Results 9,541-9,560 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: I will let off the Minister of State because I often make intemperate remarks. The Minister of State did state he would exact vengeance by not bringing in any more amendments from Senator Barrett.

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: That was an off-the-cuff remark, and God knows I am known for them. Consequently, it would not be right to punish him for that. It was fair enough and was part of the debate. I know the Minister of State to be a generous man and he did not mean it. Moreover, he would be very unwise to, because he might remember the little goody I delivered to him at lunch in recent days, which will be...

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: Yes, I know that. Finally, I note that after this Bill, Members will be asked to pass this piece of rubbish, namely, the motion that is No. 2 on the Order Paper. This is another clear example of the Government usurping the right of the Referendum Commission, because this purports to write for that commission part of the information that will be distributed. This is as grossly wrong as the...

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: Consequently, the Government's sleight of hand, dishonesty, manipulation, Machiavellian conniving and use of corruption - in every sense of the word - will backfire on it. The people will see through the poke but will give one almighty poke to the pig that is contained within it.

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: Show me the word "referendum" in the Bill.

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: This is a very sad day for Seanad Éireann. Like my colleague, I also look forward to the restoration of good relations. They do not exist at the moment. The Minister of State is rather naive. I would like to put something rather important on the record of the House today for the Minister of State's attention.

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: I have today discovered from an unimpeachable source, who is centrally involved in all these discussions about Seanad reform and all the rest of it with the Taoiseach and the Fine Gael Party, that the Taoiseach and the Fine Gael Party established a sub-committee to look at the Seanad and it unanimously endorsed reform. There was then a focus group report, a public relations exercise, that...

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: I found that out today, and the source is unimpeachable and was directly personally involved. That is the truth. It is for that reason I want this Bill to be rejected. University graduates were singled out by the Minister. It is a wonder to me that the Government did not have the guts to go the whole hog and use the word "Protestant" as quite a number of the correspondents who wrote in the...

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: Turning to the Constitutional Convention, I tried to get that involved in this discussion. It was ruthlessly hammered out by the Government. The Minister should know I was here during that filibuster, and it had nothing whatever to do with the Constitutional Convention.

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: He should withdraw that because that was a filibuster on the Order of Business and the Tánaiste, Deputy Gilmore, waltzed off in a snit at the end of it. That is why we did not have the debate on it. It had nothing to do with the Constitutional Convention.

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: The Government picks and chooses. I think 96% voted in favour of more direct public access to the nomination procedures of the Seanad, and it threw it out. It took things at about 52%, so it is very à la carte with regard to that. We then had the business of second guessing the people. I have to laugh. Has the Minister of State ever heard of the Lisbon referendum?

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: He was not behind the door second guessing the people then when they had already passed a referendum so let us not have any more of this hypocrisy. There were 78 amendments, of which one was allowed. I am glad it was an amendment tabled by my good colleague, Senator Barrett, whose speech was one of the most outstanding of this Seanad and was superlative. Although I have been in this House...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: Bravo.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: Exactly.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: There were 78.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: They picked it out of a hat.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: I think the Minister of State should withdraw that remark. It is unworthy of him that he would refuse to enact legislation for the benefit of the people-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: I certainly accept that, but I do not have any humility.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

David Norris: Cleaning.