Results 10,861-10,880 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Let us hope the Seanad is treated a little better tomorrow. It would be very refreshing if the Minister observed the decencies of this House.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: We are not here to discuss what was said last night. That is just regurgitation. We know what was said last night. This looks very much like a filibuster by the Minister.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Bravo.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I did. I made it quite clear.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Yesterday I spoke in the House in what I think was in a balanced and fair way. I paid tribute to the Minister for her courageous and valiant battle in reducing the scale of the cuts overall. It is important that we place these matters on the record of the House. I spoke passionately and with emotion. I placed on the record of the House the extent of the pain reflected in the very many...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: -----the people will understand what is going on and they may take a different view.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I spoke about that at the time.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: It is a matter of indifference to people like me who is in Government if it is not just.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I agree.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion (Resumed) with Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I welcome Mr. Maguire. Unfortunately I did not hear his initial presentation as I was speaking and voting in the Seanad, and I will have to return to the Chamber to do the same again in a few minutes. I was here when he made a remark to the effect that we need not concern ourselves about human rights and that he has never seen abuses. However, they are widespread and they are widely known....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion (Resumed) with Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion (Resumed) with Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: My objection was to the sale of beef to the army. We did pay for it. We made nothing out of it because we were stung.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: If we had a fair debate, we would deal with all the sections of the Bill. The Bill was guillotined in the Dáil and it should not be guillotined here.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I will refrain from saying anything about the claw-back of overpayments but I hope we will reach that section because in the Dáil-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I know it is section 13. They did not reach it in the Dáil. It will pass through both Houses without ever being discussed and only the Minister's response placed on the record. That is undemocratic. With regard to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Yes, that is contained in the section. I want to make a couple of points. I was so concerned about this matter that I raised it in the debate in this House on budget day. It is worth remarking that a previous Government fell on a similar issue of children's shoes. I want to be brief and get on to the substance, particularly the respite care issue, as all of us do. My final point concerns...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Why was amendment No. 3 ruled out of order?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I am sorry, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, but I want to challenge your ruling. It is a complete nonsense. Amendment No. 3 simply states certain orders shall require the approval of an Oireachtas committee.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: What would the expense to the Exchequer be for sending an order to an Oireachtas committee?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I do not like nonsense. What is the expense involved? Members are paid a wage that will not increase because of referring an order to a committee.