Results 17,421-17,440 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I have a question for the Leader. Perhaps we should have some slight discussion on the matter. Having listened to Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, I found him judicious in everything he said.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

David Norris: He was reasonable, decent, understanding and sophisticated.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

David Norris: When the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Hain, visits Croke Park it would have been gracious for him to lay a wreath at the memorial, which would have healed many wounds. I am very sorry he decided not to do it.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I am sure the Cathaoirleach will pity me as I pitied him. Last week I was compelled by logic to agree with Senator Mansergh. Today I am discharged from that duty because of the utter rubbish he spoke about an attempt to get Ireland to intervene in Britain's internal affairs to get it to shore up prejudice simply because it was a Roman Catholic prejudice.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

David Norris: The British Cabinet gave the answer to that one when it clearly stated it is not possible to have a little bit of discrimination. It would have been much better had Senator Mansergh asked, as I now ask the Leader, to consider this situation in Ireland, where despite his paeans of the past 25 years, his Government needed to be pushed, kicking and screaming, into this area. Let us have a...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

David Norris: ——while they were simultaneously getting exemption from equality legislation to which they were not entitled. It is a disgrace and the English are 100% right.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: Could I raise the matter with the Minister when discussing the section?

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: It is one of these things that might fall between the interstices but I am sure the Minister will be interested because he raised the analogy with ground rents this morning on the radio. I am appealing to the Minister——

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I am sure we will find a way to discuss it. Perhaps at the end of the debate the Chair will be more lenient. I am damned if I am not going to introduce this and say something.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: You are always very kind.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 25: In page 44, before Schedule 1, to insert the following new section: 33.—That the Government shall make provision analogous to that under which house owners were facilitated in buying out ground rents to allow telephone subscribers to buy out the telephone line to their address.". I made a mistake. The amendment ruled out of order related to people recording one's...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: Will the Minister examine the issue?

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: One would get exactly the same service and maybe even better because one would not be interrupted by them suggesting their own people. I wonder if what the Minister says is right. He said this is now a private concern. It is. The Government made a big error in flogging off Eircom. I do not approve of all this privatisation because it does not work in the interests of the subscriber but...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: So were the ground rents.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: The Minister is very optimistic. I sincerely hope I will be here.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I do not accept everything the Minister said but I will put up with it. The privatisation stunt went against the interests, in some cases, of the subscribers. When the Minister said they paid €8 billion for the lines, I do not think that was for lines. Was it not for the whole company?

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: There was not any particular discretionary payment of X amount for the lines, and I do not believe it was €8 billion. I would like to leave the matter open and ask the Minister to examine it because as a recurring charge one is never finished with it. The Government may have done well in getting €8 billion but the taxpayer, the individual telephone subscriber, did not. I will leave it...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I will withdraw it but I will be pestiferous on Report Stage.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: I am through the Chair. He is through his tumbler. The representatives of the Minister, representing his point of view at that time in Strasbourg on behalf of the people of Ireland, ranged far wider than the narrow confines he suggested and mounted a very comprehensive address covering the principles underlying the whole situation pretty comprehensively. They certainly did not say we were...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

David Norris: That is correct. I thank the Acting Chairman for congratulating me on my clarity. I really appreciate his positive comment. I am absolutely on the section and I am addressing it directly.