Results 9,821-9,840 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Nov 2012)

David Norris: On a point of order, while we all appreciate the rapidity with which the Leader possessed himself of the information about cystic fibrosis, if he were to make a gracious gesture by circulating the full text to members and Ms Orla Tinsley, I would not press a vote on the Order of Business. Will he circulate the text?

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

David Norris: I compliment the Minister on his clear and cogent explanation. A large number of amendments were linked together and it was difficult to physically leaf through them to find them but I found the Minister's logic and in terms of the delivery it was clear and lucid. I had no difficulty in following it and I hope this will mark the progress of the Bill through the House. His approach is very...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

David Norris: I understand the Minister has some legal qualification. He has locus standi.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

David Norris: There would be mass liquidation of riding stables.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

David Norris: The Minister has cleverly anticipated virtually all of what I intended to say in my supplementary contribution. The Minister seems to agree section 2(1)(f) stands out like a sore thumb with the only non-State entity involved. That is reasonable, particularly in light of the fact that management companies are very often defective and do not provide the services they pretend to provide....

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

David Norris: I have set my mind to thinking of other socially desirable objectives. Destitute loan sharks should be excluded, or perhaps automatically included. People in financial distress have taken out loans from loan sharks, who are endemic and particularly so in our cities, and have run up enormous bills. The loan sharks should not get their money back. They should certainly be excludable.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

David Norris: There seems to be, theoretically, envisaged a possibility where some debt resolution should be made so that these loan sharks, who are people who charge up to 100% and 200% interest, might actually find their bills paid. I do not take the general sanitised view of debt. I think there is a case to be made that they should never be paid and certainly that they should not be paid out of...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

David Norris: I am not going to push the issue, but I am grateful to the Minister for his explanation. Of course, I was thinking of the excludable, which allows flexibility. The Minister need not reply to this, although if he wants to he may. Could he look at criminalising loan sharking? I am sure a definition could be given, perhaps in terms of the interest rates charged. This may be possible under...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

David Norris: Can the Minister please stop mixing his metaphors? One moment he is in an aquarium and the next he is in a zoo.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

David Norris: I support the two amendments. Amendment No. 4 appears to be general while amendment No. 134 specifies that people should not have their employment terminated nor should they be excluded from any trade or profession. In other words, they will not be kept out of employment as a result. This is perfectly reasonable and, in fact, it should be welcomed. This is not even bankruptcy and it is...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Nov 2012)

David Norris: It was worth coming to the House to hear the Minister elaborate on Fianna Fáil's taste for ceremonial jewellery. I wondered if this indicated a drift towards a monarchy. Tiaras, crowns and other orbs and sceptres come to mind. There was a certain imperial cast to their political fortunes some time ago. I understand the Fianna Fáil motivation in seeking to cover people providing...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Nov 2012)

David Norris: I quite understand. I hope the NCT is being applied to a standard throughout the country and that would meet that requirement. Perhaps it is not because I see cars that are plainly burning oil in a way that would suggest they have not been tested for some time. I would leave it to the NCT to look after that. Many people use cars in that low-price range, as I do. It is possible to buy...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Nov 2012)

David Norris: I am glad the regulator overturned the requirement to require taxis more than nine years old to be retired. I express my gratitude. I understand the Minister has taken on board suggestions concerning hire purchase. I raised this particularly with regard to the question of hire-purchase agreements for personal cars. I gather he has taken a fairly broad view of this, which I welcome.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Nov 2012)

David Norris: I suggest they contact the AA as the SIMI might have a vested interest.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Given that this is the first occasion on which the House has met since the Leveson inquiry published its report and in view of the fact that certain personnel who work on Irish editions of English newspapers indicated to the inquiry that similar practices existed here, will the Leader indicate whether the House is likely to discuss some of these matters? At this time of the year, we always...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

David Norris: There are people who have the moral impertinence to try to force such women to carry these foetuses to term. In my opinion, that is disgusting and I would like the opportunity to place some of the facts on record.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

David Norris: It will not be the last unless we hit those in Europe a good smack.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I certainly hope the Senator is right.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

David Norris: He certainly has.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Well said.