Results 9,941-9,960 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: The cost of rebuilding must be taken into account.

Seanad: Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I oppose this Bill, as it is a load of nonsense. The insurance market depends on the calculation of actuarial risk. Women comprise a distinct group and carry a particular actuarial risk. It is perfectly appropriate that insurance companies deal with them in that manner. The same applies to young people, although it may be unfortunate for the good drivers within that group. As that is how...

Seanad: Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I will deal with what I want to deal with and will continue to say what I want to say. I thank the Chair for his advice and I will note it. It would be more appropriate to deal with this. We deal with a Bill on this issue, the Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill, which provided quite openly that humanists and wizards and witches and holy rollers of various kinds can perform marriages. I...

Seanad: Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: They do not have to insure against prostate cancer.

Seanad: Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Deviants are wonderful people.

Seanad: Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Perhaps the Minister of State could sneak in marriage equality as well.

Seanad: Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: A very good metaphor. The Minister of State has made my point. We are walking into a blindfold.

Seanad: Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Why was amendment No. 3 ruled out of order?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I am sorry, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, but I want to challenge your ruling. It is a complete nonsense. Amendment No. 3 simply states certain orders shall require the approval of an Oireachtas committee.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: What would the expense to the Exchequer be for sending an order to an Oireachtas committee?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I do not like nonsense. What is the expense involved? Members are paid a wage that will not increase because of referring an order to a committee.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I will make one comment and I do not propose to be troublesome, waste time or get myself thrown out of the House. That would not be in my interest or anyone else's. However, I take great offence at the affront to intelligence and truth contained in a statement from the Chair that the seeking of the approval of an Oireachtas committee causes an expense on the Exchequer. I want to register...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I thank the Minister for a sensible response.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I will refrain from saying anything about the claw-back of overpayments but I hope we will reach that section because in the Dáil-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I know it is section 13. They did not reach it in the Dáil. It will pass through both Houses without ever being discussed and only the Minister's response placed on the record. That is undemocratic. With regard to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Yes, that is contained in the section. I want to make a couple of points. I was so concerned about this matter that I raised it in the debate in this House on budget day. It is worth remarking that a previous Government fell on a similar issue of children's shoes. I want to be brief and get on to the substance, particularly the respite care issue, as all of us do. My final point concerns...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: If we had a fair debate, we would deal with all the sections of the Bill. The Bill was guillotined in the Dáil and it should not be guillotined here.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Yesterday I spoke in the House in what I think was in a balanced and fair way. I paid tribute to the Minister for her courageous and valiant battle in reducing the scale of the cuts overall. It is important that we place these matters on the record of the House. I spoke passionately and with emotion. I placed on the record of the House the extent of the pain reflected in the very many...