Results 13,421-13,440 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Depleted Uranium Weapons (18 May 2010)

David Norris: Neither has Belgium and that did not stop it banning them.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

David Norris: May we have a debate on how we can maximise the resources available? I was at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham last night for the O2 ability awards ceremony, an event which was really inspiring, at which people who had overcome difficulties were recognised. Companies benefit because of their immense loyalty and the immense energy and drive they bring to them. The awards scheme was founded by...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 May 2010)

David Norris: I believe I have already congratulated the Minister of State, Deputy Connick, but if I have not had that opportunity, I do so now and welcome him to the House. I am particularly glad he is present because, approximately one week ago, a very interesting meeting on safe food was organised by our colleague, Senator Buttimer, with John Dardis, the head political person in Safe Food Ireland,...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 May 2010)

David Norris: They were the Minister of State's lot. That is fine by me. I am not prejudiced at all. I am totally politically promiscuous, as the Minister of State knows. I have friends in all parties and do not believe I have too many enemies in any of them. These people were involved in beef farming, both dairy and meat production. The point they made was that the new grading system introduced by...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

David Norris: I welcome the decision of the European Investment Bank to make a loan of €500 million available for the development of metro north. This is a very positive move which I think the House will welcome, especially since the idea was originally given legislative form in this Chamber. It is important that we do this now because the money will be comparatively cheap, labour will secured be at a...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

David Norris: I accepted their advice. I went back to my office and cleared my desk. My participation was not important but the event was. I listened this morning on radio to Vincent Browne who felt the response of the gardaí involved had been proportionate. A woman said she had attended many demonstrations and had always been impressed by the behaviour of gardaí. They had always been friendly,...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

David Norris: I agree with my colleagues who welcomed the massive intervention of the EU in the form of its financial rescue package. The position is serious. If one considers the figures in terms of public debt expressed as a percentage of GDP, Greece is No. 1 at 124.9% and Ireland is No. 4. However, if one examines other figures, such as the budget deficit expressed as a percentage of GDP, Ireland...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

David Norris: I beg the House's pardon. Archbishop Martin is a courageous and decent man. It is difficult to hear him say he is disheartened and that there are forces within the church. We know there are forces from yesterday's newspapers, according to which Cardinal Schönborn of Vienna stated that one of the principal officers of the church, perhaps Cardinal Sodano, had inhibited the inquiry into...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2010)

David Norris: I have already had an opportunity to pay tribute to the late wonderful broadcaster, Gerry Ryan. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to say anything more at this stage, apart from this. I was in a taxi yesterday and the taxi driver said he was disgusted because he had just passed the Ryan household in Clontarf and saw banks of photographers outside. In the house there was a grieving...

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

David Norris: The Senator just beat me to it.

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

David Norris: I wish to share my time with Senator Mullen, by agreement.

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

David Norris: I will begin by outlining my credentials. I have never been a Minister and this is the only public office I have held. As I will not get a pension until I am gone from this House, I have nothing to gain and everything to lose by taking an unpopular position. The motion before the House is a load of hypocritical political opportunism and populism. I do not think it is even going to work...

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

David Norris: Last week I had a cup of coffee with a decent fellow from a Government party who I will not name. He had been contacted by a journalist about a big Fianna Fáil meeting which was held recently in Killarney. When asked whether he had attended any of the caucus meetings, the journalist responded that he did not have to go because he knew what Fianna Fáil meetings are like. That man wrote...

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

David Norris: Yes.

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

David Norris: I will sit down in that case. It is important for people to tell the truth. I wish I had more time because I would like to highlight some examples of dishonest and selective journalism. There is very little investigative journalism in this affair. If they are so interested, let them investigate the degree and quality of the contributions. Voting is a technical matter and we always lose...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2010)

David Norris: Yesterday, some of my colleagues joined me in the calls I have consistently made for the past six to eight months for some kind of questioning of the international ratings agencies. I congratulate "Morning Ireland" on catching up. It has started to raise this issue a mere six to eight months later. I am happy to provide ideas to the media. It is a very serious issue. These ratings...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) Bill 2009: Second Stage (29 Apr 2010)

David Norris: Like hell.