Results 15,621-15,640 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

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

David Norris: I move amendment No. 7: In page 6, before section 7, to insert the following new section: "7.—The Defence Forces are prohibited from participating in military operations where cluster munitions will be used with the exception of training for clearing purposes.".

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

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State's response. I would like to tease it out more regarding the date. The signing in Oslo is on 3 December. That is very soon and we will not have the Bill in force by then. Could the Minister of State provide a timescale? He has given the reasons for a possible delay, that we need to bring all our practices into alignment with the provisions of the Bill so we...

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

David Norris: Other countries, such as Austria, are in a position to do it immediately.

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

David Norris: No, even though I was beginning to get a little confused by the Minister of State's reply, because I was thinking of the passage into force of our legislation rather than the commencement of the full convention. However, the Minister of State has reassured me that we stand in a good position to be able to be there when the convention comes into force and that is the crucial point. I...

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

David Norris: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, subsection (1), to delete lines 30 to 33. This is a matter of excluding "anti-handling device". This is a rather Jesuitical thing to do and may expose innocent people, civilians and army personnel who should not be killed in these circumstances to the operations of an anti-personnel device. I believe these anti-handling devices can in themselves be...

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

David Norris: Getting rid of all devices for clarity.

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

David Norris: While I am grateful to the Minister of State for his clear explanation, it has convinced me to maintain my position in this matter. The Minister of State has repeated the argument made in the Dáil by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, that this would have the effect of introducing an undesirable level of uncertainty. I believe it would have the effect of introducing a...

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

David Norris: I do not accept that if one attaches these lousy devices to an equally lousy device, they suddenly become unlousy, so to speak. Anti-personnel mines are intended to prevent people from defusing the mines. I am more or less, albeit not entirely or exclusively, a pacifist, and if either I or someone close to me was subjected to brutalisation, I would rapidly shed my pacifist extremist...

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

David Norris: Does the Minister of State refer to James Dooge?

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

David Norris: I hope the newspapers get hold of this.

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

David Norris: This may get something going. That is the only job for which I would ache. The foreign affairs office is the only thing that would induce me to join a political party. It is the most wonderful area of political work.

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

David Norris: I would not get the job. In any case, these nasty devices should be banned. They do not become less nasty because they are applied to other nasty devices. Furthermore, while passing a better or more humane law in Ireland might cause some complications, I do not believe that, legally, it would necessarily invalidate our ratification of the treaty.

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

David Norris: I will come to that.

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

David Norris: I thank the Minister of State. I am glad and unsurprised that we are in sympathy about the horrors of war and its associated revolting machinery. I will not labour the point, but I imagine that Belgium and Austria will be accommodated. The Minister of State's diplomatic advisers might be able to say "Yes" or "No". I will watch this space because I would hazard a small bet that Belgium and...

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

David Norris: It will be interesting to see what emerges.

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

David Norris: I thank the Minister of State.

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

David Norris: I can set the Minister of State's mind at rest — the Government still has a majority in this House.

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

David Norris: I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, subsection (1), to delete lines 21 to 33. We are getting into the real meat of the Bill, namely, the definition of cluster munitions. The House will be told that there can be no variations on the treaty and so on. As I stated, the Bill is welcome, but it bans only some cluster munitions. I do not accept that anything under ten explosive submunitions is...

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

David Norris: The Senator should come over.

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

David Norris: Good woman.