made available to the representatives of the people in the Oireachtas. It is...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: The reason I was waving was not to draw attention to my Standing Order 30 request but to get into the debate on this amendment. While I completely respect the ruling of the Chair, I wonder what it would take to get a different ruling. I remember proposing a matter in regard to an ESB strike where I was told from the Chair it was not a matter contemplated under that order or of national...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: He has muddied the waters quite a bit by talking about members of other communities and other languages. My mother disdained politics but she was fluent in French, Swahili and Kikongo. Had she been elected to this House or been nominated by the Taoiseach of the day, it would not have been very sensible for her to display her talents at Kikongo or Swahili. English and Irish are perfectly...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: Whatever it is, a specific situation arises in this regard. Here, again, we have the parties looking after themselves with regard to the allocation of funds. What about independence? What about people who have to reach into their own pockets? It is an abrogation of democracy that political parties get funding from the taxpayer as if we were not all taxpayers. Why not give consideration...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: Then do not.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

David Norris: That is a matter for the Chair, not the Senator.