Results 11,201-11,220 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (17 Oct 2012)

David Norris: I would like to raise a point of order. This is a very important debate and a number of us have been told it is unlikely we will get the opportunity to speak. I had an arrangement to share time with Senator Barrett, but due to a series of briefings and a prearranged interview, it was not possible to contribute at that time. I know my colleagues Senators Mullen, Crown and Quinn all want to...

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (17 Oct 2012)

David Norris: It would be wonderful if the Minister of State could be here if the debate is allowed continue on another day. If not, we could send him the report of what is said. I know he would be meticulous about reading it.

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (17 Oct 2012)

David Norris: I would be very grateful for that.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

David Norris: There are other cases.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

David Norris: We should also hear from the public interest directors of the bank.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

David Norris: I recall that it dealt with wills and testaments.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

David Norris: Sometimes the Seanad is accused of being a talking shop, but this can be very valuable. I ask for a general debate on the state of the nation and, indeed, the planet. It seems there is a significant and worrying lack of vision. In this country we are becoming a divided community. There is also division among the nations of Europe and globally and there do not seem to be many with an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Discussion with Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran (10 Oct 2012)

David Norris: Okay. I would like us to visit Evin Prison. I was involved in getting two people out of it in the 1980s. That resulted from a press and publicity campaign. I think we should be able to visit opposition people like Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and the woman who was detained as well. We should discuss issues of human sexuality. There are times when Mr. Ahmadinejad seems to have a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Discussion with Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran (10 Oct 2012)

David Norris: I believe that civilised discourse and courtesy are very important values and for that reason I welcome the presence of our guests who will of course be treated with courtesy. I too recognise the immensely rich history of Iran or Persia since ancient times. I have had the privilege as a member of this committee or because I was a Member of Seanad Éireann of visiting Tehran and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2012)

David Norris: Set up by the previous Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2012)

David Norris: Hindsight is a great thing.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2012)

David Norris: The House may generally share this view. I strongly congratulate the national broadcaster, RTE, on a most remarkable and uplifting programme last night. I refer to the interview with the former President, Mary McAleese. This was a prophetic voice and it struck a visionary note, a note of optimism, hope, decency and deep understanding. When I learned that my former colleague and friend was...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2012)

David Norris: John XXIII. I think we all know the wonderful man who started the Vatican Council. That is the person I am speaking of. Mary McAleese had a very difficult background. She was reared in Ardoyne, which was a mixed area but largely Protestant, and some of her neighbours joined the UVF. Her capacity to understand the forces that led to that reminded me of the Dali Lama when he told me in...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2012)

David Norris: Yes, but I would like to tie it in, if I may, with the need for a visionary prophetic approach-----

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2012)

David Norris: I am glad we have such people in this land. Bringing it back to the economy-----

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2012)

David Norris: Yes. Can we have a debate which will include matters such as those raised by the President of Brazil when addressing President Higgins and sending a message back to the Irish people to say that it was dangerous to engage in nothing but austerity measures, nothing but tax cuts and nothing but humiliating the people and driving them out of work? I very much welcome the concern Her Excellency,...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (9 Oct 2012)

David Norris: What about the children's hospital?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (9 Oct 2012)

David Norris: What about the children's hospital?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2012)

David Norris: I also call for a debate on the report of the Ombudsman for Children. She is a remarkable servant of the State who has done us proud. She indicated there was a substantial increase in the number of complaints made. Interestingly she said she specifically chose individual cases which would highlight principles and affect the entire system so that it was not just one individual case. She...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2012)

David Norris: Will the Leader indicate when the privacy Bill will be taken?