Results 1,081-1,100 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: I have to admit that but it was done in the nicest possible way. To return to the numbers game, the Minister admitted that the amounts are so small that it is not even a practical saving of any real significance. When put in the context of the enormous budget which the Minister has, it is a pity that these groups are targeted. The Minister is probably correct in saying we have a more humane...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: It is a mistake to use the numbers game argument.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: I wish to offer the strongest possible protest. This is a complete disgrace and an abrogation of democracy. We have a series of amendments, including the one I am most personally and passionately involved with, which we will not reach. They cannot be put down again.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: I will ignore what the Cathaoirleach says because he is ignoring what this House is saying.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: You are ignoring the rights of the Seanad and its function which is to examine and scrutinise amendments.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: I am not blaming you personally, a Chathaoirligh, but it is an absolute disgrace. You should do whatever you can in this matter because you are the person charged with responsibility for the procedures of this House. Amendments have been tabled but this House is being prevented from carrying out its democratic duty of examining them. We will have no opportunity whatever——

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: I understand your difficult position and I am sorry for it, but it is an outrage.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: A Chathaoirligh, do you agree it is an outrage that amendments are not being reached?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: I believe the Leader intended to make some proposal.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: This is a disgrace. We are a Parliament and it is our duty under the Constitution to discuss these amendments. We are being prevented today from discussing matters which are before the House. I do not accept it. It is my responsibility as an elected Member of this Parliament to discuss amendments. If we are not to be allowed to do so, I challenge the question. I will not sit down. I ask that...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: I do not accuse the Leader in this matter. I acknowledge her good intentions and offices. While people are entitled to take whatever line they wish when they vote on matters, they should not stop any debate. No debate should be prevented in Seanad Éireann which is supposed to be a House of revision and amendment in which Bills are scrutinised. It is an absolute disgrace. I wish to raise a...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: The Leader indicated that she was prepared to change the Order of Business of the House, which she is entitled to do. We have been deprived of the opportunity to discuss the amendments that are on the Order Paper. This is a dereliction of the duty of this House. I ask the Chair to respond to my point of order.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: I have raised a point of order and it is a serious one. It arises because the Leader indicated that she was prepared to change the Order of Business. I understand she is entitled to do this and I am asking for an explanation as to why this did not happen. This would have rectified the matter.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: I wish to raise my point of order.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: I will raise it afterwards. I will stay here and continue to raise it until the cows come home. Question again put.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: A balance must be struck. After all, people establish industries here, promote business and can then be cheese-paring about their personal taxes. As the law stands, it is their privilege to do so. It is suggested that this should be examined. I listened to what the Minister said with interest. I also listened to someone I admire, the singer George Michael, when he was interviewed on...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: Am I economically stupid? That will come as no great surprise to the Irish people. They can survive that shock.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

David Norris: To apply those rates? Yes, possibly, but at least the answer indicated that George Michael was prepared to pay such rates. He was very decent about the issue. There is something obscene about these enormous amounts of money. There is a distortion. This morning we debated the issue concerning widows, for example, and yesterday we heard the Minister for Finance say quite aptly in the Dáil that...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2004)

David Norris: On Tuesday I condemned the action of Israel in targeting Sheikh Yassin because I felt it had breached a barrier. I call for a debate on this issue because another significant barrier has been breached with the use of a 14 year old boy stuffed with explosives as a human bomb. This is a violation of every decent human feeling. What pressure was brought to bear on that boy to allow this to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2004)

David Norris: —and Paul O'Neill have all said the war on Iraq undermined the war on terrorism. They bombed Iraq and ignored al-Qaeda. They also ignored Saudi Arabia although almost all the people involved in the bombing of the Twin Towers were Saudis and the money trail led to Saudi Arabia. What did they do? They spirited out prominent Saudi families like the bin Laden family, who are friends of the Bush...