Results 20,141-20,160 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Jun 2003)

David Norris: It should be debated on the ground.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Jun 2003)

David Norris: Yes.

Seanad: Council Regulation on Procedures for amending the Sirene Manual: Referral to Joint Committee. - Health Service Reform: Statements (Resumed). (25 Jun 2003)

David Norris: The Senator should not have an operation.

Seanad: Council Regulation on Procedures for amending the Sirene Manual: Referral to Joint Committee. - Health Service Reform: Statements (Resumed). (25 Jun 2003)

David Norris: I am grateful to Senator McCarthy for giving me this opportunity because I had not intended to say anything. However, I am happy to be able to do so. Deputies Martin and O'Malley are good and caring Ministers, but health is a poisoned chalice. It is one of the most difficult areas politically for any party to address. The problem is that more and more money is spent, but the customers are...

Seanad: Military Neutrality: Motion. (25 Jun 2003)

David Norris: I am very grateful to Senator Fitzgerald for sharing his time. I must be at the transport committee in a few minutes and that is why I asked to speak at this point. I believe in neutrality. It is possible to give certain definitions of it – the refusal to commit in advance to any military political bloc – and we are right to maintain this. With regard to Shannon, as my colleague, Senator...

Seanad: Military Neutrality: Motion. (25 Jun 2003)

David Norris: —on the subject of neutrality and not giving it to us. I look forward to further discussions on this question of neutrality, but there is not much point in our getting involved. I would like to see the United Nations supported. What worries and concerns me is that the draining away of energy and resources and military capacity from the United Nations into these private armies, like the new...

Seanad: Military Neutrality: Motion. (25 Jun 2003)

David Norris: I wish my abstention to be recorded, a Chathaoirligh, because there was a political act that was quite deliberate. In the finest interests of neutrality—

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: They are indistinguishable – I understand the confusion.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: I share the concerns of my colleagues regarding the tragic incident in which three young people were killed. I am not sure what we can do. Perhaps a debate on the matter would allow the House to contribute ideas, but I am at a loss. There has been a most scarifying series of advertisements on television and if that did not put people off, I do not know what will. Young people are like that,...

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, line 19, after "exercised" to insert "and shall include any person or body certain of whose functions are functions of a public nature, but in relation to a particular act, such a person or body shall not be an organ of state if the nature of the act is private". This amendment was tabled by Senator Henry on Committee Stage. There are a number of similar...

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: We are all perishable goods. Everything has its time.

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: I want to comment on this matter.

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: I understood that I could speak more than once if I was the proposer.

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: I think I am correct, that I can reply as a proposer.

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: There may have been some confusion because Senator Henry put the amendment down originally. We all got the same list of amendments and then she teased the matter out with the Minister of State, who may have assumed that she was the proposer. It is somewhat confusing, a little like the difference between public and private functions, organs, etc. The Minister of State seemed to suggest that...

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: That certainly makes it broader than we assumed because one of the problems we were thinking about is private hospitals – which have an excellent record – such as the Blackrock Clinic. What was concerning those of us on this side of the argument was that groups such as those to which I refer might be outside the operation of the law. However, it seems that the Minister of State's position...

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: I do understand the Minister of State's difficulty in terms of lists. We have had this problem on a number of legislative proposals over the years. I understand that to do so is technically difficult and usually a waste of time. That is why we were trying to frame something which did not involve the list system.

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: Yes. May I go a little bit further and then I will leave it?

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: The Minister of State did not answer a question. There was wonderful footwork where he went off into the conflict between the European Convention and the Irish Constitution. That was not what I asked, but it was a nice little effort which would have been worthy of his father at his best.

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2003)

David Norris: Of course it is a compliment. I admire parliamentary skill. Will he assure me about a conflict between this legislation and the Irish Constitution because of the difference in definition of "organ of the State"? I am interested in that and then I will let it go.