Results 14,841-14,860 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I ask for a debate on the Corrib gas field. I do so in light of my considerable concern at the jailing of Ms Maura Harrington and the process which led to it. A former Minister of the Government gave this field away for nothing. The Minister concerned was subsequently jailed in the wake of a corruption scandal. He gave it away to Shell, one of the worst polluters and one of the most avid...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

David Norris: She does not believe in her idealism because she witnessed her enjoyment of the public limelight. I wonder about the qualifications - this is not a judicial matter. She then referred Ms. Harrington for psychiatric examination in addition to jailing her for 28 days. Are we returning to eastern Europe? Is it an attempt to use psychiatry to control political expression? This is terribly...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I had my face slapped and the person did not go to jail for 28 days. I am asking for a debate so we can ventilate all these matters. I congratulate the Green Party. At its conference the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, said he is attempting to ensure Ireland withdraws from the European Defence Agency. I ask for a debate on this matter. I...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I thank Senator Coffey for sharing time with me and I welcome the Minister to the House. It is very appropriate he should be here as he was chair of the committee and I sat at the first meeting. I do not agree with my colleague, Senator O'Toole, as I do not think anything very much will be done. The Minister will recollect that the first item on the agenda, this scoping nonsense, was an...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

David Norris: With the way in which Governments have run the finances for years, we could not be any worse at the very least. I think we should certainly look at this idea. I am not taking any lessons about democracy from either side of this House. I have sat in this House when every single one of the named officers of this House had been rejected at least once, and several of them twice, by the...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

David Norris: The amendment refers to a scoping review, into another committee for a look at it and we will circulate a report. I would be very surprised. The Irish people will want the abolition of the Seanad. Pat Kenny thought he had got an interesting result on the radio today. If he had asked, "Do you want Dáil Éireann to be abolished?", there would have been a 100% chorus saying, "Get rid of them".

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Will the Leader repeat that?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Surely students should deserve the mark they are awarded.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I must protest at the Leader's proposal. As a former teacher, I say that this proposal is madness. It will drive down academic standards. We will be a laughing stock.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

David Norris: The proposal he has made is absurd.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

David Norris: So can I. I have given jobs in at least two areas.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I had intended to raise several issues today. However, this is such a tragically important day that I will, like other Members, confine myself to the tragic events in Northern Ireland. I agree entirely with Senator Hanafin that these people are gangsters. Before coming into the Chamber, I heard a speaker on RTE radio claim they are not gangsters. What else are they? They operate in armed...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Senator Harris has used it now.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Mar 2009)

David Norris: On a point of order, I do not believe for one second that anyone in this House was guilty of posturing and I ask Senator Harris to withdraw that suggestion.

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Second Stage (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I had not anticipated being the first speaker from the Independent group and I am certainly not the most qualified. I have some observations to make with an unusual degree of humility because I recognise my lack of expertise in this matter. I also recognise the expertise of the Minister of State in this area. However, I have some questions to ask about this legislation. As I entered the...

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Second Stage (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: What a relief that the Minister of State has some, but he is disposable. That is the thing. He is a mere ephemera in the situation. It is like the old Robert Bridges poem which includes the line, "But I go on forever". We have the permanent Civil Service. I am just wondering what the level of expertise is because apparently the contrast was that there are 100 civil servants in the...

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Second Stage (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: I just want to come to a full stop. These loans should be put into a national property management agency. At the same time, we could bring all the banks together and have a State bank, a real bank of Ireland. That is where we could don the green jersey, roll the good elements together and put all the nasty stuff — it might be only nasty for a temporary period — into a national property...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: There is also the problem with taxis. Taxi drivers were forced to increase their prices against their wishes. They are protesting on the streets today. It is absurd. A ridiculous number of unqualified people are coming into the taxi sector. The Competition Authority is now opposing the freezing of drink prices. What is going on? Finally, there is what happened to the most vulnerable...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

David Norris: Has it had an effect?