Results 14,101-14,120 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2009)

David Norris: Which part of Dublin is Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis in?

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2009)

David Norris: I ask the Leader to raise with the Minister for Foreign Affairs the case of a Palestinian Christian woman, Berlanty Azzam, a fourth-year student in business studies. She was arrested on 28 October and held in custody in Netanya. She was taken blindfolded and handcuffed in an Israeli military jeep. The charge is that she is a person from Gaza. The Israeli authorities have decided to...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Business Plan: Statements (29 Oct 2009)

David Norris: They knew how to rob the banks.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Business Plan: Statements (29 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. There is a crisis of confidence. The public are a bit shell shocked and they have no trust in the banks. I do not agree with much of what this Government is doing, but at least there is some degree of comfort in the fact that we have, in the Minister for Finance and the Minister of State, two very professional, intelligent and competent people....

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I hold no brief for Arthur Scargill but the coal board and the Tory Government unilaterally started closing mines and the miners' strike was in response to that. I ask the Leader to consider extending the ten minutes allotted for questions on NAMA, subject to there being enough questions. It is not sufficient for such a serious matter as NAMA because it only allows for two questions and...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I am in the middle of a sentence. We are told there is plenty of car parking for people crossing the city. Will somebody wake up and realise an increasing number of people live in the city? We want gardaí and we want to be able to drive our motor cars as necessary.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I ask the Leader again to arrange a rolling debate on the economy, particularly in light of the extraordinary collapse in the value of Irish banks today. I learned a few minutes ago that share prices had fallen by 33%, which is very worrying. It appears this has happened partly on foot of concerns about the inefficient scheduling of Government business in the other House. I refer...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

David Norris: This is a House of order, which explains the outburst.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

David Norris: The Cathaoirleach has indicated several times that he must close the debate. We have a ridiculous situation whereby people are dislodged and then others are taken in the middle of the Order of Business. I have pushed several times to have this extended. Obviously the Order of Business should be extended further. It is the only time this House is reported. It appears on "Oireachtas...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I am not referring to the Cathaoirleach. The system is idiotic. One person is standing in the way and he should be very careful about this.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

David Norris: That is the farce of the entire thing.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I seek clarification. Is that a yes or a no?

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

David Norris: Go on.

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I thank Senator Buttimer for giving me time to take part in this important debate. I commend my colleague, Senator Ross, on a superb political manoeuvre. He has been talking about this for many years, before most of the other Senators became Members of the House. I remember him raising this matter many years ago. Both he and Senator O'Toole did a remarkable job. I listened with delight...

Seanad: European Union Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I wish to share time with Senator Feargal Quinn with the agreement of the House.

Seanad: European Union Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State. We have had a certain amount of sparring over the period on this matter but we have finally managed to bring our views into a certain degree of alignment. I welcome this opportunity to speak on the Bill because I was probably the first person in this House at the time of the previous referendum to declare a position against the Lisbon treaty. I made my...

Seanad: European Union Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2009)

David Norris: That is rather general.

Seanad: European Union Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2009)

David Norris: It shows the kind of incremental development. I well remember the time in Paris when at a COSAC meeting I had an engagement with Monsieur Alain Juppé. He rounded on me and said the European Union is not a human rights organisation, it has no human rights competence. This is now incrementally growing and it is to be welcomed. At the conclusion of the Minister's correspondence he states: On...

Seanad: European Union Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2009)

David Norris: I am finishing now. Political goodwill is the lubrication of the European Union and we have had very fine diplomatic representation in Europe, as previous speakers have stated. We have a very high reputation. I was concerned that in this difficult economic time we might sacrifice that goodwill and turn it into ill will, such that although we could not be punished legally, there are other...