Results 17,761-17,780 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: I am and wish to give my reasons. I hope I will be allowed to because, as the Cathaoirleach knows, my attempt to establish a committee was stifled by the Government and Members on the Government side of this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: Then the Minister attempted to make a few feeble jokes, which shows how seriously the Government takes it. It has been proved that the aeroplane involved in the rendition of a particular named person was refuelled on the return leg and that amounts to complicity.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: It could not be clearer.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: I insist on being allowed to tell the House about these matters in pursuit of my demand for a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: The Minister referred to the fact that there were four complaints. I wish the record of the House to show that I was one of the complainants. As a result the Garda Commissioner appointed two senior detective gardaí to meet with me. I brought Deputy Michael D. Higgins with me to the meeting as a witness. They flatly contradicted everything the Minister said about the capacity to search...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: I am calling for a debate, which is essential because I am trying to raise the issue on the Order of Business. However, the Cathaoirleach is trying to confine me. The committee which was well on the way to being established was stifled and it is an appalling situation which we must confront. Decent people on all sides of the House want a debate. Can the Leader find out from the Government...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: I expect it is Deputy Dermot Ahern telephoning with his proposals for legislation on the matter. It is important that we know the Government's plans. There has been a series of reports from the Law Reform Commission and now this one. Every time a report is produced the Government establishes another commission, think tank or the like. Procrastination must come to an end. Will the Leader...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: That is a disgraceful comment. In other words, we are prepared to support torture as long as it is Irish torture. Is that the idea? That is a great sense of morality.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: Wearing the Irish jersey. The Senator should be ashamed.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: How does the Senator know that? Who is he accusing? Why does he not name and shame them, and show a little courage as he does so? The Senator should talk about these allegations he mentions.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: There were no false allegations; they were facts.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: It is outrageous that he procrastinated until somebody put a bomb under him. He never would have gone there only that they leaked it. It is a good thing they did.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

David Norris: I believe that it had trouble getting him there. He was not particularly anxious to turn up.

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Nov 2006)

David Norris: Is there a speaker from the Government side?

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Nov 2006)

David Norris: In that case I shall have to leap into the breach, unprepared as I am.

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Nov 2006)

David Norris: I was not really offering but the Cathaoirleach's benign paternal eye spotted me. This is a matter on which I had thought I might have an opportunity to speak but there have been many other engagements this evening, such as the launch of Deputy Michael D. Higgins' book and the launch of a programme for the restoration of St. Patrick's Cathedral by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage...

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Nov 2006)

David Norris: I want to divert here. We are after all a nation of digressors.

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Nov 2006)

David Norris: Of course it is. If it was not in order the Cathaoirleach would have stopped me long ago. Laurence Sterne not only wrote digressions in Tristram Shandy but also wrote a whole chapter entitled "A Digression upon Digressions". I assure the Cathaoirleach that I will be modest and control myself. This is germane to the question of the safety of gas pipelines as contemplated by the Bill....