Results 1,901-1,920 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: It is the other side of his very engaging human qualities. I believe all of us, including the Leader, would welcome some kind of consistency in the hours we meet although I know the difficulties she sometimes faces in arranging that. We are all involved in public life. Sometimes we are asked to commit ourselves to working lunches a week or even a month or two in advance. Then, if we meet at...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: That is bad management, not that I suggest it is the Leader's bad management. However, it is bad management of parliamentary time.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: I admire the Leader's restraint.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: I strongly object to that. My luncheon appointment was an important business affair and not a matter of my private arrangements. The Leader should withdraw that remark. It is extremely insulting to somebody who devotes his life to public work.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: Having to ask the Dublin Chamber of Commerce to agree to my personal diary would be completely inappropriate.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: It is the other way round. The Order of Business interfered with my lunch.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: I support the amendment, which is also in my name. Senator Ulick Burke and I were both briefed by the local people in the Grangegorman area. It is important that we include the residents of the Grangegorman neighbourhood if the plan is to be representative, which is the Minister's intention. I was lobbied by people from this area. Being a practical politician — I am sure the Minister will...

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: To some extent I understand the Minister's reluctance to include too many people because boards and groups that expand too far can become unwieldy, which is inimical to democracy. However, in this case, only one person will represent the area. With regard to the strategic plan, in the 18th century there were regular rows between the citizens of Dublin and the University of Dublin, Trinity...

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: I support this amendment. Both Senator Ulick Burke and I have received similar requests in this regard. Amendment No. 7 deals with the position of chairperson of the agency. Under the Bill as it is currently framed, the Minister nominates the chairperson rather than allowing the agency choose its chairperson. In many groups, and I have been associated with one or two, it is left to the...

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: I compliment the Minister. It is refreshing to have somebody in the House who is completely in charge of the material and who gives cogent reasons for and against views expressed in the House. It is always good to have a Minister who knows what is going on and who does not have to just read notes passed to him or her. She has a clear grasp and positive view of how the legislation should proceed.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: I do not like this section of the Bill. The Minister and I may come to blows over it. I do not believe that it is appropriate to provide in legislation, as this Bill does, for "the Minister's opinion" about what is a matter of fact. That somebody has "committed stated misbehaviour" is or is nor a matter of fact. It is not a matter of opinion — it is a matter of fact. The Bill gives the...

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: It is not transparent at all.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: It is not.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: The Minister is required to have an opinion.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: She may decide that she thinks a member of the agency is not looking well.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: Exactly.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: We should think about the types of Minister we have had in the past.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

David Norris: I would like to give the House a useful reminder. All Senators remember the marvellous performance of Padraig Flynn on the television, when he said that a certain builder who was living in England was not terribly——