Results 17,241-17,260 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: I commend the committee and the Minister on the suggestion about the age of consent of 16. This was a forward-looking, realistic and courageous thing to do. I despise the Opposition for the ignorant, disgusting and hypocritical way it behaved. I wish to serve notice on it that if it tries these kinds of prurient and hypocritical tactics again, it will get the same dose it got when it tried...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: For electoral advantage, the Opposition tried to introduce a discriminatory age of consent. Let us have none of this election politics about this serious issue.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: We know that. If he could, he would take their seats as well.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: We should not think that grooming is exclusively confined to the Internet. Grooming over a period of years was part of the process of clerical abuse and that was not reliant on technical advances such as the Internet.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: Senator Ryan has identified a weak clause. I invoked the reference in The Tailor and Ansty to taking the nephew out to watch the bull covering the cow. The section refers to "inviting, inducing or coercing the child to participate in or observe any activity of a sexual or indecent nature". This could involve inviting a child of 16 years and 11 months to a film. Many films have explicit...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: With regard to the campaign against AIDS among gay males, the most effective method of inhibiting the spread of the disease has involved the use of fairly explicit material. Will the Minister reassure me that this will be protected? It is an important health issue. However, I agree with the Minister's example of dirty old men showing blue movies to children to get them excited and have...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: I thank the Minister for taking a direct and personal interest in the matter and ensuring he was available for the debate. I also thank him for dealing with it in his usual vigorous and informative manner. I am glad he has indicated that fuller sexual offences legislation will be introduced. Whatever the make-up of the next Government, it will be charged with that responsibility. I am...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: Good woman, we would not doubt her.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: He is unusual in that diocese.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: I give this Bill a guarded welcome. Like most people who tell the truth, I regard the shared experience of sexual pleasure with another human being in a loving relationship as one of the highest forms of physical and spiritual ecstasy, and we should say that.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: Those people who are privileged to have that experience should cherish it but there is a danger, because of the language being used now, that we automatically equate "sexual" and "indecent" as if they are replaceable terms, and they are not. I am not saying there is not sexual exploitation but let us not pretend that sexual pleasure is dirty or reprehensible. It is a wonderful gift. That...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: I remember that.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: It is not very liberal to pretend, in a hypocritical fashion, that——

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: ——every act and word of ours comes straight from Jesus Christ.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: I will. I will not speak for Jesus Christ as Fine Gael does.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: It would be a great help if we had less repetition because this Bill will be guillotined. If this goes on much longer there will be no opportunity for any Member to participate.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: There will be practically no time for amendments.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

David Norris: Ochón, ochón, ochón, mo chreach, mo chás, mo dhíth is mo bhuairt.