Results 13,501-13,520 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: I agree.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: Is that even a guardian ad litem?

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: Is it not possible that such a guardian might have been appointed by a previous court?

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: Would it be possible to make it explicit on Report Stage that a guardian ad litem is not contemplated by this section?

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: I am glad the Minister of State has said he will give some consideration to the possibility of making it clear that a guardian ad litem is not contemplated by section 23F(4). I would like to reinforce my support for any examination of whether that is necessary. I would like to point something out in response to Senator O'Malley, whose astute views in these matters I value greatly. I did...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: I wish to reinforce what Senator Fitzgerald has said. I wish to comment, as I did previously, about these kind of rulings. There may be a situation in which an extra charge is imposed on the Exchequer. I have raised a situation where I do not think it is appropriate for the Seanad to be precluded in this area. If we examine the situation confronting us, however, the only way in which a...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: They have and I made damned sure they were. When we hear people who are practising at judicial level say that this is a valuable and important service provided in the interests of the child by the State, we know we should seek to institute it as far as possible. Perhaps the Minister of State knows of a reason it is not always good for this service to be provided automatically. I support...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: On a point of order, it is daft that the Acting Chairman is expected to parrot away in the Chair like a cuckoo clock on every section. When we have about 20 sections that must be agreed to, could we not say, "That sections X to Y, inclusive, stand part of the Bill"? It is daft.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: That is the reason. Very good. I stand corrected.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: I support Senator White. It is absolute madness and legislative lunacy to allow this amendment be put forward, although we are all glad it has been allowed. Subsection (2)(a)(iii) states: "by placing him in a suitable trade, calling or business and paying such fee or sum as may be requisite for that purpose". God almighty, if that does not clearly spell it out that we are creating a charge...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: It would not cause me any bother to take a shot at the Bills Office if I felt like so doing. I do not believe the staff of that office merit my taking a shot at them. However, if they did, I would certainly not be afraid to take my shot. The Minister of State can obfuscate matters as much as he likes but I have no doubt that a clear conflict arises. Anyone considering the matter would be...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: We should do whatever it takes.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State's comments on this matter. However, the word "should" rather than "shall" was used in the quotation he used from the Ryan report implementation plan. This leaves a slight little grey area. Of course it should, but it might not. I take it the Minister of State is giving an undertaking that it does happen all the time. I will not push it but again it is an...

Seanad: Lost at Scheme: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Lost at Scheme: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: I also welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Connick. He is a splendid man, as I know only too well from our membership of the Operation Transformation team of fat politicians which wiped the floor with the fat housewives and taxi drivers. That was one of the few good, positive political stories to emerge in the past decade. I compliment the Minister of State on his clear and...

Seanad: Lost at Scheme: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: I will end by noting the Minister of State's concern about the matter and wishing that his party colleague, the former Minister, Deputy Woods, had been as careful about the public purse when the subject of compensation was opened up in respect of cases of institutional abuse. I wish there had been such prudence in that instance. Many are concerned not only because we do not have any control...

Seanad: Lost at Scheme: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: This is my last sentence.

Seanad: Lost at Scheme: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

David Norris: The Seanad could have annulled the report on the BCI. That was recommended by an all-party committee, but it was defeated by the Government when it was voted on, thereby bringing the whole democratic process into question.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Mar 2010)

David Norris: We often talk about historic days. This is probably the most historic day I can remember in terms of the life and economic future of the country. I have just been looking at an article in The Irish Times of 19 March by Professor Brian Lucey in which he said the recently revealed figures could only have been written by Pollyanna. He said: Despite admitting that it expects a 30-per-cent-plus...