Results 15,601-15,620 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

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

David Norris: I wish to comment on that response, although I will, of course, defer to Senator Bacik if she wishes to withdraw her amendment. The Minister of State has expressed a very minimalist view. The phrase "meet its housing need" does not really carry the force of "appropriate". The response is a little bit grudging. Has the Minister of State accepted any amendments so far?

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

David Norris: I cannot quite recall the detail. How generous was the Minister of State?

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

David Norris: Hear, hear.

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

David Norris: I wish to give a clear and specific example, if I may. I knew of a young man who had various difficulties. He had been subjected to aversion therapy because he was gay. His family was from rural Ireland and was very harsh in that regard. He was seriously distressed by this but, with great courage, pulled himself together. He was allocated a flat in the inner city which certainly met his...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: There is much more to do.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Maith an fear.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Comhghairdeas, tá an ceart agat, cinnte.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

David Norris: No, he did not.

Seanad: FÁS: Statements (2 Dec 2008)

David Norris: Thank you, a Chathaoirligh. I may not need all that time, but then I frequently say that and find I have not quite finished within the time. This is an important debate. My colleague and friend, Senator Ross, has called for this debate over a considerable period of years. In some instances I have agreed with him, in particular some years ago when he proposed, and I seconded, a motion to...

Seanad: FÁS: Statements (2 Dec 2008)

David Norris: No, I beg the Senator's pardon. He is showing his novelty in this House.

Seanad: FÁS: Statements (2 Dec 2008)

David Norris: I am elected by the votes of a constituency that has 55,000 wonderfully qualified degree holding Irish citizens unlike the Senator who fishes around in a measly little pond of 1,000 votes with the others.

Seanad: FÁS: Statements (2 Dec 2008)

David Norris: It is accurate, not unfair, and I will not waste more time on this.

Seanad: FÁS: Statements (2 Dec 2008)

David Norris: What I say is accurate. As a result of a series of investigations, the Committee of Public Accounts is examining the issues. The newspaper controversy has in a valuable way highlighted the inadequacies of the committee system, for example, the lack of compellability. Unless there is a serious constitutional problem, the committee should have the power to compel witnesses. It is absurd that...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

David Norris: I accept the good intentions and practice of the Ministers involved and their advisers. The view of the House clearly is that these are unacceptable weapons. Most people, including those on the Government side, would accept that although they have been defined as being beyond the scope of cluster munitions, to any ordinary person they clearly are cluster munitions and they have at least...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

David Norris: It is not only the view held by someone from that position. One can come from a less extreme position and still find this unacceptable. Senators Cummins and Ormonde have indicated their difficulties and I do not believe either of them are absolutist in a pacifist sense and neither am I.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

David Norris: No. I welcome the Minister of State's response. I feel very strongly about this issue and my colleagues on all sides of the House, including on the Government side, also feel strongly about it, but I am not sure that a vote at this point would be helpful. The Minister of State has interpreted correctly the feeling of all Members on this, namely, that we want to encourage these efforts and...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 4: In page 4, subsection (1), line 36, after "Schedule 1" to insert the following: ", but Article 21(3) of the said Convention may not be relied on by the State". This is a critical amendment. I can anticipate the answers I will get, which would not be difficult since I read the debate and also heard the Minister of State speak on Second Stage. It is abhorrent that,...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

David Norris: The water has been pretty well muddied here. I will not press amendment No. 4 for the reasons that have been accepted by my colleagues, but I will press amendment No. 7. It simply states that the Defence Forces would be prohibited from participating in military operations with people who use cluster munitions, which are abhorrent. That does not preclude a rescue mission. There is a great...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 6: In page 6, subsection (3), between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: "(a) is committed by an Irish citizen or gives rise to injury to or death of an Irish citizen,".