Results 20,501-20,520 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: Well done.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: I agree with Senator O'Toole. That is precisely the point I wish to make, having observed the debate. I understood the Chair to have ruled that Senator O'Toole's amendments could not be put down at this stage but they could be put down at Report Stage. Those amendments simply could not have arisen until the report was given to Senator O'Toole. The Cathaoirleach's position is that he is...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: What happens if the Chair's ruling is wrong?

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: I am just clarifying—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: —that the effect of the Cathaoirleach's ruling is that discussion on these amendments, which could not have been placed before the House until the last hour or so, is being foreclosed. As a result, I believe the proposer speaks once and that is it. That is a real limitation on the democratic nature of this House and I believe it is utterly wrong.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: That is not— (Interruptions).

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: On this point, I wish to—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: There is a very substantial difference between Report Stage and Committee Stage—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: —in that the points involved are quite delicate and difficult and cannot be teased out.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: One cannot tease out these matters. All one can get is a straightforward, to and fro—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: —and it is definitely wrong. It is a corruption of democracy.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: In relation to the amendments, I wish to refer briefly to what Senator Mansergh said. He said there would be several weeks of debate on the issues.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: That is exactly the point I was trying to make. I thank Senator Mansergh for clarifying it. However, that shows an extraordinary contempt for this House. Can this House be treated like rubbish, with the real work being done in the Dáil? If those are the Senator's views—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: I understood the Cathaoirleach to say that he would not entertain points of order.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: The Cathaoirleach will have to hear what they are before making the decision. I am glad he clarified that because it would be outrageous if he were not to take points of order. He did say there would be none.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: So there will be, but the Cathaoirleach will have to listen to them and then rule that they are not points of order.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: I wish to support comments made by Senators O'Toole and Henry. It is obvious that Senator O'Toole's amendments refer to the original Act. There is no doubt about it. The Minister of State is usually a sympathetic and reasonable figure, but it was extraordinary for him to remark that we could have seen the amendments on the website. Is he suggesting that we go on a fishing expedition to...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

David Norris: On the contrary, it is all on the record.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (5 Mar 2003)

David Norris: Which the Senator inhaled.