Results 10,961-10,980 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Every Member of the Seanad would support the Minister of State to the hilt-----

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: In that case, I will just make two points. This shows how ludicrous this whole bloody debate is. It does not matter a damn. It is all bloody fine for people on the other side of the House, who are among the pampered jades of the Taoiseach's nominees. We have heard a number of them say that all the Independents want to be hacked to death when it comes to this or that. I do not. Neither...

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Neither do all our equivalents in the Civil Service. They have said that these allowances were introduced because they did not take a wage increase and they-----

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: My final point concerns the banks and tax. How much will these changes save? How much will the mansion tax bring in? The Minister should think of heritage houses and stop rack-renting citizens.

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Four minutes of injury time, even though it was friendly fire.

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I wish to share my time with Senator Feargal Quinn. The relevance of this debate is shown by the fact that for a considerable part of the earlier stages there were six Members present. They have their reasons and I am not blaming my colleagues at all. As we know, the debate will not be covered and only a minority of Senators have a mathematical chance of getting to speak. That is a...

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I wish to speak about charities. I have with me one of several folders which are full of submissions from charities. If I was to mention every single one, my time would be used up. Some years ago members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a marvellous organisation, brought a proposal to me which would have been Exchequer neutral, that is, it would have cost the State nothing to...

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: It is appalling to think of what is happening to people. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance is being reduced by ¤50 and we know that 1.8 million people in the country have a disposable income of less than ¤100 per month. The electricity and gas components of the household benefits package are being cut. As people are already unable to pay for fuel, how will vast swathes...

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: He can say that again.

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Did the late Flann O'Brien write the script for this evening's performance?

Seanad: Statute of Limitations (Amendment) (Home Remediation-Pyrite) Bill 2012: Second Stage (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I compliment my colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, on the introduction of the Bill, which is timely. As stated, one's home is one's most important possession. I welcome some of the Minister of State's unscripted statements at the end of his contribution, in particular, those relating to the establishment of the pyrite resolution board, the commencement of operations in the first quarter of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: This is a very important day. I am afraid that it is going to be a rather dark day. I listened with interest to the comments of the chairman of the Labour Party on radio earlier this morning. He stated that the past three budgets were unfair and that this one will be no different. Given that this comes from a significant person within the Government, we should know what to expect.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: As an ordinary citizen, I am of the view that the populace is going to be hit by ¤3.1 billion in cuts later today. Those cuts will take effect in January, February and March, which is when the pain will really be felt. In March, we are going to pay some ¤3.1 billion to the corrupt descendant of the former Anglo Irish Bank. That is exactly the same amount as the cuts to be made in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Dec 2012)

David Norris: Each day Members highlight the effect of the cuts that have already been introduced. Today I wish to outline the position of St. Brigid's day nursery which is located in Mountjoy Square, close to my home. This nursery, which was founded in 1940, accommodates children who live in the north inner city, particularly those who have been referred by social agencies and social workers, speech...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I would be grateful if the Minister would. I am aware of cases where people professionally engaged as advisers resigned without giving a reason and the person who secured their services learned about it from the media surrounded by suggestions that were not to the advantage of the person who secured the services in the first place. It happens.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I understand the motivation behind the amendment to make life easier, particularly in the repayment of debt. However, I was struck by the use of the word "any", when I read the amendment first, which seems to be broad. I was going to whisper to Senator Quinn that perhaps he should take it out but then I thought my advice might not be well timed because he knows more about finance than I do....

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

David Norris: It strikes me that the Senator's amendment is almost identical to the Irish negotiating position with the European financial institutions.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

David Norris: I am concerned about the requirement in subsection (9) that the notification shall be accompanied by a statement of the reasons for the practitioner's resignation. Suppose those reasons were to the disadvantage of the debtor. Is it appropriate that the approved intermediary be forced to give those reasons? I would have assumed that client confidentiality would be involved. If there is...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

David Norris: May I raise another point that may be helpful? I am concerned that the debtor should not be disadvantaged. It seems to me there is an omission in the sense that the notification, according to the amendment, appears only to be made to the Insolvency Service. Would the Minister be disposed to tabling an amendment or accepting one from this side to say that notification should also be made to...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

David Norris: The Senator should ensure he has the right version of the Bill, as I had the wrong one initially. We are dealing with the Bill as passed by the Dáil, not the Bill as initiated.