Results 14,801-14,820 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

David Norris: I wish to share time with Senator Doherty.

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

David Norris: I do not intend to take any excursions into Standard & Poor's given I exercised myself quite freely on that subject on the Order of Business. Although I agree with the points made by Senator Hanafin I will concentrate this evening on issues I believe are more relevant. I am disappointed the Opposition and the Government were not able to put forward a motion with which they could agree,...

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

David Norris: While I was a little nervous, I was very careful. It was fantastic. It was silent, with tremendous acceleration and one had good control of the car. That is green energy. It was interesting to hear that one of only 11 prototypes was made available to a local garage in north central Dublin. I want principally to speak about wave energy. I believe we have an opportunity to get involved in...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

David Norris: On the downgrading of Ireland's AAA credit rating by Standard & Poor's, which is a commercial firm and rating agency, Standard & Poor's was at the centre of the mess which caused the international financial collapse. It was among those rating firms and being paid for it by the firms they were rating. It joined the race to the bottom and, as a result, missed some of the toxic elements in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

David Norris: When I heard that Mr. Frank Gill, who is one of Standard & Poor's senior executives, was apparently suggesting that regime change was needed in Ireland, I thought it was an April fool's prank. It takes a hell of a cheek for someone from such a discredited agency to make such a comment.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

David Norris: I note that a serious interpretation was placed on the words of Standard & Poor's in the other House yesterday. I refer to the comments of Deputy Enda Kenny, who asked the Taoiseach if he agreed with Standard & Poor's "that there is no confidence in the Irish Government, that the Taoiseach has failed to deal with the economic challenges of the country, that he has presided over a disastrous...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

David Norris: He is not in a position to make such a call. That is the point.

Seanad: Pension Provisions (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh. This is a rather appropriate matter for the Minister of State to take because I know he has a distinguished academic career and is sympathetic to the work undertaken by universities. On 2 February this year, the Government announced a pension levy that would affect all public servants. I am not sure if this was to celebrate the 127th...

Seanad: Pension Provisions (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am very grateful to him for amplifying beyond the direct typescript as his additional points were particularly helpful. The people who have been in touch with me accept that the country is facing very difficult economic circumstances, but they make the point that they are not public servants in the ordinary sense due to the vulnerability of...

Seanad: Pension Provisions (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I thank the Minister of State for his further elucidation. There are degrees of research workers. Post-doctoral research fellows engaged in particular projects represent a slightly different category. I hope that there may be a positive outcome to this and perhaps the Minister of State's daughter may benefit.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I share the views of Senators Fitzgerald and O'Toole with regard to the satirical portrait of the Taoiseach. There may be a slight sting attached to it, but the Taoiseach is a man of strong satirical humour. I am very glad he was not consulted about the reporting of this matter to the Garda. There is a very long tradition of political satire. One need only think of Rowlinson, Gillray and...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: This is the central mystery and tenet of the Christian religion. It is not only Roman Catholics who are offended, I am offended. It is blasphemous, but there should not be criminal laws for blasphemy. However, one should express the fact that young people are being demeaned for commercial purposes. The Islamic faith regards Jesus Christ as one of the principal prophets, and to mock the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: ——why this had not been addressed in legislation. When told it had been addressed, he said he knew that. If he knew it, why did he ask the idiotic question to which he already knew the answer? Will the Leader raise again the issue of line rental for telephone services. Our charges are the highest in Europe — I have raised this matter repeatedly. We nationalised ground rents and...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Senator Walsh needs to circulate it.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Not to me.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I hope I have the Leader's support for the park.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Families have——

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I only need a minute.

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I am most grateful to Senator Ó Domhnaill for so graciously allowing me to speak because otherwise I would not get a chance to contribute to this debate at all. A minute should be more than sufficient time. As I understand it there are two principal problems. The first is geographic spread and the second is speed. I do not think they have been completely addressed by the Government...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: ——which was then raided by Tony O'Reilly. It was a smash and grab raid and then there was asset stripping and absolutely no investment in broadband. That is where the whole problem originates. If this side of the House wants to condemn the Government and State institutions for their lack of investment and lack of progress, why does it not condemn equally private business for what it...