Results 16,141-16,160 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

David Norris: Will we get a question?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

David Norris: Such an interesting question.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

David Norris: I appreciate the Chair's decision to allow me to speak. I congratulate the former Senator, Deputy Mansergh, on being appointed as a Minister of State. The portfolio that has been allocated to him may appear to have been downgraded, but it is up to him to make it clear that is not the case. Perhaps he could do that by coming to this House at an early date to discuss some of the motions on...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

David Norris: His appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for the arts is an interesting one. While it may appear that the position has been downgraded, I do not believe that is the case. This responsibility has been given to an active person who has been a senior advisor to many Taoisigh and carries a great deal of weight at Government level. While I share Senator Donohoe's concerns about...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: I do.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: This opens the whole discussion on Members of the Oireachtas. Senator Donohoe mentioned people with major professional commitments who may still be members of local authorities. That would mean they could not give a full-time commitment. If that is to be opened up, there would be a need to also question membership of the Oireachtas because there is a contradiction there.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: Is this amendment in opposition to the section?

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: Could the Minister explain the rationale behind this dithering?

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: It is rather curious behaviour. It is somewhat like the "I stepped in again, you stepped out again" approach. It appears in the Bill, step 1. It is deleted, step 2, and then it is back in, step 3. That does not suggest a very clear and logical approach. I am not fully convinced about the Minister's action. Is it the case that the Minister does not now propose to delete the section?

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: The Minister is right, particularly since we were talking earlier about safety. If somebody is injured because of a dereliction on the part of a transport authority, particularly if Senator Donohoe has his way and it is running railway trains, buses, boats, canal barges, etc., then the public should have the right to sue. The right to restore something that was proposed to be deleted...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: I withdraw my remarks because I am now completely confused. I have been made dizzy by this sort of thing, and it now appears that the immunity is left intact. I am not sure this is a good idea for the reasons I gave when I thought matters were the other way around. I do not see why a citizen should not have a case for redress if he or she is damaged by the actions of the authority. It...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 46: In page 42, subsection (1), after line 47, to insert the following: "(d) Any new such public service contract within the greater Dublin area shall be offered first to Dublin Bus and or Bus Eireann.". The Minister has more or less addressed this amendment already because he suggested a European directive required the existence of an open, public and competitive regime....

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 48: In page 43, subsection (4), line 15, to delete "5 years" and substitute "10 years". At an earlier stage of our consideration of the Bill the Minister was lyrical on the need for what he described as a "level playing field" in these areas. If one is giving ten years to other providers, it seems that public service providers should be given exactly the same treatment....

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 49: In page 43, subsection (5)(a), lines 19 and 20, to delete "unilaterally make amendments to such contract" and substitute the following: "can amend such direct award in objectively justified cases and in a proportionate manner". This is a precautionary amendment because the powers granted to the Minister in this regard are quite serious and swingeing. The section...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: While the Minister's response again makes clear that this section is in compliance with the European directive, nothing in my amendment is in conflict with it. Although the Minister has more or less stated this would be the manner in which the authority would act in any case, enabling an authority to act unilaterally in such a way is a strong power. I propose the inclusion of a safeguard of...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: No. The Senator should give Members a break.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: Euthanasia is more like it.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: It is available on prescription.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

David Norris: I welcome the fact that the House will be continuing statements on the Lisbon treaty because it is important that people like me, who have what I consider to be an honourable and reasoned position against the treaty, should have an opportunity to speak. I hope that on this occasion, unlike the last time I spoke on the Bill, some of it may actually be noticed. It is only fair that there...