Results 16,021-16,040 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Lisbon Reform Treaty Report: Statements (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: I hope the Senator had a better answer than Justice Iarlaith O'Neill.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: No, it is a gentleman's club.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: To get off stage.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: This is the last day we will have an opportunity to discuss the Lisbon treaty. For this reason the debate we will have this morning is important. This is the first time I have committed myself against the treaty. It is important that I am allowed to state this. The people taking a conscientious position on the "No" side have been abused, misrepresented and treated with a fair amount of...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: Yes, there have, including by the President of the European Commission, Mr. Barroso, who stated we would pay for it. I wish to ask a couple of questions.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: It depends. I am not that sensitive. However, being called a flake is not a compliment. I am not getting all dithery about it. One can call me a flake if one wants. I may be a "loo-la" but I will ask questions that the Government side, and in particular the Leader, does not like answering.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: We have known for sometime that the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, has not fully read the treaty. We then discovered the Commissioner has not fully read the treaty and stated that anybody who did would be an idiot. This was glossed over by stating, as I pointed out previously, that Members of the Dáil voted for the treaty not having read it. The Minister for Finance has read it, however,...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: Fianna Fáil never had a principled position on neutrality and de Valera was pragmatic when he adopted it. Fine Gael would walk us into NATO if it could and it is perfectly open about it. The problem is that the Irish people——

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: ——have a principled commitment to neutrality and this is the problem that politicians have. They want to get around the Irish people but they will not.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: Was it in sterling?

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: The implication is that the betting shop was in Drumcondra.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: Shame.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: A Lisbon lecture, take 18.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

David Norris: We know he is not going to be interrupted.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

David Norris: What constitutes an advertisement on radio, for example, with these soothsayers, fortune tellers and so on? Sometimes they will say that if one wants to telephone the programme, one should telephone a particular number. Is that an advertisement? We need to look at this issue. I am a little concerned about people who are moulted for large sums of money. However, I believe that is already...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

David Norris: That would seem to sell out the principle regarding the sex channels and telephone lines as well. I use the word "ideological" and do not see anything wrong with it. It is a neutral word. "Ideological" could be used as a word in a negative fashion but it need not necessarily be. To say that an item is ideological means that it is formed as a result of a systematically formulated response...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

David Norris: What the Minister said about the film channel is very interesting and exciting. On the basis of my own experience, the Chinese, with whom I am quite familiar because Chinatown is at the bottom of my street which is Parnell Street, already get Chinese films so I do not think 5,000 Chinese people will watch whatever RTE or anyone else can dredge up because they are already running. I...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

David Norris: Regarding the question of radio advertising and the hours between 7 o'clock and 8 o'clock and 8 o'clock and 9 o'clock, with commuting times, there is little difference between these two times. Radio advertising is sold on a time-slot basis. Prime slots attract a particular rate. It is not conceivable that anyone could make the argument that there was an accidental overrun necessitated by a...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

David Norris: I think Senator Mullen is using this amendment to make an ideological point and there is merit in some aspects of it. I was rather surprised, however, to hear him — even with a sense of irony — appearing to equate the Roman Catholic Church with tarot cards, fortune tellers and that sort of business. From time to time, I have criticisms of the Vatican and even of the distinguished...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.