Results 10,241-10,260 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

David Norris: I am not identifying anyone and the matter I am referring to has actually lapsed by default. I am suggesting that there are victims in these cases and there are a large number of them. It is creating a danger to the public. People who have a long criminal record are let out on probation or on bail and the fact is that they have suspended sentences already hanging over them which are not...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

David Norris: Bear in mind that it was ironic.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

David Norris: It will be welcomed by DCU and kicked out by Trinity.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

David Norris: To say nothing of the 20 times multiplier for generic drugs as compared with the United Kingdom.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

David Norris: The Chair has told me that I can speak without interruption.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: Like many here and outside the House, I was not surprised but was saddened to learn of the death of the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez. He was a remarkable man who was on the side of the people and was the victim of an attempted coup sponsored by the CIA which was dramatically recorded with great courage by an Irish television crew, subsequently shown as a documentary called "The...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: Did he say that? It applies just as well to today.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: I note from the Order Paper that we are taking Second Stage of the Finance (Local Property Tax)(Amendment) Bill 2013. That is the only advice we have been given but I understand we will take all Stages today in violation of democracy. We have not received the amendments yet. We are being deprived of the tools necessary for us to perform our constitutional function.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: I do not agree to it. I will not, however, call a vote. I would just like to be recorded as having not agreed to it.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: Excuse me-----

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State to the House but I do so as a formality because I cannot welcome what he has said here. This is a loathsome, vicious and immoral tax. I oppose the entire idea and I note that even the Minister himself acknowledges in his contribution that this was imposed upon us by foreigners. There are a number of extremely regrettable aspects to this tax and I will try to...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: It is not at all unparliamentary; it happens everywhere. Even the highest ecclesiastical authorities have been known to-----

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: It is not on the agenda. I have asked a few questions, one of which was about this spy in the sky, which I would like to know a little about. Also, will there be exemptions for listed buildings? There was a very indecent exchange between the Taoiseach and Deputy Boyd Barrett yesterday in which the Taoiseach spoke about the Deputy's education and all kinds of personal things, and it really...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: I will, but I thought I had some degree of movement on this.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: The Government will ruin the homecoming and so on if there are a series of unroofed mansions all over the place.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: Both the legislation and this amendment are unfair because they both have the effect of punishing the prudent. If somebody has paid off his or her mortgage with great difficulty over a number of years, he or she will still be paying for it, which is a pity. I have put down an amendment on this section but it deals with historic houses. Obviously we will not get to it, because this Bill is...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: I can offer a yawn.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: That is a lot for some.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Norris: Whether unwittingly, the Minister of State appeared to give the impression that people should be very grateful that the amount would only be 5% of the overall value. As opposed to what - 100%? In the context of the overall value, 5% is an enormous amount. For the overwhelming majority, buying a home is their major investment and they pay for it for most of their working lives. Now they...