Results 8,561-8,580 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: I also received this briefing from the Genealogical Society of Ireland and I completely concur with what Senator Quinn has said. I would have put down the amendments but Senator Quinn put them down first and I am happy to add my name in support of it. It would be extraordinary if a freedom of information Bill had the impact of restricting information in what are relatively non-controversial...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: Unless people want their sexual orientation to be known, they will not put it down anywhere and therefore it will not exist. That is the fact.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: Personally, it does not bother me in the slightest. I do not think too many people in this country are unaware of my sexual orientation anyway.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: With regard to the sexual orientation point-----

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: I was thinking in terms of the genealogical aspect, and records already exist including parish records, censuses and so on. It seems to be unnecessarily restrictive. I do not see any reason the Minister should not accept the amendments. I was in the House when Prime Minister Hawke from Australia was visiting and there was an exchange between him and the then Taoiseach of genealogical...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: Yes. In light of the discussion between the Minister and Senator Byrne, could a member of the public or the media be given access to the appointments diary I keep in my office?

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: That is outrageous and scandalous. I see no reason why a member of the public should have access to my appointments diary and I strongly object to it. It is an invasion of privacy.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: I am confused as to why amendment No. 11 is grouped with amendment No. 5.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: It seems to me that the grouping should comprise amendments Nos. 9, 10 and 11-----

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: I have concerns about the amendment. First, it does not specify that it would have to be related to a particular matter. It could be quite private.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: I do not agree with the amendment. The explanation offered by the Senator concerning the former Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, relates directly to the point I made on Second Stage. This overuse of FOI legislation means that no records are kept of discussions at the Cabinet and elsewhere which are held privately, off the record and lead to critical decisions being made because Ministers do...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: Which we do not want to be made public.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: It appears to me that the Bill as drafted requires the Minister to prescribe bodies that are not public bodies. I note the Minister is shaking his head. Senator Barrett's amendment seeks to provide that they be included any way. It is particularly important they are included. In light of the scandals that surrounded the rehabilitation area and so on it is important to ensure that these...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: By way of clarification and on my earlier remarks in regard to public bodies and prescribed bodies, what I said is that public bodies are automatically captured and other bodies in receipt of partial State funding have to be prescribed by the Minister, otherwise they are not captured. As such, my assumption was correct.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: It is only a matter of a couple of months. The additional burden would not be great.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: Even so, it would not be a huge burden. Senator Kathryn Reilly made a good point. From the point of view of freedom of information, it is important to get access to the greatest degree of information on the financial crisis.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: A frank admission anyway.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: That is not the question.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: It is not the question.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

David Norris: One of them was a candidate for election to the Seanad.