Results 14,821-14,840 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I find myself in the highly unusual position of disagreeing with my distinguished colleague Senator Joe O'Toole on virtually everything he said. I disagree first on the issue of fees. I have always objected to the phrase "free fees". It is an ugly phrase and a complete oxymoron. It is nonsense and means nothing. There is no such thing as free fees because someone somewhere is paying. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: This must be our fight if we really value education. Another battle to be fought is that for an appropriate means test. We must not disadvantage anybody. It would be shameful to take money from the poor to educate the rich. I know that argument does not appeal to Senator O'Toole, but I feel strongly about it. I have spoken to my friends on the left who have talked about changing the tax...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I am about to put a question through the Chair to the Leader. On television on Friday he stated he facilitates and responds to every single question in this House. That is not accurate and I ask him to reflect upon it. I understand opposition from the Leader has placed the Cathaoirleach in the embarrassing position of having to say continually he must hear contributions from Members that...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear. Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I welcome the presence of Mr. John Drennan in the Press Gallery on what I think is his third visit in a long, distinguished and somewhat acerbic career as a political analyst ——

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I hope his newspaper group will show a sustained interest in this House from now on.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: On the issue of the proposed strike, I am glad to be a member of three trade unions, IFUT, the NUJ and Equity and support the trade union movement. However, on each occasion I have voted against this strike. Senator O'Toole may well be correct that the trade unions are angry, but an angry response is not necessarily a rational one. I have heard of people cutting off their noses to spite...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: —— and ability to keep the pressure on consistently according to plan until it achieved victory in a difficult situation. These are the kind of qualities the Government needs. Consider too how the team united the country. There was not much political verbiage. I saw the team coming back at the airport and saw Ulstermen there delighted to see the tricolour. Ulster voices intimated...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Let us not forget either the victory of Katie Taylor, another world champion and a woman. That was a day of which we could all be very proud.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Come on. It is an historic occasion.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

David Norris: If it was the GAA it would be a different matter.

Seanad: Health Services (12 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State to the House, particularly because we have a good Laois man in charge of this debate.

Seanad: Health Services (12 Mar 2009)

David Norris: It refers to the question of the provision of treatment facilities and services for the children in our community. In referring to our community, I mean the national rather than Dublin community. In the old days there were at least three principal centres for such matters, the Temple Street Hospital on the north side of the city, Crumlin in the west and the National Children's Hospital on...

Seanad: Health Services (12 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I thank the Minister of State for his reply and ask a few questions. He pointed out that the Children's Health First report recommended one centre of excellence but that does not answer the question about two upgraded accident and emergency units. This is recommended by the leading authority on the subject in the interest of what it describes as the safety of children. That is an important...

Seanad: Health Services (12 Mar 2009)

David Norris: It is a significant vacancy. It is one to be filled on the nomination of Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, which has these exact reservations among others. That is a real problem. I note the list of board members contains some distinguished people, including some friends of mine such as Harry Crosbie, who is a remarkable man. The sum of money the Minister of State indicates is being...

Seanad: Health Services (12 Mar 2009)

David Norris: There is flexibility in this regard and we need to examine it.

Seanad: Health Services (12 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I would like the Minister of State to convey the points I have made to the Minister.

Seanad: Health Services (12 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I thank the Minister of State for that.