Results 14,561-14,580 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency: Statements (26 May 2009)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, despite the fact it is perfectly clear the action is elsewhere. The fact has already been referred to that there was an important committee meeting earlier today. Although I completely accept that the Minister of State is a highly intelligent and gifted contributor, both as a Senator and as a Minister of State, even though he is almost as...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency: Statements (26 May 2009)

David Norris: -----the real action and decision making will be done by the Minister and advisers such as Dr. Peter Bacon. I was unable to attend this morning's meeting but I corresponded a little with Dr. Bacon. I asked him when the idea of setting up NAMA first arose. He said the report was submitted to the Minister on 20 March 2009. I mooted the idea of a somewhat similar agency, the national...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency: Statements (26 May 2009)

David Norris: It is nearly up, but not quite.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency: Statements (26 May 2009)

David Norris: We are not protecting the taxpayer. The Minister of State has given us no indication on the situation regarding the money. There has been a great number of tragedies and repossessions. The chief executive officer of Aer Arann, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, was on my radio programme on Newstalk at the weekend. He has a turnover of €100 million, and after all the money that has already been...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2009)

David Norris: And the Church is equal to every other institution.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2009)

David Norris: The Leader did not reply to my contribution and I invite him through the Chair to do so. Last week, he gave me an absolute undertaking that he would raise this matter with the Government and, on that basis, I did not press the amendment the last time. I would like the Cathaoirleach, very respectfully, to allow the Leader to indicate whether he has spoken to the Government and whether the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2009)

David Norris: Not to me.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2009)

David Norris: Yes. It will be put every day until I get a result. The Leader is letting down the very people who were abused.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2009)

David Norris: I do not agree with the previous speaker. I would say that we must do something practical. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that we take today No. 34, motion 8, in my name and some of my Independent colleagues, on the exemption of the churches from the operations of the equality legislation. It is astonishing that the very agency that presided over the rape of children,...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2009)

David Norris: The deaf, the handicapped, the most vulnerable were especially targeted. I say to that nun who stated that the deal is closed, "No it ain't, Sister." I can tell the House this. On any deal where they state they will deal with the victims, have they not learned anything? Do they not listen?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2009)

David Norris: The very thing that terrifies, as Mr. Michael O'Brien stated on television last night, is to be put in the same room as the agencies that abused them. Do not shame us.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2009)

David Norris: Exactly.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 May 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 May 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear. Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 May 2009)

David Norris: The most chilling and damning words on the front page of The Irish Times this morning are "systematic" and "endemic". They tell the whole story. This was known to many people in authority. In the Church, responsibility goes right to Rome, where a report detailing the systematic and endemic sexual abuse of children gathered dust for 60 years. I respectfully disagree with Senator Harris, to...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 May 2009)

David Norris: I am only asking for a very mild revolution.