Results 1,181-1,200 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (12 May 2004)

David Norris: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (12 May 2004)

David Norris: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: Senator Mansergh should not interrupt.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: I have no objection to applause, although the Minister might.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister. I accept he is an extremely able Minister for Finance and that he has given considerable service. However, I am not voting with the Government on this occasion and I will explain why. I met the Minister in the corridors earlier and I explained to him that it is a waste of Seanad time to have these slavering Government motions reciting their own wonderful deeds. Self...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: They do not advance anything. If the Government is so bankrupt of ideas that are appropriate to this part of the parliamentary day then it should yield to groups like the Independents. The House should compare the record of Independents in Private Members' time with the abuse of that slot by the two principal sections of the House. People will note that many of the motions we put down have...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: Yes, the economy is a very important issue. I agree with Senator "Mandarin" on this——

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: ——but there is an appropriate place for it. If one looks at the way the Independents use——

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: It is interesting to hear that the Seanad is adversarial.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: The House is not adversarial. It is not supposed to be. Senators need not laugh. One of the values of the House is that we advance issues by reasonable debate, not this charade. Although I accept many of the arguments of the Government side I will not vote with them because this is a waste of time. It is also chaotic; I have been in the House for nearly 20 years and only in the last year have...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: It is very relevant.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: There is the question of the economy of time.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: I am entitled to comment on it. I will not be muzzled, even during this farcical debate.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: The economy is vital and I will turn to that.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: I am speaking to the motion without interruption.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: That is a tautology.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: No, I will not.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: Senator Cummins mentioned the widows being handbagged by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Coghlan. She was put in that situation, unfortunately, and she had to withdraw from that position. I am glad she did.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: I am expecting some injury time. I was interrupted all over the place.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

David Norris: I was proud to hear representatives of the applicant countries talking of their ambitions of following the Irish economic model. We can be happy with that and I compliment the Minister on making provision for pensions. It is unusual to find a Minister who is altruistic and who is thinking of the long term rather than short-term benefit. That is excellent and I support it. Too much health...