Results 9,261-9,280 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2012)

David Norris: It is a very bad practice. I will not call a vote on the Order of Business on this occasion but I will the next time.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Search Warrants) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jun 2012)

David Norris: I welcome the Bill to the House. I wish to place on record my regret that there was not a proper Order of Business today. This was regrettable indeed. I also wish to state without any impertinent reference to the present Minister's beliefs that I have challenged on several occasions the saying of the prayer because I regard it as sectarian. Although I am a believing Christian myself I...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Search Warrants) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jun 2012)

David Norris: I still got them on the record and that is what matters to me. This is an interesting and significant Bill. As the Minister stated, it follows the case of Mr. Ali Charaf Damache v. The Director of Public Prosecutions and others. This is because a warrant issued under section 29 of the Offences against the State Act by a detective superintendent, whom I will not name but whose name is known...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Search Warrants) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jun 2012)

David Norris: Unfortunately, it turned out that the vast majority of people whose houses were broken into by the police on foot of warrants were completely innocent. This highlights the fact that we must be very careful. A case is under way at the moment involving a Mr. Ted Cunningham. He is using a challenge to section 29 to obtain a situation where the Court of Criminal Appeal has quashed the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Search Warrants) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jun 2012)

David Norris: I am concluding now. I wish to state without any intention of being provocative that this is a Jesuitical distinction between an urgent consideration and an absolute one. If it urgent it should also be absolute.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: I would like to second Senator O'Brien's suggestion that we take motion No. 9 today. Not including the question of the abolition of the Seanad in the constitutional convention would make the convention an absolute farce. I am a little worried by the way the Seanad is going. Yesterday again, we had no Order of Business and today, again, we have no Private Members' business. It is almost as...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: I am sorry; there is one other thing I wanted to mention. The constitutional convention should also examine not just the term of the Presidency, but, as every party in this House has said historically, the method of election. We are avoiding the real issues and just dealing with side issues. It is a farce.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: On a point of order, I ask the Cathaoirleach to show leniency to Senator Healy Eames, who apparently called publicly for anyone who is not a leader and who speaks on more than one issue to be silenced for one month.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: I give him due praise for that. I raised a different question.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: That is a propaganda statement. I want an answer to my question.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: On a point of clarification, the record should show that once again it was the Government side that failed to take up Private Members' time, lending credence to my suggestion that elements on that side of the House are determined to wind down Seanad Éireann.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: Strike a blow for Seanad Éireann.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: There is a Minister waiting.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: On a point of order, I believe that wittingly or unwittingly, the Leader has misled the House. A Minister is available. There must be, because there must be a Minister to take the debate that had been scheduled.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: Debates often have been taken when the relevant Minister is not available with no response from the Leader.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: This is not true and the record will show there is no obstacle to this but the Leader now is trying to frighten-----

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: Does he have the power to exclude the Minister if the latter is willing to take part in the debate?

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Jun 2012)

David Norris: If there is no other Minister available, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, could not be more suitable.