Results 6,461-6,480 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: These are quite important amendments and I appreciate the Minister of State has addressed them. I note, for example, that amendment No. 36 is in the names of Senator O’Donovan and the Sinn Féin Senators. I presume this is as a result of extensive lobbying by groups interested in this area. One does not want records disclosed all over the place willy-nilly. The amendment...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Sorry, the Senator was blowing her nose.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I said we all know the ways of lawyers, paceSenator Dr. Professor Bacik. I am excusing her from the practice of lawyers.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: We also know the way in criminal trials how counsel is often inclined to draw in red herrings and smear one side or the other. For that reason, this is a very well-argued and reasonable amendment. I will certainly support it. Although it has been withdrawn, I hope some version of it will be put back on Report Stage.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Excellent. If not, I am sure Senator Ó Clochartaigh will be watching the situation.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Amendment No. 40 is about the impact of such disclosures. Amendment No. 41 deals with the risk of harm to the person to whom the record relates. These are sensitive matters concerning the personal medical and therapeutic records of people giving evidence in a criminal case. They need to be treated with the greatest possible sensitivity. For that reason, I welcome the fact the Minister of...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Two of the amendments deal with the question of consent. Amendment No. 44 reads, "An individual consents if he or she agrees by choice and has the freedom and capacity to make that choice." That seems to me to be a reasonable definition of consent. I have not thought deeply about the matter but it seems to me to be a fairly commonsense view of the question of consent. Do the amendments...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: They propose to put in a new section, yes, but it does not actually say that. The Cathaoirleach has been helpful and I thank him very much. I notice that the provision comes in at the end of the Bill. The amendment does not say that it is a new section and come in after line 41 on page 27 of the Bill, after the end of a short two paragraph statement about double jeopardy. The section does...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I am serious. What does "deceived the complainant as to the nature or purpose of sexual activity" mean? I do not understand it. Perhaps I can sit down and continue later if Senator Healy Eames can explain to me what it means. I do not follow it.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Does that mean I am not able to talk on the amendment? I was in the middle of talking.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: All right. I shall speak on the section.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: As I was saying, I do not understand what the phrase meant. I know the amendment has been withdrawn but it shall be put forward on Report Stage so it is still meat for discussion. I do not understand subsection (a) in amendment No. 45. Subsection (b) states, "the defendant intentionally induced the complainant to consent to sexual activity by impersonating a person known personally to the...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Oh, come on.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Wow.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I will not delay the House but I am interested in hearing more about the case.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I thank the Senator. The amendment continued, "(c) the complainant submits to sexual activity as a result of violence or threats". That is a perfectly reasonable provision and anybody can understand it-----

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I thought Senator Bacik wanted me to stop.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I see, sorry. I shall be as quick as I can.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I do. Sorry, that was frivolous and lighthearted. I must not smile as this is a grim Chamber, the star Chamber of Seanad Éireann. The amendment continued, "(d) the complainant was, and the defendant was not, unlawfully detained at the time of the relevant act." Again, the provision is perfectly reasonable. If, for example, one was imprisoned-----

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Fisheries Protection (10 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I am advised by Mr. Nicholas Grubb of Dromana House, County Waterford, that he has isolated a problem concerning salmon breeding in Irish rivers. Today, I am suggesting an environmentally friendly solution to this problem. Ten years ago the Irish offshore drift net salmon fishing was ceased as a result of complaints from our European neighbours, which I find rather entertaining given the...