Results 1,361-1,380 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I strongly support Senator Brian Hayes in what he said about the need for a debate on the situation in the European Parliament. I do not agree with him about the cleverness of Mr. Barroso. He has shown himself to be totally incompetent. There are issues about several other Commissioners. For example, Mr. Barroso nominated a Commissioner in the competition directorate who has serious conflict...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

David Norris: Have Senators studied his voting record?

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

David Norris: He is in charge of equality.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

David Norris: It is not a personal belief. It is an attempt to tell the truth.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (27 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I hope he listens in detail to what is said because we are going to give him some advice on this situation. I am very glad that the motion put down by my colleague, Senator Henry, refers to how the Government can help. There are many ways it can help in Iraq and Palestine. I will not rehearse all that I have said before. The war is perfectly...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I draw the attention of the House to a very important anniversary that has been strangely overlooked. On this day 6,000 years ago God completed the creation of the universe, according to Archbishop Usher's chronology which was accepted in the 19th century and printed not only in the King James version of the Bible, but also in the Douay version of the Roman Catholic Bible. It would be a pity...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I support colleagues on what is perhaps a more immediately pressing matter, the Luas. We have had a series of discussions going back over many years on transport and particularly the metro system. It gives me no pleasure to say that before construction started on Luas, I predicted that there would be crashes and fatalities. I do not wish to wait for fatalities but I believe there will be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I support his request, but I would also like to extend this because it is not enough just——

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Oct 2004)

David Norris: I want to suggest an extension of the debate so that it takes into account the provision of a metro or underground system. That is the only system of transport that will resolve the problems of Dublin. I look forward to having the opportunity in the debate to putting all the arguments yet again. I hope the Government will have the courage to do something imaginative that would be in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: Shame.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: As a graduate of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, I extend my congratulations to University College Dublin which is celebrating its 150th anniversary today. It has provided many distinguished graduates, some of whom have served in this House. The anniversary of that remarkable institution is worthy of note.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: James Joyce for one. I do not have to go much further than that. If UCD had only produced Joyce it would have done its job for Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: Will the Leader investigate the possibility of the Government introducing legislation concerning work permits? There was a harrowing story on the news the other evening about two Indian gentlemen, one of whom had to send his wife back home.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: The other one was in tears. They came to this country on the understanding that they would get certain jobs at certain rates of pay. The employers hold the work permits, however, and were able to use that to blackmail them into accepting a lower rate of pay. Legislation is needed in this area. I do not share Senator Leyden's views on the presidential election in the United States. It seems as...

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome the introduction of the national car test system which is very important I can see its merits increasingly as I have another little house in Cyprus, which has just joined the European Union. The condition of vehicles there is appalling. They never seem to service them because black diesel smoke pours out, even from fairly modern...

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: I will but he specialises in Jaguars. My Jaguar is a very old one that I got for next to nothing.

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: I can put the Senator in touch with him, however. He will sell the Senator a car first and will then service it for him. The last time I went for the NCT my car was not a total failure but it did not pass first time. The reason was there was a small rubber nipple less than a quarter of an inch in diameter missing from underneath the back seat of the car.

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: I do not believe I could blame my serviceman for not finding that problem. While it seemed niggling, perhaps NCTS was right. I have found the staff at the car test centres to be very courteous and helpful. I spoke to the tester and suggested it seemed to be pretty pettifogging. He told me that theoretically exhaust fumes could come into the car and gas me, which seems pretty unrealistic. I am...