Results 14,581-14,600 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (21 May 2009)

David Norris: If we have no Minister, how can we have a resolution?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 May 2009)

David Norris: On the basis that the Leader has gone a considerable way towards accommodating me and has indicated that if at all possible, he will allow ten minutes at the beginning of proceedings next Wednesday, I will withdraw the amendment. We will be watching for that and I hope it will be possible. Otherwise the Government's inaction will be very badly regarded by the people. There will be other...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Second Stage (21 May 2009)

David Norris: With the permission of the House, I should like to share time with Senator Ross who has a particular interest in this matter. I had not intended to speak on this Bill, but rather to leave it to my betters to deal with, people such as Senators O'Toole and Ross who have a long track record in pursuing this issue. However, I was briefed this morning, which was pretty late, by people...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2009)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Roche. I raise a human rights matter which involves a distinguished parliamentarian and diplomat, Mr. Remzi Kartal, who is a member of the Kurdish National Congress. Mr. Kartal visited the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs with a delegation of Kurdish representatives some years ago. The Minister of State may have met him at that time. I...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2009)

David Norris: I am sorry but I really must interrupt the Minister of State at this point. I object in the strongest possible manner to this rubbish being placed on the record. Mr. Kartal, whose matter I have raised today, has no association whatever with the PKK. This material could be used to smear him. I suggest that this reply be withdrawn.

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2009)

David Norris: At least the Minister of State must make clear there is no such connection.

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2009)

David Norris: Therefore it has no relevance to the debate.

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2009)

David Norris: I thank the Minister of State for his clarification but virtually all of his reply was irrelevant. It was a type of history lesson, accurate enough as far as it went. I am sure the Minister of State knows only too well that dragging the PKK scent across this trail is not at all helpful and is completely wrong-headed. I accept his clarification but obviously it was unnecessary to have...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2009)

David Norris: I appreciate the Minister of State's initiative and I thank him very much.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2009)

David Norris: I second Senator O'Toole's amendment. I support the call by Senators Fitzgerald and O'Toole for a debate on the report on child abuse, particularly in light of motion No. 9 on the Order Paper which refers to the extraordinary exemption of the churches from the operations of the equality legislation. The churches are now placed above the law with regard to equality, which gives them the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: I apologise to the Minister for this small intervention but I was at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and heard the vote. In regard to the section and the vote we just had, will the Minister outline why, for example, none of the principals in the present rather awkward financial situation has been addressed under the existing legislation dealing with reckless trading? I...

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: I thank the Minister for her response because I somewhat jumped the situation. I will have to go back to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs but I would like to signal to the Government that many people would be concerned. I was director, chairman and chief executive of two small companies and I was very conscious that if one behaved in a certain way, one would be in danger of...

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: The road to Limerick?

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: May I suggest that the phrase, "Put a cork in it", would be appropriate?

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: Come on, the Minister is losing credibility.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: In 2008.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: I wish to share time with my colleague, Senator Feargal Quinn. The Minister of State is a decent man, as I know only too well, but he has a brass neck to come into the House and deliver that drivel. I am glad to say, however, that he looked miserable doing it and he has every right to be so. He mentioned the question of percentages. It is perfectly obvious that since the matter was...

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (20 May 2009)

David Norris: It is absolutely outrageous. The whole thing is a spin. On "Prime Time" on 5 May, in response to a question from Mr. Justin Kilcullen, the Minister of State said we were protecting short-term emergency humanitarian aid because that was where our focus was. We want to save lives, but we are saving lives with our programme in any event. Yet when the researchers contacted the Minister of...