Results 1,801-1,820 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

David Norris: Sinn Féin Members are not independent. They are not even independent of their army. They should be on the other side of the House with the party which spawned them. I could say I respect what Gerry Adams calls his party's mandate.

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

David Norris: I thank the Cathaoirleach for reminding me that I am speaking about the European constitution. This afternoon represents an exercise very largely in historical blather. We have all this stuff about the war and so on. Does anybody suggest that if the treaty fails, which I believe is very likely, we would all be back to war again? I do not think so.

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

David Norris: It seems as if that is going down a very dangerous and speculative road. We have also heard, probably correctly, that Europe will not interfere through its courts and through policy direction in what are regarded coyly in this country as moral matters and that Europe will not give central direction on issues like abortion, divorce, etc. While that is true, I point out that in the early days...

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

David Norris: That is what I am doing. I am talking about the democratic deficit and I will continue to do so. Mr. Buttiglioni campaigned and voted on equality issues. I suggest to Mr. Crowley, MEP, that if he had campaigned and voted on the rights of people in wheelchairs in the same way he would have been very quick to get him off any committee that dealt with that area. However, I believe it is quite...

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

David Norris: —— under which special provisions are being made for the church, including the kinds of shameful provisions that were made in this country to exempt religious institutions from the operation of the equality legislation. What kind of Christianity is it if we have the major Christian churches exempting themselves from equality——

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

David Norris: That is exactly what I am doing.

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

David Norris: I am astonished that the Cathaoirleach could find that I am not. I am talking about the impact of lobbying on the constitution. I could not be more centrally directed or more focused. For the information of the Cathaoirleach, I am talking about paragraph 1 of section 52 of the treaty. Does that satisfy his requirements?

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

David Norris: The church has acquired consultative status, which provides for the Catholic Church to be consulted in the pre-drafting stage of legislation when it is believed it would have an interest. People are right to feel concerned about the issue. I very much hope that this aspect at least will not be confirmed in the treaty. I am divided on the treaty. I was against earlier treaties because of their...

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

David Norris: Rubbish. The Senator should consider Mr. Buttiglioni's voting record.

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

David Norris: The Senator should reflect on Mr. Buttiglioni's voting record, which showed he was the most inappropriate person to be a European Commissioner.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion. (18 May 2005)

David Norris: I am grateful to my colleague for sharing her time and I welcome the Minister of State back to the House with which he was once so familiar. The last section of Senator Quinn's motion deals with capital movement and investment. The news there is not bad. I have material which suggests we experienced a 35% increase in venture capital investment in the first quarter of 2005 compared with 2004....

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion. (18 May 2005)

David Norris: I always get extremely good value from your generous self, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2005)

David Norris: I join with my colleagues in offering my sympathy to the parents, teachers and young schoolfellows of the five young girls killed yesterday. It is shocking they were cut off at this age in their teen years. From what I heard on the radio, they were all pleasant and intelligent people who would have made a great contribution to life. I raised this issue in the House on 2 December 1998, with...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2005)

David Norris: However, one can also say it is time these warnings were listened to. I wanted to raise it in a way that was not confrontational. However, when these issues are raised, we are always told it is not an appropriate moment. When is it an appropriate moment? I have consistently raised the issue of how asylum seekers are stuffed into hostels, which are not inspected for fire safety. This is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2005)

David Norris: I raised the question of seat belts.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2005)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

David Norris: It is about time that was pointed out.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

David Norris: I thank the Leader for arranging a debate on Iraq, which is timely. I agree with my colleague, Senator O'Toole, on the subject of Irish placenames. I too love the Irish language. I do not have Senator O'Toole's facility with the language but I occasionally try to use it. Nobody uses names such as Ceannanas Mór, Ráth Luirc and Cúl an tSúdaire for Kells, Charleville and Portarlington....

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

David Norris: If that language is unparliamentary, then I substitute it with "lúdramán".

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

David Norris: I withdraw both terms. We need to examine the tax break situation. Some of the incentive schemes are very good. I am delighted that Cork has acquired a wonderful early 19th century view of the city, which was made possible by tax incentives. However, it is obscene that people who make enormous amounts of money, some of the wealthiest people in the country, pay no tax whatsoever, while...