Results 901-920 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I am indicating a context forsomething I really want to say. A number of editors were asked a series of questions on the wireless today and not only did they continue to gloat in a most obscene manner, they went on to demand that this House and the Lower House pass Bills further weakening the position of individuals. It is not enough that the whole newspaper empire should crucify one...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I will finish on this point. We should have been given a proper opportunity to discuss these kinds of important issues in this House because, in the absence of a proper ventilated debate, this is the type of ignorant behaviour that is going on in this country.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I would love to, but we would have to have a special session.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: They do not want independent regulation. They want to police themselves.

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I speak as a confirmed and conscientious Luddite. I have never been attracted to this system for which there is not the slightest demand. Can the Minister of State give any indication that the Irish public demanded this? It seems to be an outbreak of technophilia. I thought I had invented that word until I read a very interesting paper by Mr. Andrew Ó Baoill so I am not alone in suspecting...

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: Or ATMs and other such machines. It is mad to assume that machines are incapable of fallibility. A person called Cringely — I apologise because I am not sure if it is a man or a woman, although the name could perhaps be the reason he or she concealed his or her sexual identity — said something interesting. He or she states: We turn to technology because it supposedly eliminates human...

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: It was a trial vote. I voted three times and no one spotted it. I almost did the same this morning, but then I thought it would treat the operation with contempt. I feel a little contempt for it. We must remember the deep vein thrombosis problem. Getting sedentary politicians to stand up and march around is good. It is also an opportunity to lobby and discuss issues. It allows for human...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I thank my colleague, Senator Henry, for making this time available to me. Senator Cox referred to the multicultural society which is correct and there is some recognition of this fact. I am disappointed, however, that no attempt is made here to investigate the registration of same sex partnerships. This is a lamentable situation. Between today and yesterday three couples have come to me...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: It is not a trivial matter.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: This causes great pain. I would laugh at it myself in some ways, but when I see the distress it has caused to Irish citizens it seems wrong. However, I will leave that for anotherday. The Minister has found a resolution to the Church of Ireland impediment because I was privy to a conversation between Senator Ross and Senator Mansergh this morning, both of whom had been approached by Bishop...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: The Senator might be decentralised if he does not.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister. I remember his RTE broadcast on budget day, during which one of the commentators said that in the present circumstances it did not look as if there was room for the traditional McCreevy surprise in the budget. The commentator got that one wrong because the Minister most certainly did provide a surprise, which was most interesting and intriguing. I look on the motion as...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I do not mind being interrupted at all, especially by the gracious lady on the front bench. The whole country is entitled to participate in our economic prosperity, which is one good argument for decentralisation. There are a great number of people from the country who may very well prefer to be in a rural environment, rather than in Dublin. I take that for granted but I am not quite so sure...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: That is true. I certainly agree, but unfortunately it has very little impact on the area, and that is a problem. I accept what the Senator says and admit that I was one of the critics. I thought that it was a white elephant, and I absolutely accept that I was wrong. I am glad it is there, but it does not have sufficient spin-off in the area. There is another specific matter which I want to...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: The Senator is welcome to those 200. I hope they take some of the creatures that we see in here sometimes; they will be grand down in Roscrea. In fact, the Senator can have the whole damn lot of them if he wants them. That the authority is being decentralised to Roscrea while the Department is largely staying here is significant. It is being taken away from the area where it fits in...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: Before the adjournment of this debate, I was talking about the differentiation between married and unmarried parents and the situation in which the father is not registered. However, he can be registered if there is an agreement between the mother and the father and there is a statutory declaration in the presence of a commissioner of oaths. That is an advance on the previous situation....

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I support Senator Ryan's call for a debate on the Middle East. I agree that it is terrible to think that the lives of Palestinians and Iraqis are held in such low regard. I also feel very sorry for the soldiers and their families in America. They are all human beings. In the newspaper today there is a report of one young man weeping as he held the remains of one brother while his other...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

David Norris: For Senator White.