Results 13,681-13,700 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I think so.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I find it increasingly worrying that I concur with Senator Mullen.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: If it arises that somebody feels threatened, it would be useful to know what recourse or protection is open to him or her. Perhaps in unusual circumstances, names could be withheld from the public. However, in terms of dog breeding establishments, I have no difficulty with making full information available because the public should know how many dogs are being kept. Professional dog...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I would like to clarify that when I spoke about a minority, I was referring to the Animal Liberation Front and not any group lobbying——

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I am not sure whether minorities or majorities were lobbying. I was lobbied by both sides. To a certain extent, I am supporting the Government against my own interest because I have been heavily briefed by opponents of the legislation, including in a rather interesting and intelligent letter from a constituent of mine, a Trinity graduate, who says he is very concerned about the impact that...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I am well aware of that and this point is directly relevant. He continues: Hunt kennels are very different, they are run on a not for profit basis, [I am sure the Chair can see now this is directly relevant] any hounds that are given to other clubs nationwide are gifted or drafted to other clubs and no money is exchanged. Similar legislation was put in place in various parts of the UK,...

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I would like to share time with Senator Quinn.

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for lifelong education. Many mature people are going back to college. I would like to raise two specific cases, the first of which relates to a woman who was born and educated in Ireland and lived here for some years. She has recently returned to Ireland after spending four years abroad working with a voluntary organisation. When she...

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: It is important we get this right and encourage people because the economy is in difficulty and skills deficits have arisen in certain economic sectors. For example, the medical technology, chemicals and pharmaceutical industries have increased their share of Irish exports from 32% in 2000 to 51% in 2008. As a result, the number of applications for science degrees has surged, which I...

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I have made most of the points I intended to make. I am sure Senator Quinn concurs with my final point given that he pioneered the advocacy of electronic communications in the House. It seems daft that we still send out 80,000 CAO application forms and handbooks to students when almost everybody applies on-line. Why are we wasting so much paper? The handbook is sent out in hard copy which...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: This is a glorious opportunity to sow political dissension and my colleagues on this side of the House have exploited it very cleverly. I am sure they are also motivated by principle and while it would be a very pleasant sight for some on this side to see a degree of disagreement between the Green Party — in particular, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I thought the Senator said the dogs there were as well looked after——

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: What did the pet shop have to do with anything?

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I see. I am sure animals are well looked after in the shop. Some pet shops do keep dogs. The question of exotic pets and their uncontrolled importation should also be examined.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I have a position on hunting, as I am against blood sports in general. I was interested to hear my colleague, Senator Mullen, drag in the issue of abortion, which seemed a little extraneous.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: It would be like me asking about the welfare of homosexual dogs in these various places. I share elements of his position. I certainly believe there is a hierarchy and that it is appropriate that as a species we look after ourselves. However, we should recognise our close genetic kinship with animals and our responsibilities for them. There is no contradiction whatsoever in my position...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

David Norris: I am sure the Senator will attempt to address what he sees as my failure of logic but this is the Upper House of the Oireachtas, not the debating chamber in which, I read in The Irish Times, he did extraordinarily well as an undergraduate.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2010)

David Norris: He said that.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2010)

David Norris: We are not.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2010)

David Norris: Last week I mentioned that I was of the view that people in this country were beginning to rend and savage each other in a very unattractive way. In that context, I referred to the attention being given to the issue of travelling spouses. What I said was repeated on a radio programme and there was some support for my views. One of the correspondents asked how I knew what the public felt....