Results 13,801-13,820 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2009)

David Norris: God is present everywhere, Senator Quinn.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2009)

David Norris: I agree with my colleagues about the extraordinary situation concerning the opening of a section of road and political interference in the matter. I raised the question of political gimcrackery a couple of weeks ago. This matter gives rise to issues of safety and cost. The decision seems absurd. I refer to a matter I raised some time ago on the Adjournment and at the Joint Committee on...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: The Minister raised the matter of precedent. The Department rather bizarrely objected to the appeals officer referring to earlier decisions by other appeals officers and the chief appeals officer. Such decisions, as the Minister said, could not set precedents. The chief appeals officer said it was not appropriate for appeals officers to refer to "details" of previous cases in their...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: This is a very bad way to handle business to go straight into the next Stage.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: I wish to raise a point of order. I was in my office listening to the debate but I have never heard anything like the way in which the Cathaoirleach intervened to tell a Member of this House it was not appropriate for him to ask a specific and clear question germane to the debate. I understand the advice given was that the Attorney General apparently has said we are not entitled in this...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: Will the Leas-Chathaoirleach look at the record and refer it to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges because if the Attorney General has given such advice, he must be confronted?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: Yes, as a matter of urgency.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: I strongly support Senator Prendergast and I am very much of the same opinion. Furthermore, the whole democratic process has been undermined by the Government's behaviour in the other House. This amendment was put on Thursday evening last and was not reached or even discussed in the other House because the Bill was guillotined.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: I am aware of that. I am speaking on the section.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: I am speaking about the effect of the amendment on the section. It would be ridiculous if Senators could not do so as one would then be required to repeatedly say the words "section 14". One must be allowed to discuss the-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: I was giving a hypothetical example. This is a serious issue. As far as I am aware, virtually the entire section is an amendment. Is that not correct? If, as I believe, the section is an amendment to the Bill, I am entitled to refer to it as an amendment. This is by no means the first time the Department of Social and Family Affairs has acted in this manner. It is disgraceful and...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: It is €19 per week.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: The Minister is completely wrong. The people in question have a perfect entitlement to be in the country. While they may not have an entitlement to citizenship or asylum, they have every entitlement to be here. I ask the Minister to acknowledge that is the case.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: It is instructive that in all five cases cited, the chief appeals officer rejected arguments by the Department of Social and Family Affairs that the people in the asylum process could not meet the habitual residence condition, a test introduced in 2004 to prevent a feared influx of so-called welfare tourists. So-called welfare tourism has been dealt with by the habitual residence condition....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: They are on €19 a week. I apologise, I forgot the 10 cent, it is €19.10.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: He was not trying to second guess the Supreme Court.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: I was perfectly correct. I was rebuked by the Leas-Chathaoirleach for referring to the amendment when we were on the section. The section is an amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: It is an amendment to that Bill put in the Dáil.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: So it is an amendment and a section. The terms are coterminous.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

David Norris: It is an amendment of that Bill as initiated in the Dáil. The two terms are coterminous. I know what I am talking about in terms of language. I want to address the Minister's point because there are a number of technical flaws in it. The case she referred to was the case to which I referred, namely, the Goncescu case. The chief appeals officer stated in all four cases that since the...