Results 6,261-6,280 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: I oppose these amendments. I attempted to table amendments and signally failed to find a single person in this House who would second my amendments, even for the sake of having a discussion. I find that quite astonishing. It shows a totally closed mind. I recall about 20 years ago when Maggie Thatcher was introducing a provision known as section 28 in light of a book that was produced in...
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: I am still perfectly entitled to have my say on it.
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: I am talking about the insertion of a new section. This is a classic attempt by the middle classes to stifle debate.
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: I have no intention of being silenced. The Chair can throw me out of the House but I will not be silenced.
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: I am not making a Second Stage speech.
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: I am directly addressing these amendments.
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: Yes, I am.
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: If Senator Bacik had been listening to me instead of gossiping and occupying herself with Twitter, she might then be in a better position to know whether-----
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: I am on the amendments and will stay on the amendments.
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: I beg your pardon?
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: I am sorry. I thought I heard a noise over there.
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: What about the position of the sex workers? The material I have to hand is material I have not used before. It is new material that has come to me in recent days. Sex workers do not support this legislation. The majority of sex workers in sex worker-led organisations across the world, including those in Ireland, do not support the criminalisation of the purchase of sex. Many sex workers...
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: The report continues:There is, however, evidence that health and safety of those selling sex is improved in non-criminalisation regimes (New Zealand) and within the legal segments of regulationism (Netherlands). Criminalisation of clients is not considered a useful or effective policy measure by the vast majority of sex workers.
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: I am not. I am addressing these amendments directly. The amendments amount to legislation on their own. They introduce a completely new concept into Irish law. That is why I am taking this opportunity because it is the only opportunity I will get. I cannot speak a second time and I want to put my arguments into the Official Report. It is only 3.15 p.m. and we have until 5 p.m. The...
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: It is ridiculous. These are the people involved in the activity the Government is criminalising. Are their voices never to be heard? Even though mine is the sole voice taking this position in the House, is it to be silenced as well? Is that the Government's notion of democracy and open and transparent government? I do not think it is very much like that. The report states: "The proposed...
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: This is restating the whole issue. It is the only section of the law where this is dealt with and I am directly addressing the words of the amendment. They are repeated here, this business about criminalising the purchase of sex. It is in the amendment.
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: If it was not in the amendment, why put those words down?
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: Then there is nothing to stop Members from extending the time.
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: I am not making a Second Stage speech; I am directly addressing the amendment. The research findings from Northern Ireland continued by stating the proposed law aims to criminalise the buyer but not the seller. It noted the sex workers interviewed for the study felt this did not reflect the reality of selling sex and that sex workers feel criminalised under the current law that, for example,...
- Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)
David Norris: The findings continued by noting the views of service providers in Northern Ireland on the effects of a sex purchase ban vary. Some stated they supported the proposed law because it is based on their understanding of all forms of prostitution as exploitation, while others expressed concern about the negative effects such a law would have on the well-being and safety of sex workers and the...