Results 14,021-14,040 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: Exactly.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: Exactly.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: There is a defence. That is exactly what I said.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: That is the point I made.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: Yes, absolutely.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: This is an important section relating to the whistleblower's charter. I urge the Minister to introduce broad legislation covering the rights of persons who make such disclosures. I am aware of a number of examples. I know of one in a health facility where an employee saw mistreatment of disadvantaged people who were vulnerable. They made an anonymous telephone call and discussed the issue...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: I beg Senator White's pardon, but I wish to signal that I will be tabling a Report Stage amendment along those lines.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: I support Senator Twomey whose contribution is significant. The House should bear this specifically in mind because of the recent case involving former Senator Jim Higgins and Deputy Brendan Howlin who found themselves in some legal difficulty in regard to their sources. That is a good point. The more I think about it the more strongly I believe the Minister should harmonise the penalties...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: Welll, Senator O'Toole is no virgin.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: Go raibh míle maith agat a Leas-Chathaoirligh. Ba mhaith liom-----

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: Tá an Ghaeilge go flúirseach agam agus bhí mé ar TG4 cúpla oíche ó shin. Ba mhaith liom tacaíocht a thabhairt don leasú seo a mhol mo chara, an Seanadóir Seosamh Ó Tuathail. This is a good amendment for several reasons. First, it caters for people in the Gaeltacht. It also addresses the situation in a modern way. We are catching up with the electronic world. Also, and...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: This amendment is like a mission statement. I do not see it doing the slightest damage, but it is really rather exhortatory. I want to take up what my distinguished colleague, Senator Harris, had to say, and welcome it strongly. He has been a harsh and trenchant critic of the Frontline Alliance for clear and idealistic reasons. There was no nastiness in it. He felt it passionately....

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: Of course it is. It is part of the problem. It is exactly related to paragraph (xi) in the amendment, and I am taking up from what Senator Harris stated. I just want to state the following three sets of figures on the deduction since the April budget. On a salary of €31,500 per annum, for the average PAYE worker the deduction is €945 per annum, but for the front-line workers it is...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: It is always refreshing and stimulating to listen to Senator O'Toole. It is a long time since I heard the word "tontine". The Dublin Tontine Society used to reside around the corner from me and from Senator O'Toole's distinguished union, whose history in this area I had not realised until now. It is very impressive. Senator O'Toole's argument is very persuasive. Directors of banks would...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: One learns more and more. However, it could be done and would not be in conflict with the kind of principles we spoke about earlier. Regrettable though it may be, I think Senator O'Toole has won this argument intellectually, game, set and match. I would prefer to see the banks nationalised, but that is not going to happen and we must live with that. Amendments Nos. 63 and 64 seem to me to...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: As it has been discussed, it would be completely wrong for me to revisit it, but since I am a very naughty boy, that is what I propose to do. Even though I do not agree with the amendment, I suggest it would be better if the wording was changed. It states: "Guidelines issued under this section shall be approved by the Oireachtas...". That is telling the Oireachtas it must approve them....

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: Amendment No. 63 states the Minister "shall cause a copy of guidelines issued under subsection (1) to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable". I hope that will be done very soon because today the banks are down a further 9%, which marks a further collapse. This is desperately serious and we need to act with the greatest possible speed. On a technical drafting...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: The core of the Bill is less than 20 lines, even though the Bill is 160 pages long.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: Well said.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: While we are farting around in here there are people up in court who will have their houses repossessed.