Results 10,541-10,560 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

David Norris: Hear, hear. Well said, Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

David Norris: I thank the Leader. Unfortunately, I did not get her name. She was outside but I will see if I can contact her.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

David Norris: It is a great example of trivialisation, where somebody is doing well as the country is going down the drain.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

David Norris: Senator O'Sullivan should name the Minister for howling, because it seems to be a new appointment.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

David Norris: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

David Norris: On the question of privatisation, as a good old pinko, I bring to mind the words of Oliver Goldsmith: Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates, and men decay.I am delighted for the shareholders in the Kerry Group and so on. It appears to be the only and spectacular success in respect of privatisation. I cannot think of another one. It indicates a situation in...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

David Norris: Polite and respectful.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2013)

David Norris: The reason for the lack of business in this House is perfectly clear and it is not the responsibility of this House to deal with the matter. The Taoiseach and the cabal that runs Fine Gael have decided that they will take over the role previously held by Fianna Fáil as the slightly constitutional party. They have decided to destroy the Seanad by refusing to refer legislation to it....

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

David Norris: Can the Leader clarify whether the Minister will conclude the debate on the OECD review or if it will continue another day?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

David Norris: I disagree with my colleague, Senator Byrne, as there is no dearth of legislation at all. Anyone who looks at the Order Paper can see this quite clearly. It contains more than 30 Bills and there are three or four pages of Bills listed. I have never seen so much legislation on the Order Paper and have never seen less in the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

David Norris: The reason for this is not the responsibility of the Leader of the House, who is a good and efficient Leader. It is because a decision has been taken by the Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, and his colleagues to downgrade Seanad Éireann and deliberately to inhibit it in its work in furtherance of his purpose to extinguish this organ of democracy. This is what is going on. It is a...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

David Norris: Yes, I seek a rolling debate because there are so many such issues and I note the anniversary is approaching of the arrest and detention of all the leaders of the Baha'i religious group in Iran. This would help to counterbalance the necessary emphasis on finance. We should not extinguish our interest in human rights.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

David Norris: It is a wise man who knows his own father.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2013: Second Stage (15 May 2013)

David Norris: I admire the Minister because I admire affrontery. I have never seen anything quite as dazzling as the Minister's affrontery here tonight. In fact, it calls to mind the popular association between political neck and the undercarriage of a jockey as he approaches Becher's Brook. I prove this from what the Minister said. He said with regard to the Seanad and this Bill that any decision for...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2013: Second Stage (15 May 2013)

David Norris: It will scarcely be enough to recite the crimes of this lot. We are being handed out as a sacrifice, as a little lump of meat in order that the ravening voters can savage what is handed out as a deceit by the Government for its own crimes, for what it did. I remind the Minister that we are precluded from tinkering with the economy, but, of course, the people have an appetite to kick...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2013: Second Stage (15 May 2013)

David Norris: It is very important that we save the Seanad because we are a check, although an imperfect one. I have campaigned for the past 30 years for reform of the Seanad and every time we have returned I have tabled the decisions of all-party committees for debate and every time Governments of different complexion have voted against them. It was my proud privilege, as father of this House, to give...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2013)

David Norris: I join Senator Ivana Bacik in welcoming the splendid debate held last night. It is a significant development that the two Bills are now on the Order Paper and can be fully debated in the House, with the co-operation of the Leader. It is regrettable, however, that this significant development did not make the news. All we had were a few rather pallid interviews and a discussion on "The Late...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2013)

David Norris: The Senator is right.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2013)

David Norris: No. They were very good.