Results 13,401-13,420 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

David Norris: The first thing that needs to be said is that we in the Oireachtas are indebted to the Office of the Ombudsman for Children for producing this report, which is a highly significant development. It is not entirely adversely critical of the Government but it does provide a useful foundation for progress. I hope it can be dealt with in a non-partisan way. We must discuss this in the light of...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

David Norris: How progressive of Senator Hanafin.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

David Norris: Let us have the by-election before the referendum.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

David Norris: I do not think this was raised on the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

David Norris: The Leader cannot respond to it if it was not raised. I was there.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

David Norris: And several Members of the Seanad were present.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

David Norris: I wish to raise a point of order and to get a ruling from the Cathaoirleach on it. In his rambling and discursive contribution on the Order of Business, the Leader referred to matters not on today's Order Paper, they were not referred to today by Members and I am surprised the Cathaoirleach did not give a ruling on this, because I am aware that, very properly, he reproves Members if they...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

David Norris: This is not the Order of Business. Can I ask for a ruling on this? Was the Leader in order to indulge himself in this manner?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

David Norris: In that case, does that give us permission to refer to previous matters? I have certainly been called to order by the Cathaoirleach on this matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

David Norris: Since the Leader did not refer to it or give me any answer, of course it is being pressed.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

David Norris: I second the amendment to the Order of Business. It is very important to have debates on the economy. If the Minister is able to come to the House - I hope he will be able to come - we should discuss the ratings agencies. I have been talking about this and so have other colleagues and it has now belatedly come to the attention of the European Union. Hedge funds are going to be addressed...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

David Norris: It is really disturbing. There may be a few little bits and pieces, some of which comes from the Independent benches. We are contributing legislatively this week at least as much, if not more, than the Government, and that is ludicrous. I note Mr. Hamilton said we may need, in certain circumstances, to move white collar crime to non-jury courts with panels of expert judges because such...

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State. The matter I want to raise concerns depleted uranium and its use in weapons systems. I raise it in a very positive context. Earlier in this session a very useful Bill was introduced by Senator Boyle to ban uranium weapons. This was in the aftermath of Belgium becoming the first country in the world to introduce such a ban. We are in a useful position...

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: If the Leas-Chathaoirleach would be kind enough to indulge me, I am about to reach a conclusion. The position with regard to Bosnia-Herzegovina is disastrous. NATO continues to refuse to provide co-ordinates in respect of unexploded depleted uranium weapons. Some of these weapons are buried over 1 m beneath the surface of agricultural land on which vegetables are still grown. The relevant...

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: That is not true.

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: I am glad the Minister of State carefully distanced himself from support of the content of the reply and made it clear that he was simply a puppet acting on behalf of the Minister. I would be surprised if the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, supports this attitude. I do not know what gobdaw produced this rubbish. The Minister of State said: "To date, no evidence of an unusual incidence of...

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: Would the Minister of State regard a 200% increase in cancers and birth defects as evidence? The US and UK armies and various military pension funds have all found this association and an international panel of scientists have absolutely-----

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: No, I have not.

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: In this country we are rightly concerned about low levels of radon which is one of the by-products of depleted uranium. What is the Minister of State's response to Senator Boyle's Bill? The Green Party is in government and most Fianna Fáil Members supported the legislation. The Minister provided clear support and would be horrified by the statement that depleted uranium does not pose a...