Results 9,021-9,040 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

David Norris: Can the House have a debate on it?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

David Norris: I agree with Senator Mullen in that I believe a grievous wrong was done to Fr. Reynolds. However, the focus of the debate the Senator has called for is far too narrow; it should encompass the entire media. We have had a couple of meetings in here in this regard. I tried to introduce a privacy Bill. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, says he...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

David Norris: I will withdraw it because I want to get on with my substantial point, which concerns the gutlessness of the politicians in facing this issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

David Norris: The Government is concentrating entirely on the issue of Fr. Reynolds as if it were an isolated case, but we all know perfectly well it is not. I refer not only to RTE but to the sheer effrontery of the print media in affecting a self-righteous tone and talking about the evils of lying, door-stepping-----

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

David Norris: I am supporting the call for a debate on the failure of media to investigate properly before they publish. Every single one of them has been guilty of this. Let us have a proper inquiry. If we cannot do so ourselves, let us bring Lord Justice Leveson over here. Let him do it. Let us have a proper judicial inquiry into what is nothing but a collection of whited sepulchres. Since the...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

David Norris: I have heard of a smoking gun but this is the first time I have heard of a smoking bum. It now turns out the individual in question was supposed to be a double agent.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

David Norris: What exactly is going on? To whom are we handing over the information? I want to know the precise nature of the information. I ask the Deputy Leader to be kind enough to address this very serious issue about the handing over of information about Irish citizens to what is clearly a totally incompetent authority in a foreign power.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

David Norris: So half the people are idiots, are they?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

David Norris: "La-la land" sounds fairly close to it.

Seanad: Protection of Children's Health from Tobacco Smoke Bill 2012: Second Stage (9 May 2012)

David Norris: I thank Senator Barrett for his kindness. I commend my colleagues, in particular Senator Crown. I was fortunate enough to be in the AV room when he made his presentation. His speech on the Bill was a concentrated and even more brilliant demonstration of the presentation. I was greatly taken by the forcefulness, clarity and chutzpah of the young lad, Fionn O'Callaghan, in approaching the...

Seanad: Protection of Children's Health from Tobacco Smoke Bill 2012: Second Stage (9 May 2012)

David Norris: In that case I will just end by saying that this is a principle and we do discriminate against children. It is awful that we do it. I will communicate with the Minister on a matter, the fact that to my certain knowledge a 14 year old girl is being told that she must wait 18 months for an endoscopy. We should put children first. As an adult I got an endoscopy within a week because I was on...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

David Norris: I welcome the statement from President Obama that he supports gay marriage. It is a significant move that the most powerful political leader in the world has endorsed that. It is pleasing to note we have at least one leader who has a prophetic vision and is prepared to take a risk. I was a little worried about President Obama but he has restored my faith. I hope my faith will also be...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

David Norris: The facility of sharing time has always been available to Senators. It is a tradition of the House that should be retained.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

David Norris: The Cathaoirleach has been a Member of the House for almost as long as I have been here and he knows well Senators have traditionally shared time during Second Stage debates.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

David Norris: Yes, we have always done so.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (10 May 2012)

David Norris: On a point of order, I protest in the strongest possible terms about that decision. It is a completely fraudulent exercise by the Government and goes against the principles of democracy. To show how utterly hollow and disgraceful it is, that very Government over there allowed the sharing of time and it used, as a pathetic skeleton of an excuse, the fact there were two Ministers in the Chair.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (10 May 2012)

David Norris: I shall do so. I had received nothing on it until I got this notification on the day. It is 100% against the traditions of the House. I have served for 25 years here and I am the senior person. I am the father of this House.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (10 May 2012)

David Norris: Sharing is the obvious thing to do.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 May 2012)

David Norris: I am glad the Acting Chairman said unshared time because I object very strongly to the ruling that has been made on this matter. As the House is aware, I consider the decision to be violently undemocratic and I am astonished it was agreed to by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. It could not have gone through that committee without at least the complicity of the Government. This...