Results 16,341-16,360 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: I indicated that we would have to get on with the business today. Some of my passion has been diluted by the decision in the Sunday World case. I had thought of testing the waters with a bit of a gamble to see if the Cheltenham effect had weakened the Government side, where it was likely to be most pronounced, but I recognise the extraordinary vote management of which Fianna Fáil is...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: I move amendmentNo. 8: In page 12, to delete lines 3 and 4. I thank the Minister for graciously acknowledging the work previously done in the Seanad on this matter. The amendment concerns judges and I table it in the light of an experience I had many years in the courts where I used to attend fairly regularly. Certain judges made a habit of making the most derisory, cutting, defamatory and...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: I very much welcome the Minister's indications regarding the progress of the other Bill and the response that he received. In those circumstances I will not press the amendment.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: I move amendmentNo 11: In pages 14, 15 and 16, in page 14 to delete lines 40 to 43, in page 15 to delete lines 1 to 42 and in page 16 to delete lines 1 to 9. This is the matter of the defence of honest opinion which goes to the crux of the reservations many of us have about this Bill. It is not sufficient for somebody to think that something may be true and to honestly believe it. One can...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: Deputy? I resist that demotion to the Lower House.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: I did not defame the Minister. He is not a dog.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: Read Senator "Mansewerage".

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: Three journalists.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: It was worth tabling the amendment to have provoked so vigorous an assertion of the freedom of the press from Senator Harris. He did it with his usual flair and panache. On the dog licences, if the Minister has a look at the speeches of Senator "Mansewerage" he will see exactly what I was at.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: It is an honest opinion.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: I apologise for my accent.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: It is not. If Senator Walsh checks the record he will find that I made that initial mispronunciation some years ago and I continued it in the House. It had nothing whatever to do with what happened in the other House. I just linked it now. If he checks the record, he will find that.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: Check the record and find it. I gave Senator Walsh a wonderful opportunity to align himself with those views. There we are. I am all in favour of free speech and I welcome the fact that I was able to let Senator Walsh put on the record his position on it.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: Now let us get back to the Bill.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: In that case I shall make sure to amend my pronunciation in future. I regret if it caused considerable distress to Senator Walsh, but I do not believe that for a minute.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: I have discussed this on the air with the person involved and it did not bother him at all.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: Senator Walsh is just a squall of hot air.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: Here or in Cheltenham?

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: I thank the Leader but I think there was a misunderstanding because I did not want the Committee to ban anything.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (11 Mar 2008)

David Norris: I did not have the pleasure of being in the House when Ms Ahern was a Member and subsequently Cathaoirleach, but I met her on three occasions, widely separated by years. The first was when, as Cathaoirleach, she chaired a debate organised by one of the major debating societies in Trinity College. At this debate, one of my friends who had not only a double but a triple personality, being...