Results 16,841-16,860 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: Is it appropriate to dispense a week's supply of methadone in one go?

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: How can they take responsibility for an extra 1 million people? They must have been very energetic.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: Will the Leader request the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to provide Government time if the Bill is defeated in the Dáil? He was very dismissive of what I said to the effect that I had the right to ask questions. Of course I have. I do not need the Leader of the Seanad to tell me that. However, if he gives me that undertaking I will not press the amendment because it is a...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I appreciate that and accordingly withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I am very sorry to see my old friend and colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, in the hot seat today because he is a thoroughly decent and honourable man. It cannot be a very happy day for him to stand over this squalid business. I also recognise what Senator Boyle said and I salute him for it. He has acknowledged the technical difficulties but he did not go as far as I...

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: It is a gift now.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I will interrupt any time I like. Senator Hanafin is not in the Chair.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: Everybody is interrupted. I have even been interrupted myself.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: Senator Twomey without interruption.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: The Minister of State is not delighted to be here. That is why he is telling us the other Ministers are elsewhere. The Minister of State would rather be anywhere else.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I seek guidance from the Chair — I am afraid I am rather confused. Where am I? Am I on a little island called Ireland or am I, as I increasingly suspect, on the flying island of Laputa, described by the late Dean Jonathan Swift in Gulliver's Travels? I ask partly because of the matter raised by Senator Fitzgerald. The Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: When I heard this morning that the Health Service Executive is in a state of distraction and paralysis over the significant question of how many electricians it takes to change a light bulb, I wondered again whether this is the flying island of Laputa or just a bad joke. I understand that a garda will be made privy to these special provisions. We know that gardaí are unusual people because...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I would not dream of making a speech.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: Can the Chair tell me where I am? Is this Laputa or is it Ireland? Assuming from the Cathaoirleach's expression that it is Ireland, may I raise one other matter? I understand from radio reports that the Labour Party intends to introduce a civil unions Bill in the other House later today. I salute the Labour Party for doing so. I listened to the debate on the radio and I hope we have a...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: My mother was in this situation after my father died when I was six years of age. My mother got no pension because it was my father who died. If my mother had died, my father would have got a pension. I want the lie that was put out on the air — that the law was introduced to protect spouses — to be withdrawn. It was put out on the air that this is to protect the spouses but it is no...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: I will table this matter as an amendment to the Order of Business. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Civil Partnership Bill 2004 be taken. In support of my argument, I remind the House that I am a member of a family which was here when St. Patrick arrived on the island. I am pretty Irish and I do not need to be lectured about Irishness by anybody as to what is and is...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: ——I will take another trip to Europe if that is necessary. I am signalling to the House that this is what I will do.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

David Norris: Yes.