Results 8,741-8,760 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

David Norris: On a point of order, I am not competent to make a factual comment on this case, but I am sure the Senator will remember the very remarkable gerrymandering that was given the name "Tullymander" in memory of the Labour Party Minister who had organised it.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

David Norris: The Tullymander helped to have Fianna Fáil voted in.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

David Norris: I agree with Senator Aideen Hayden on security of tenure, which is very important. I am astonished as, I suppose, an elderly man that once again in this country we are seeing evictions, but it is not just evictions of tenants. Last Friday, as I was leaving the office, I was contacted by people who were in distress. They were occupying the premises of an auctioneering company which was...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

David Norris: Why would he not come?

Seanad: End-of-Life Care and Bereavement: Motion (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: I congratulate my friend and colleague, Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell on introducing this topic. While it is not particularly sexy, it is extremely important and affects us all. I cannot, however, congratulate the Government on its utterly feeble and disgraceful amendment.

Seanad: End-of-Life Care and Bereavement: Motion (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: Thank God for that - well done. Government Members are decent people and we can stand united on this motion. It would have been outrageous to have tabled an amendment to it. I thank the Government, as it is a good day for Seanad Éireann and Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell. This important point has been addressed, but it did not receive much publicity. Last year a former Member of...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: Will we take it as read?

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: I hope not. I thank the Senator. Senator Power gave me a document which I have just read, as I can speed-read, and certain elements interest me. It indicates section 37(1)(a) of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2011 permit positive discrimination in certain circumstances by allowing more favourable treatment of employees or prospective employees, etc. It is arguable that this is not...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: The Bill would also include the phrase "where it is reasonable to do so in order to maintain the religious ethos of the institution" and I want to weaken those grounds of discrimination to "where it is reasonable to conclude that performing the job concerned objectively requires the employee to particular religion belief". It would be morally bad and intellectually disgraceful, as well as...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: I am very glad that is on the record.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: Good for the Labour Party. Perhaps it will see the light and become socialist at last.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: I have spoken so many times, over so many years, on this topic that I do not want to repeat myself. So much that is excellent has been said by my colleagues on all sides of the House that I welcome it and do not want anything I say to be redundant. I very much agree with Senator Bacik that it is important that this Bill be in place for the autumn school term, if at all possible. If we can...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: Have all of those amendments been ruled out of order?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: I suggest it is a waste of time printing them, if we are going to rule out a raft of them out of order. When they were trying to abolish the Seanad, 71 amendments were ruled out of order.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: Why waste the public's money in printing stuff that is not in order?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: They are and they are not. They are County Dublin people. If the Minister comes to my area of the north inner city and asks if those in Fingal are country people, he will be told they are.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: Did the Minister say he would only visit it in the daytime? My goodness.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: Yes, but the Chair was inactive at the time, and now that he has resumed his volcanic activity-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: I would support a plebiscite, but only if the opportunity were given for secession by Fingal, because it has very special needs and I do not see why we must ram it through. Ninety-eight percent of people in Fingal voted against it; where is the democracy there? Why not let them develop organically in their own way as a small unit? It might be a template for allowing more local democracy,...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Apr 2014)

David Norris: If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and quacks like a duck-----