Results 13,101-13,120 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2010)

David Norris: I welcome the moderate and balanced tones of Senator Donohoe on behalf of Fine Gael. I also welcome his partial conversion to socialism because he said that in these circumstances, everyone should contribute according to his or her means. The old socialist maxim is from each according to his ability, to each according to his need. We need to bear the needs of the people in mind as well as...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2010)

David Norris: Will the Leader arrange either a debate on the siting of the children's hospital or for the making of a statement by the Minister on the matter? At the beginning of this process I had a motion on the Order Paper looking for an international peer review of the site selection process and I was advised by consultants on the matter. However, my call was denied, although it would only have taken...

Seanad: Restructuring of Vocational Education Committees: Statements (19 Oct 2010)

David Norris: I thank my friend and colleague, Senator Quinn, for allowing me some of his time. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey. I was also struck by the passionate advocacy of my colleague on the Fianna Fáil benches. What I find of interest here is that an bord snip nua basically recommended a very substantial cut, namely, that the number of VECs should be reduced from 33 to 22, a cut...

Seanad: Restructuring of Vocational Education Committees: Statements (19 Oct 2010)

David Norris: Indeed I do. However, I am developing my connections with County Waterford. I do not have just national aspirations, I have presidential aspirations. The phenomenon of discovering connections with various parts of the country is one with which the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, will be quite familiar, particularly as his late father was quite an adept in that regard. Recognition of the...

Seanad: Restructuring of Vocational Education Committees: Statements (19 Oct 2010)

David Norris: The Minister of State may wish to note the enthusiastic support from the Government benches in respect of my suggestion. Consideration must be given to this proposal because establishing a university in the region would not only assist Waterford and the south east in general, it would also improve the country's prestige and restore a certain level of energy. I am surprised that there has not...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Oct 2010)

David Norris: I welcome and celebrate the decision to sign a contract for the building of the cystic fibrosis unit at St. Vincent's Hospital and warmly congratulate those splendid young people with cystic fibrosis who have led such a courageous and dignified campaign, including Ms Orla Tinsley and Ms Gillian McNulty who have done the State and fellow patients a great service. This is a good day and I look...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Oct 2010)

David Norris: I agree with Senator Harris and others who spoke about how wonderfully exciting and heartening it was to listen to the radio broadcasts about the Chilean miners. They were in a very dark place, but their community with courage, determination and ingenuity got them out of it, which is a lesson for us. We are in a dark place and can certainly get out of it. I was astonished to hear Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Oct 2010)

David Norris: That is great news. My final point is-----

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Oct 2010)

David Norris: On the radio this morning a woman spoke about access. Her son had an appendix which ruptured before he was operated on because he could not get into the place because of car parking, closed roads and all the rest of it. It is a disaster and we should really examine it.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Oct 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Oct 2010)

David Norris: As so often happens, I was moved by the stirring words of Senator Harris and agree with much of what he had to say. He spoke about arithmetic, common sense and compassion. Regrettably, this House has traditionally had little impact on budgetary matters; in fact, we are confined constitutionally in the changes we can make. Thus, I will try to concentrate on the third of the items mentioned...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear. So have I.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

David Norris: I second Senator Bacik's amendment to the Order of Business. With regard to the debate on the economy, there is a series of ironies which depend on context. It is extraordinary that today we are hearing more about the enormous waste within the HSE. We must place this matter in context by reflecting on the fact that the HSE proposes to charge the terminally ill, the unemployed and the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2010)

David Norris: In fairness, the judge complained.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2010)

David Norris: I will not say anything about the economy now as I will take a slot in this afternoon's debate and I do not want to waste time, which is short. I am in the process of putting a motion on the Order Paper and I thought it might have been on today. It concerns a really shocking development. I was staggered when I heard the HSE proposes to impose a 50 cent prescription charge on all...

Seanad: National Economy: Statements (Resumed) (6 Oct 2010)

David Norris: I propose to share time with Senator Pearse Doherty. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh, who is a regular visitor to the House. Before Senator Mary White leaves the Chamber, I should point out how impressed I was, as usual, with her balanced and considered contribution, which offered a mixture of realism and hope for the future. This is terribly important at such a...