Results 6,921-6,940 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: It would be somebody who could not criticise or make their opinions known or express an opinion. I do not notice any sanctions here. What happens if the CEO actually criticises Government policy? There is nothing here about a sanction, that the executive could be removed, fined, jailed or sent down the Liffey in a barrel full of spikes. There is nothing like that.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: Oh how lovely. I do like country and western music.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: Well there is where I listen to it.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: What sanctions are there, if any? Is it possible for a chief executive to express a contrary opinion and stay in office untroubled and untouched? Otherwise it seems to be very much what they call "groupthink". He or she is not allowed to express an opinion. It is not clear whether that means a negative, neutral or positive opinion. Suppose the CEO wants to express a very positive opinion...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: The Minister says she is not gagging the CEO, but she obviously is if she is preventing him or her from speaking. That is a gag. The Minister is wrong; the CEO is being gagged. I also think, more importantly, that the Committee of Public Accounts is being gagged. The Minister says the CEO can say whatever he or she likes to any other committee or to the media. What is then so special...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: I am not sure we have.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: We are covering new areas all the time. I ought not to be repetitive. The Minister did not really give an answer as to what is so special about the Committee of Public Accounts.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: Okay, the Minister says she did, so I will reread the transcript. I was not satisfied that this was the case. Basically, it is increasingly emerging from this debate that what is at issue is making the Government uncomfortable and the expression of a contrary opinion on policy by the CEO might make the Government uncomfortable. I think that is a damn good thing. Governments should be made...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: I recognise that this section is part of the statutory way in which these things are done. There is no point in reminding me that it is included in a number of Bills; I have opposed it in most of them. The former Senator, Mr. Joe O'Toole, and I opposed it very strongly. It deals with removing any possibility of any Member of the Senate, the European Parliament or the Dáil being...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: First, let me correct the record of the House. In reference to section 11 my understanding is that somebody will cease to be a member of the board if he or she is adjudicated to be bankrupt. Although Senator Diarmuid Wilson said he was pleased to see that bankrupts could be on the board, he is completely incorrect. They cannot be members of the board. That is a grey area. I do not see...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: Therefore, the Minister is afraid of one vote in Seanad Éireann with the Government's whipped majority.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: Why should we not have access to the truth, to informed opinion? This is very, very backward. It is a calculated insult to this House that members of county councils can be members of the board but Members of the national Parliament, Members of the Upper House, cannot be on the board of a cultural institution that is basically a voluntary occupation. It is absolutely ridiculous.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: So do I.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: That is nonsense.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: We do.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Norris: It is a convergence of interest which is very helpful.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2015)

David Norris: I would like to raise the question of the forthcoming Seanad by-election and point out that it is a complete and absolute farce. It highlights the utter inability, or unwillingness, of the Government to take on board any question whatever of Seanad reform. There is an electorate of a couple of hundred voters, almost entirely from political parties, who are directed by head office on what...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2015)

David Norris: It most definitely is, a Chathaoirligh. How could you possibly maintain that? This is a matter of who will be elected to this House. Of course, it is appropriate.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2015)

David Norris: It is completely appropriate. There was no standing from this woman at all. Questions have been raised about her involvement with dissident republicans.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2015)

David Norris: There has been no explanation, whatsoever. I have received a communication from one of the sisters of Robert McCartney asking for an investigations into this matter in advance of the election.