Results 18,241-18,260 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: I am happy to welcome the Minister of State to the House. She and I are old colleagues from the days when we soldiered together on the former women's rights committee. We got on well and I think we still do. Although I will have some criticism, as others have said it is not a criticism directed personally at the Minister of State. I recognise the difficulties in terms of expenditure,...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: I hope so, although I am not fully convinced, because the Minister of State has said that the fitting of safety belts will be mandatory for new buses entering the service from 20 October 2007. That is great, but it is 18 months away. That will make it about seven years since I first raised the issue. The Minister of State went on to say that the only exceptions are the buses used on single...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: Good. By what date?

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: Will they all be retro-fitted by then? That is fine by me.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: The Senator should leave a little room for——

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: As Gaeilge, más é do thoil é, a Sheanadóir.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: I enjoy listening to the language. I like the blas.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: I agree with Senator Ó Murchú on the need for an independent inquiry into the assassination of Pat Finucane. It is dreadful when such murders occur but even more dreadful when a government agency of some description is suspected of involvement. Contrary to Lord Denning's view, appalling vistas must be confronted rather than avoided because if they are avoided they will continue to occur. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: Such relationships are not always vicious. I know of a number of reported cases where a couple went on to marry and have families. Obviously when a teacher is involved there is a potential violation——

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

David Norris: As a teacher I assure Senators that as a principle I never had anything to do with any of my students in that regard. The Law Reform Commission has produced a sensitive set of proposals that treat the matter in a subtle way. There is no point in using the arm of the law to crush people in consensual relationships. If we are concerned, as Senator Glynn and I are, about the welfare of youths,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

David Norris: In the comments on the situation in St. Patrick's Cathedral, although the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Commissioner have been widely congratulated, there has been no mention of the dean and staff of the cathedral. I compliment them on the sensitive and Christian way in which they behaved. I regret that they were fairly strongly sidelined at a particular point,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

David Norris: There is one gentleman who is openly boasting that he has not let one person in.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

David Norris: In that case, I will take the Cathaoirleach's good advice and seek a debate where we can make such points and also point out that, unusually, there is no publication of these decisions or the reasons for them.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

David Norris: I agree with Senator O'Toole that those of us who have consistently opposed the war in Iraq should find some dignified way of making this clear to Mr. Howard, who apparently has learned nothing from the lessons his Government should have learned from its disgraceful and immoral involvement in the disfoliation of the defenceless country of East Timor. Of course, that will not cause any...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

David Norris: There is clear prima facie evidence of this and yet——

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

David Norris: ——our Government is responding——

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

David Norris: ——not by criticising but by opposing giving Taiwan observer status at the UN.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

David Norris: The Senator can have my place because I will not be going.