Results 1,321-1,340 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

David Norris: She has indicated to me that she would like two minutes, so I would be grateful if you could tell me when I have spoken for six minutes, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I wish to heartily welcome the Minister to the House. She has had a distinguished career in politics as well as a distinguished career in teaching. I have no doubt she will make a fine Minister. I hope she will start by addressing this...

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I can. I have it here in writing.

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

David Norris: It is really quite extraordinary and the sequence of events is so clear. A consultant was appointed by agreement between the school and the Department. That consultant reported and made a clear recommendation, which is not what the Minister decided to do.

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

David Norris: A second group was appointed which made exactly the same recommendation. It is like poor, unfortunate Pope Paul VI and the contraception debate: establish a commission of experts, listen to them report unanimously and then say, "Well, I'm sorry, I'm infallible".

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

David Norris: Exactly. This is what happened but we have not had any satisfactory, educational explanation. I speak as a former teacher and a member of the Irish Federation of University Teachers. All the experts, including IFUT, came out clearly on this issue, yet we were just given this kind of blanket comment, "No, I'm sorry, we are transferring this over to Sligo". Of course, there was a degree of...

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I have no problem with that and there is nothing disgraceful in it. Perhaps Senator MacSharry, his father or other local people were lobbying for their own interests. Let us not pretend that there is anything sinister in this; they are perfectly entitled to do so but at the end of the day it is the Minister's responsibility to make up his or, in this case, her mind as to what is in the best...

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

David Norris: The record shows that these outlandish remarks——

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2004)

David Norris: As long as I am present, it is no problem.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I return to calls I have made over the last while for a debate on the Middle East which focuses on the policy of the United States of America in Iraq and Israel. The latest report of the Interim Review Commission this morning indicates that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that senior people in the USA knew this was the case. This is very damning. Mr. Rumsfeld said there...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2004)

David Norris: Senator Ross is suffering distress.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I came back this week.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I support the calls for a debate on overseas development aid. Senator Ryan was right to draw the attention of the House to this matter. However, his description of the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, as a boy was not a great contribution, although the Minister is somewhat younger in years than Senator Ryan or myself. Members of all parties at the committee on foreign affairs...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

David Norris: Is that not an objective to be desired? I have no problem with this. Coming as I do from a southern Unionist background and having been threatened over the years by the IRA, if I have no difficulty with it. I do not see why should Senator Ryan have one.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

David Norris: As the elderly Senator from Cork wishes to make a point and in deference to his age I will yield.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

David Norris: Can we have a debate on the Middle East? I raised this last week in the House and again at the foreign affairs committee. I am aware of a situation where schoolchildren are attacked by settlers with baseball bats and knives to prevent them from attending school. This is exactly what happened in Holy Cross. If we feel about that in the North of Ireland, we should feel about in the Middle East.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

David Norris: What is needed are sensible and coherent speed limits as the Minister agreed during a debate in this House. However, we still do not have them.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2004)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I am grateful to my colleague, Senator O'Toole, for sharing his time. The Bill the Minister is introducing is, in effect, an amendment to an earlier Bill. He is considering two issues, namely, the extension of the exclusion time for young people from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. and the re-definition of the bar area so that functions can be held for young people in an alcohol-free area even though it...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I do not get the opportunity to behave too indecently in Cyprus, unfortunately. I am not rabidly anti-drink or against decent pubs. Pubs give great pleasure, particularly old style pubs where one can have a civilised conversation and not have one's ears split open. I will conclude with an example. A pub with a beer garden on Parnell Street obtained a special extension. Elderly residents lived...