Results 11,721-11,740 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: There is no balance in this debate at all, but there is plenty of money to be made. People talked about Greece. An Irish citizen - an American who bought his passport - made €411 million during the week out of the Greek bond system. That is a great advertisement for the kind of capitalism the Government is walking us into.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: I said this years ago and I have repeated it. What is happening in Europe is a phenomenon with historical parallel if we consider how Prussia was formed into Germany, first with a customs union followed by tighter fiscal control and so on, and eventually the German Reich. At that stage I said it would go in one of two ways. A centrifugal force has been inevitably set in motion which would...

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: I believe we can.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: Let us put it to the test. We are quite capable of doing this and we should use that to get relief from the bank debt. We are told that those of us on this side of the House do not do the sums. I do not believe those on the Government side do either. If we sign up to this and it is implemented strictly, the debt-reduction rules should ensure a further €5 billion will be paid to the...

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: I do not accept that we became part of Europe when we joined the EEC. I do not accept that if the people democratically reject the referendum we will leave Europe. We will still be right in Europe.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: What an idiotic question.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: It shows the wonderful ignorance of the Senator because the President cannot interfere in these kinds of matters. If I had, I would have been impeached. However, I would have been impeached long before it because I would have asked Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping a few questions about Tibet-----

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: -----and the bodies of the Chinese who were murdered and now exhibited in the Rotunda. We never hear any of those when Ministers are galloping across looking for money.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: Austerity has never worked in the history of human economy.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: Let us consider US President Roosevelt. What got America going again? Investment-----

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: How did the Americans get the stability? They did not do it by bankrupting countries or reducing the workers' wages down to a pittance. They did not do it by closing down every service and dehumanising the country in which they lived.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: The Senator has his history wrong as well.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: It is necessary to stimulate the economy. I will be voting "No". I object to being told that because I am saying this is dishonest and fraudulent.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: That has been said very widely and it was hinted by Senators on the Government side a few minutes ago.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: This country will be locked into a series of debt commitments which it cannot possibly meet if we pass this referendum. In addition it will further deepen the recession.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: I shall wind up by saying this.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: I voted for most of the treaties. I campaigned and voted against the Lisbon treaty over concerns about the armaments industry in Europe. I got a written commitment from the then Government which allowed me to change my mind. Nobody can say I attacked every treaty. I ultimately voted for every one when I got the assurances I wanted. I have got none on this one. For the first time I am...

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: I believe there is a moral responsibility on every person in Ireland - in public life and in private life - to consider very carefully how they will vote because they are not just voting for themselves.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: They are also voting for the suppressed people of Greece. I will not blackguard anybody who votes "Yes", but I will not stand for being blackguarded for having the conscience to say "No" on behalf of people who are being driven into starvation and humiliation. I had to laugh at Senator White when she said that entrepreneurs would be put off if people who had more than €100,000 were taxed...

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (17 May 2012)

David Norris: Poodles spring to mind.