Results 15,321-15,340 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 30 (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Could the Cathaoirleach give me some information as to what matters are considered by the Seanad to be of national urgency?

Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 30 (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I recall a day when one of the Chair's predecessors ruled that something was not a national emergency when, within hours of the debate, the Taoiseach was ruling it was, in the Dáil. Are we on a different planet? Why is the Standing Order not abolished altogether, for all the use it is?

Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 30 (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: No. There will be no co-operation on this.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: It is not.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: The Government is a disgrace and Senator de Búrca's party should get out of it.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Good, the sooner the better.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I will not welcome the Minister of State to the House. There is nothing personal in that and, for all I know of the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, she is an estimable woman.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Yes, absolutely, but I do not welcome any Member of this disgraceful Government to this House. The Government has behaved barbarously in this and in many other areas. When I listen to people on that side of the House talking about protecting the vulnerable and the weak, I wonder how they dare to engage in such bare-faced hypocrisy, following the budget and the destruction of the Combat...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Well, I believe it would be unconstitutional, and the Minister of State is not a lawyer and so my opinion is as good as hers.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: In that case, why does the Government not do the decent thing and get rid of it altogether?

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach, although I do not mind. They can disgrace themselves as much as they like and I shall give back just as good as I get. It is also cack-handed. The Government was warned about this and took no notice. It received a report from the Department of Finance, wondering whether the significant risks had been spotted, apart from anything else. The Departments of...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I should declare an interest. I am lucky in having plan E, the most expensive plan available. I can be sick at my leisure any time I want. However, it is disgraceful that the most vulnerable, about whom the Government side prates all the time, are not protected in this way. As for the millionaires, I ask the Minister of State to show me one. I live in the north inner city. There are...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: A programme of nationalising the existing private hospitals would accelerate the positive elements and provide the capacity necessary to implement a national scheme. It could be done. Universal health care could be provided promptly, and fairly inexpensively, by the simple measure of giving a medical card to those who cannot afford it, and selling it to those who can. The Government has...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Is the House quorate?

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Yes. Notice taken that 12 Members were not present; House counted and 12 Members being present,

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I wish to raise a point of order.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Members have abolished the Order of Business and the Government has abolished the Combat Poverty Agency and the Equality Authority. One does not know what will happen next.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: That was the preface to the point of order I wish to raise.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: As no Order of Business has been scheduled today, is it appropriate to commence proceedings without a quorum? What number constitutes a quorum?

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Is a quorum present in this House? Every committee and sub-committee requires a quorum——