Results 15,821-15,840 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

David Norris: With your indulgence, a Chathoirligh, I would like to withdraw a word I used during my contribution. You have not asked me to and neither have any of my colleagues, but I used the word "perjury" and that was in anticipation of a hypothetical Supreme Court judgment. The privilege we all have in this House is something very precious. It needs to be used judiciously. I would wish to do so,...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

David Norris: That is what we are asking for today.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I take it Senator Ann Ormonde is seconding Senator Joe O'Toole's amendment to the Order of Business. If not, I am happy to formally do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

David Norris: For several weeks I have attempted to highlight the manner in which the Government is using the budget to dismantle all those organisations which speak for the vulnerable and the oppressed, such as Combat Poverty, human rights agencies and the Equality Authority. That is the real danger. The Government has failed to listen to the people. Now the people will not listen to the Government....

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

David Norris: By 43%.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: I agree with every single word uttered by Senator Mary White. I was present at the church. It was an astonishing spectacle. I have never experienced anything like it. It was the risen people. It is extraordinary that Fianna Fáil, which was always the party par excellence in terms of being in touch with the grass roots, seems to have lost its antenna. It did not listen to the people on...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: When will the Minister come to the House to address with Members matters such as the scrapping of the Combat Poverty Agency when poverty is being created all around us? The Government has halved the budget for the Equality Tribunal and is proceeding with its decentralisation to Portarlington. This is all in advance of a report it has commissioned about efficiency and value for money....

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: The authority failed in its duty because it neglected a deadline by which it could deal properly with a major multinational but it was able to crucify the members of Irish Equity on the sum of €7,500 when it would not allow the organisation to engage in collective bargaining. It was deemed a cartel——

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: ——and that is a disgrace. On universality, we on this side of the House were asked whether we had ever seen millionaires in accident and emergency departments, etc. I can tell this House honestly that I have seen the equivalent, as have we all. I have seen very wealthy people taking every handout, grant and free gift from the taxpayer and using them as pocket money.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

David Norris: That is why I am in favour of means tests, but if the Government has means tests to exclude the rich, it must have proper and decent ones to save the poor who are being betrayed by the Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

David Norris: What about the ten richest people who did not pay any income tax at all last year?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

David Norris: There is a lot of rubbish in here.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Will the Cathaoirleach assure me that I am still visible in this House? I have had this problem before, but apparently not with the Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Big deal.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

David Norris: The matter to which Senator Harris is referring did not take place in the House. It was a matter of negotiations outside the House and had nothing to do with procedures in the other House.