Results 9,301-9,320 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I continue my support of my two colleagues in their motion. I reserve most of my comments for a discussion on the section, because I want to expedite matters. I would like to correct the misplaced adverb in what Senator Bradford said. He said "I believe wrongly". That adverb should come at the end of the sentence, because I do not think that he imagines his beliefs are wrong. I thank the...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I was a teacher. I was not particularly good at grammar, but I was a teacher. I thank the Minister for trying to answer my questions about the sliding scale. I find that interesting. It is not 100% convincing, but it is an interesting observation and I will say something about it when we come to speak on the section. It would be much better if longer periods were allocated for this Bill,...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

David Norris: Charvet shirts.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2013)

David Norris: Hear, hear. I am sure all Senators will be glad for the protection of blaa.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I agree with my colleague, Senator Bacik, that this is red letter day because Ms Jody Blake is back with us here. Our family is complete once more. I also extend my sympathy and good wishes to Senator Harte and his family following his most unfortunate and sad accident. Reading between the lines, he seems to be making some marginal improvement and I hope that continues. As I have been a...

Seanad: Electricity Transmission Network: Motion (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I understand that. May I say, as a matter of principle, that for people in these situations in other countries there often is a cordon sanitaire of a couple of years so that they cannot get involved in these things. I think that is useful and appropriate because with the best will in the world, there are contacts. That is more important than anything else and people read the signs. I am...

Seanad: Electricity Transmission Network: Motion (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: If they voted for it or if they just disappeared-----

Seanad: Electricity Transmission Network: Motion (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: With regard to health and so on, Ireland as a country has not implemented any measures on basic restrictions for the general public for electromagnetic field exposure, as outlined by the EU recommendations as far back as 1999. Not only that but I was amused by one very charming e-mail I received which pointed out to me that bats, bees, cows and human beings appear to have an aversion to...

Seanad: Electricity Transmission Network: Motion (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: There is a greater charge for putting it underground. I know it is considerable. At the moment it is estimated at about three times the cost of putting it overground but it is dropping all the time. There are also other advantages. One will not lose on tourism. Putting things underground leads to fewer outages, less maintenance which is also a very good reason for putting them...

Seanad: Electricity Transmission Network: Motion (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I should have thanked Senator Mark Daly for allowing me to precede him in the roll.

Seanad: Electricity Transmission Network: Motion (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am sorry that it was not possible to harmonise the two views. The motion tabled by Senator Mullen seems fairly innocuous to me. I do not mean innocuous in the sense that the motion is unimportant. It does not damage the Government bar one exception, namely, the phrase "where physically possible." There might be some negotiation on that wording...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: This is not being repetitive. I am tired of all the bureaucratic measures and the fact that we are showing the public that we do not trust ourselves. The point I made earlier which I will repeat because it is significant and on which the Minister appeared to agree with me was that if one were to return money honourably, the newspapers would pick up on this and declare that one had been...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: The figures are facts, they are not inflated.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: As long as she tells the truth.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: And Independents.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: A number of questions arise. It seems to me that this is a very honourable amendment because my colleagues are not looking for money for themselves. The money would go back to the Exchequer. They are not looking for any personal, pecuniary advantage. In fact, they would be giving an advantage to the State. With regard to elections, in the other House people are not just elected because...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I do not have a problem. Senator O’Keeffe might not like to be continually interrupted but I love it because it means that I am hitting home. Senator O’Keeffe should please interrupt.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: Yes, certainly. All the allowances are a nonsense. The Minister never replied to my point. Could we get to a stage where we get the rate for the job and no bloody allowances at all? That is what I would like to see. Let us analyse the provisions. The public should know what is proposed and the amounts of money involved. There is €64,368 in respect of each of the first ten...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: Senator O’Keeffe just said I was talking nonsense but I am happy to withdraw it if she explains why.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

David Norris: The final allowance is approximately €25,000. It is the same in the Seanad, with €42,089 for the first five. The rest receive €21,000, which is what we get. Perhaps the Minister might respond to this and I do not mean to be antagonistic. I know that sometimes I have an abrasive personality, although the Minister does, too. Is there any possibility the Government...