Results 15,301-15,320 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: I have not made the point, but I am going to make it. The point is that the person involved is now the Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The destruction of the Equality Authority, the authority that filed this complaint, is coming from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In these circumstances there are grave questions to be answered...
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: No, I will not.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: I am going to finish what I have to say, a Chathaoirligh.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: I ask to be allowed to finish what I have to say.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: It is time for the Green Party to walk from Government. If its members threaten it, the Government will give in.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: Look at the somersaults that have been performed by the Minister for Education and Science. The Green Party members can do it if they make such a threat. This Government is terrified it will be wiped out by the people.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: I will finish my point by saying this. If the Government wants cuts it should look at the â¬10 million it is handing out to look after the election prospects of junior Ministersââ
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: ââor the â¬10 million kiss-off to its council electors.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: I certainly will.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: Yes.
- Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: I concur with Senator Fitzgerald. I am aware that there has been a problem for some time and it has been accepted practice that processing claims takes eight to ten weeks. The Department gave an explanation and stated that people receive an immediate gratuity or some other payment from their employer to tide them over. It seems harsh that people should be placed in this position. The...
- Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: I welcome the clarification the Minister has given. It is a good idea to have payments collected weekly. Another element in the article I read stated that people are not normally asked for clear or photographic identification. Can the Minister consider introducing that through regulation? The same article had a build-up of so many incidental facts that an accurate case was suggested. It...
- Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, between lines 10 and 11, but in Part 1, to insert the following: ""Spouse" shall be construed to include marriages and civil partnerships between persons of the same sex which would be recognised in other jurisdictions.". This is an attempt redefine the term "spouse" to include same sex couples. In an extraordinary move a number of years ago, the Minister's...
- Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: While I do not wish to impugn the Minister's honour or goodwill in this matter, since the Social Welfare Bill was used as an instrument to discriminate viciously against gay people, it is perfectly appropriate that it be used in a positive manner to remove the discrimination. There is nothing to prevent that in the future. It can be done now quite easily, simply and technically. It would...
- Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: I thank the Minister for her courteous response. This will be my last intervention on this matter. To have something in the heads of a Bill does not matter a tuppenny damn. In the Charities Bill 2007, we had a clear indication that human rights would be included as it had been included in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and even Australia. However, it was suddenly whipped out....
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: Do not encourage him. He will take the Cork-Dublin route with a bicycle if we are not careful.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)
David Norris: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)
David Norris: The Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, will withdraw that. How dare she attack the public.
- Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)
David Norris: That is outrageous. There is no logic to it, and the sooner the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, is put out the better.
- Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 30 (12 Dec 2008)
David Norris: I ask that the House be adjourned to discuss a matter of urgent national interest, namely, the destruction of the Combat Poverty Agency and the Equality Authority. I understand it is not possible for those supporting me to be named on the instrument, but I am being supported by Senators Frances Fitzgerald and Phil Prendergast. Everybody will agree this is a matter of national urgency, and...