Results 16,201-16,220 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: We would not wish to embarrass the Senator, so we will all have to vote "Yes".

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He is a vigorous and intellectually challenging representative of the Government. I am distressed to say, however, that I have to speak as a bit of a flake, in the words of my good friend and colleague, Senator Ormonde. I face the ghastly prospect of embarrassing the Senator and encouraging Ireland to be perceived as mean. These are terrible...

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: People have said the treaty is difficult to read and have been patronised for saying that. One learned commentator said it was like trying to read Finnegans Wake backwards in Latin. Even for a Joycean like myself I imagine that might pose some difficulties. If we examine the statements of other senior politicians, Monsieur Valéry Giscard d'Estaing is on record as saying that the Lisbon...

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: That was not a tract. It was an article by Susan George in The Irish Times. I accept the Minister may be right but will he accept also that there are 63 mentions of the word "market" and 25 of the——

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: Okay. Could the Minister also comment on the fact that in Strasbourg on 10 July last year Jose Barosso stated: "Sometimes I like to compare the EU as a creation to the organisation of Empire. We have the dimensions of Empire". There is an imperial level to it, therefore. With regard to the economic aspect, there is the business about spreading the European economic message by what is...

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: I am waiting for the Senator to tell me how I demonised the Union.

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: I quoted from some of the leaders. The "demonising" came from the European head bottle washer.

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: The Senator has not answered any of my criticisms.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: I received a strong letter from Professor Patricia Casey demanding that I retract unscripted statements I made on the Order of Business some time ago. I am happy to take this opportunity to do so. I had suggested that in evidence in the High Court in the Zappone case she gave an inaccurate and misleading account of research. Professor Casey pointed out that the research was published after...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: I am happy to confirm this matter. Since the original offence was not published, I am at a loss to find how she suffered any substantial damage to her reputation. I hope, however, this will restore her reputation in the eyes of the public and the courts. I regularly listen to the radio and I have heard about politicians being chastised for writing letters in rape cases. Yesterday, a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: A vengeful and nasty spirit is abroad and the question of sexual abuse by priests within the church was, most unfairly, added to the equation. That man is a Christ-like figure who deserves to be commended. He also felt strongly for the Polish girl who was the victim of the assault. This is a nasty trend in the media that should be stopped. I recall writing for a newspaper some years ago...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: No, the Senator is not the only person who will be doing so. I will be joining him.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: That is the Senator's ideological bias.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

David Norris: Hear, hear. Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2008)

David Norris: I support Senator O'Toole's call for a debate on alcohol abuse. I welcome the introduction of legislation in this area but I agree with the leading article in The Irish Times today, which called it "a weak alcohol bill". It is not good enough. We know perfectly well that alcohol is responsive to two triggers. It is price sensitive and it is sensitive to pressure on advertising. Nothing...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2008)

David Norris: In light of the Leader's very helpful reply, I will not press the amendment.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

David Norris: Well said.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

David Norris: I wish to share time with Senator Mullen. I welcome the Minister of State to the House for this useful and pertinent debate. Senator O'Toole refers to the inordinate amount of parliamentary time consumed by these matters. Every Member has tabled an Adjournment matter on schools building projects and has large files on the matter and numerous examples have been outlined in the debate. The...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Second Stage (23 Apr 2008)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am very glad he is in charge of the Department of Transport. I have followed his career with interest and admiration over a number of years. He is prepared to be decisive, innovatory and to stick to his guns. I have some reservations about this Bill which I intend to put on the record. However, before I do, I wish to say that while I believe it is...