Results 9,381-9,400 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: The previous contribution shows what a complex area we are moving into in terms of human reproduction, which is outside the scope of the Bill. I hope the Government will address that issue because it has been left on the long finger for too long and a series of anomalous cases have arisen. I agree with some of what has been said but I do not agree with the party spin because the Government...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: In her helpful explanation of the various supplementary and other schemes, the Minister almost gave an impression that it was a panacea. I do not believe it is. I refer to a case that relates indirectly, and I hope the Minister will forgive me if it should have come up under a further part of the Bill but there is a question of illness involved because the man concerned who has worked...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I will make a few remarks, but once Members have said what they wish to say we should move forward because there are a number of amendments to discuss. I wonder if, behind this, there is a feeling that there are malingerers. There are some - there are always a certain amount in any situation - but I believe it is a small proportion. I have heard people say, "I have five sick days left, so...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I echo what my colleague, Senator Quinn, has said. To reiterate the point I made on Second Stage, extending the waiting period from three to six days means that people will have to maintain a float, so to speak, to ensure they have a little protective padding in times of illness. The problem is that most of the people affected by this change will be in the lowest socioeconomic category and...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I appreciate the flattering comments made by the Minister. She said that if we hung around until 2050, everybody would be straightened out. I might be here.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: By then I would be 106 years old and would certainly have got my pension.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I wish to comment on the term "unearned". I have no time for extremely wealthy people such as billionaires who have funds of various kinds, but I do for somebody who is a landlord or has a small apartment to let. Senator Power said exactly the same and made the very good point that this is work and is not "unearned" income. How can it be "unearned"? A service is provided to the community...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I commend Senator Mooney and agree with him in indicating some of the concerns I have, but I wish to add another one. What is unearned income? I do not know anybody who has not sweated and laboured for their money and then took a risk in putting it into stocks and shares, sometimes getting wiped out, or they may put it into prize bonds which are Government guaranteed and all the rest of it....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: It should be €6,000 and should not be lower than that. The Minister said that any change like this would cause difficulty for the Revenue Commissioners. While I am sorry for them, they are the servants of the House and not the masters of the House. We establish the law and they administer it. I know there are very hard-working decent people in Revenue. They are overwhelmed by this...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: However, it is what the Minister said.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I applaud the Minister, who also said this was a question of reducing the deficit from €1 billion to €700 million because of pensions and all the rest of it. However, I am sure the Minister would probably tacitly agree with me that if the Government was serious about pensions, it should not have raided the pension fund to pay off the international financial institutions, the...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I would not have any problem with that at all.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I might generously surrender some of it to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: Perhaps we are worth more than we thought.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: Yes, it was my generous suggestion.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister to the House, but I do not welcome the Bill, or at least not all of it. The message should go out loud and clear to the public that the Taoiseach has had his salary reduced by 40% and the Tánaiste and Ministers have seen a reduction of more than 35%. We must also highlight the considerable reductions applied to the remuneration of Members of the Dáil and...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I certainly am seeking a debate. We must never forget the children who exist in these relationships. The real abuse is the present situation whereby a child can enter a loving relationship between persons of the same sex, be fostered, cherished and loved by them, but then, if the adopting parent dies, be left completely bereft. I very much welcome the erection of a memorial in Kerry to...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I would also like to add my congratulations to Tom McGrath. He has been much more successful than myself because he entered the House directly in 1977. That was the first year I ran and it took me another ten years to penetrate the sanctum of Leinster House. He is always helpful and courteous and never flustered. I also welcome the Government's commitment to same-sex marriage and, in...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (5 Nov 2013)

David Norris: I apologise. Can something be done about it?