Results 9,201-9,220 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (4 Dec 2013)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. He always listens but he is not always able to act even when he agrees with what is said. I have spoken about the water supply for many years. It is one natural resource in which this country an embarras de richesses. We have plenty of the raw supply of water. I accept completely that we cannot simply take the rainwater out of the sky...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

David Norris: Absolutely.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

David Norris: I join with my colleagues in calling for a debate on the Smithwick report and I compliment Judge Smithwick on the clarity of his conclusions. I have not had the opportunity to read the whole report but I have read the shortened accounts of it in the newspapers. It is significant that he said it is distressing and disheartening that even today, a culture appears to prevail in the Garda where...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: I would like to use one of those minutes, if I may. I am largely persuaded by the arguments of my Fianna Fáil colleagues and particularly the EMI case raised by Senator Jim Walsh. There is a clear injustice in that case and it appears to be virtually the same as the Waterford-Wedgewood case. Perhaps Senator Walsh would graciously accept an amendment to his amendment because there is a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: Exactly.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: We are very close to the end of this legislation. Is it possible for the Acting Chairman to contact the Leader of the House, Senator Cummins, or the Acting Leader, to extend the debate?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: I thank the Acting Leader.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: Of course not. I have some quick, and I hope reasonably succinct, points to make on this. I welcome the fact that we will be able to dispose of this. There are only a few Members here. May I gloat and say that the smallest group in the House, smaller even than the Taoiseach’s Independent nominees, has consistently had the greatest number of representatives here? We now have four,...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: That is very important. I hope the Minister will be able to accept this amendment. She will have some difficulty defending her position if she does not, in light of what she said earlier this afternoon. She pointed out the difficulties that pension schemes have got into because of people’s extended longevity. That is contained in this amendment. In the sections of the Bill, to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: Particularly in Germany, with all the wars.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: We can be proud of this and Ministers who, even if we do not agree with them, are so confident, buy and show Irish and encourage Irish produce. I do not agree with everything the Minister always says but it would be a very dull world if we did. I thank the civil servants who are here for the work they do.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: Exactly.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: I am not sure if I will bother voting on this amendment if it is called to a vote but I would like to make a few comments. I wish people would spell out what they mean by ARFs - whatever they are. I do not have the slightest idea what they are talking about. I compliment the Minister. She comes into this House and presents very clear and cogent arguments. She often does so. I have...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: I second the amendment because it is not only solvent companies but also profitable companies that can use the current provisions to walk away from their obligations to pensioners. People are at a vulnerable time in their lives when they reach pension age. It is the one thing on which they always think they can rely. A classic example of the difficulties we are facing is the case of...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: There is such a vision in this that I would certainly have changed my position. If anybody wants to propose consideration of the re-opening of the embassy in the Vatican I will heartily support it because I think there is so much good radiating from this man and, to be selfish, so many diplomatic contexts that would be very useful for this country. I believe it would be a very good signal...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: I will not. I am in the one true church.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: With your permission, a Chathaoirligh, I wish to recognise the presence in the Visitors Gallery of Ms Alice Leahy of TRUST. I am not sure if I would describe it as a charity, but it is a remarkable organisation that does good works. I was honoured to have her as one of my guests today at lunch. We have been fortunate with the weather so far, but we are moving into a period which will be...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2013)

David Norris: Yes. Can we have some ethical standards in public life? The Government should not use this technique of leaking damaging material about people every time they criticise the Government. People have a right to criticise it. I doubt if the Taoiseach would be delighted if he was put in charge of half a dozen hospitals, as one person was, and from one day to the next their salary was cut in...