Results 15,581-15,600 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Under my amendment, all the powers the Minister of State seeks for a housing authority would survive. It could evict and charge for arrears. Under the Minister of State's amendment, an authority will be required to remove social housing supports. The whole matter of flexibility is left in abeyance. The language in the section of facilitation is taken directly and specifically from other...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: That is very welcome and I thank the Minister of State for his flexibility. I hope there will be further flexibility. Does this mean the Minister of State is pressing amendment No. 35 or are we all withdrawing amendments so that he can come up with something better?

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Does that specifically relate to discretion?

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: They would not tie the hands.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I want to add an additional rider. This has been a valuable debate and I ask the Minister of State to make available to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel the text of the debate on this section so that our concerns can be taken into account in the context of the debate. I would not be happy if it was a question posed to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel. Is the Minister of State prepared to...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I support this valuable and practical amendment. Senator O'Toole tabled a similar amendment with a time requirement in respect of other legislation and it was accepted. In this debate the Minister of State has relied extensively on a promissory note to the effect that this will be dealt with in the regulations. In return for that, it is fair enough that we are given a timeline. We cannot...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: The Minister is becoming repetitive.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I support this amendment. Senator Bacik made an effective political point when she talked about aligning the legislation in this part of the island with that in the Northern part. It should be particularly keenly felt by a member of Fianna Fáil, which has the aim of reuniting the national territory. That is a good political point. An even more urgent point is the fact that, as Senator...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: For the sake of balance the Minister will also have to visit the Shankill.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Many Members have spoken about the very difficult economic situation in which we find ourselves. It would be useful for the House to take up a couple of examples of this. I have from time to time indicated some of these, particularly in the context of the abolition of the Combat Poverty Agency and various other agencies, but I will not go on about this again. However, I wish to deal with...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I wish to raise another matter concerning the decent sheep farmers outside Agriculture House. The Minister owes them a statement with regard to the situation pertaining to CAP and single farm payment funds he has received, which amount to approximately €23 million. There has been no indication he will help out the sheep farmers who are in a very difficult situation. He has perfect...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: My grandfather was a farmer, but he would not allow my uncle to take up the farming business because, he said, it was so cruel. It is as cruel now as it was during the days of the economic war and we owe it to those decent young farmers to do something for them.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: What about the Thirty-two County Republic Senator Ó Domhnaill's party was so keen on?

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Yes, maybe.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: The Leader is in mid-air by now.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: He left that to the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: He will pass the recipe on to the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Excellent.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Please do.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I support the amendment. It seems eminently sensible that accommodation should be tailored to the needs of the person or persons seeking it.