Results 6,641-6,660 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: The precedent has been established because I have done this several times previously.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Exactly. We will have to abide by the precedent. I am, therefore, giving three minutes to Senator Quinn. Is that agreed by the House?

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: If the ruling was made last week, that is fine. It is a silly ruling-----

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Let us get on with it. Of course it is good that the Government is freezing the LPT but it is a disgrace that it is there in the first place. If Sinn Féin keeps to what it has said and if it includes in its election manifesto abolition of the property tax and water charges, it will do pretty well. It will do a hell of a lot better than people imagine because there is an appetite for...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I do not believe it has. It certainly did not in the first year. That is a load of rubbish.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: The Minister of State is shaking his head. In any event, it does not all go to the council. The Minister of State said "it delivered significant structural reform through broadening the base for taxation in a manner that does not directly impact on employment, and thus contributed to meeting immediate financial requirements of the EU-IMF programme in place". Now, we are getting to it. We...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: One might as well say it does not impact directly on the weather. It is like saying we are grateful that the sun will come out and shine when it feels like it, that the weather can piss rain on us when it feels like it but that it is not affected by the local property tax. It is not but why should it be? It impacts on house owners. What about people - I declare an interest - like me?...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Yes, probably.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I will finish on this sentence.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: It will be longer if the Acting Chairman keeps pushing his oar in. The Minister of State said the proposed postponement means that homeowners will not be faced with significant increases in their LPT in 2017. That is all bloody fine if the die in 2017 but what happens after that? Believe me, there will be a massive jump.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I can forecast it as well as the Minister of State. I am against this Bill. I think it should be withdrawn and got rid of. I hope the Government will have the guts to get rid of it in the very near future.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I think I was interrupted when I declared an interest. I have an 18th century house which I got for £25,000. It was valued at €3 million during the boom. I did nothing except restore it yet I will be charged on a €3 million valuation. In other words, I am being punished for doing what we are urged to do by restoring the heritage. There are no exemptions or grants. The...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Shades of the revolution in 1917 in Russia.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: On a point of order, can the Leas-Chathaoirleach illuminate-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I strongly support the amendment. The Minister of State would, if he had the freedom, accept these amendments but I believe he is under orders from higher up not do anything about it. That is shameful and I am sorry the Labour Minister of State has to take this on the chin because we are talking about the equitable treatment of people. I have spoken many times on this issue and do not want...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Which President?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

David Norris: The current President. Goodness. Another Labour man.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I apologise for being so delayed - I had an urgent dental appointment - but I was astonished to hear suggestions that people might be compelled to work. There is no suggestion from this side of the House that there should be any compulsion for people to work. It is about the right to work. I am rather sad to observe the Minister of State, who I know to be a decent and open-hearted man,...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

David Norris: I beg your pardon.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

David Norris: Well, there you are. That is classic, direct and decent honesty from the Minister of State. This is why we are rushing it through; it is because this Government does not trust the incoming Government. That is lamentable because one of the points made in the briefing I read was that by rushing this through, we could include damaging material in legislation because it is not properly thought...