Results 19,441-19,460 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Public Transport in the Greater Dublin Area: Statements. (9 Nov 2004)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Public Transport in the Greater Dublin Area: Statements. (9 Nov 2004)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Public Transport in the Greater Dublin Area: Statements. (9 Nov 2004)

David Norris: I thank my colleague, Senator O'Toole, for his generosity in sharing his time with me. I fully agree with his views on the Dublin Port tunnel. He has highlighted the crux of the matter. The tunnel was built to relieve the congestion caused by large commercial vehicles in the city centre. It would be absurd if we simply used the existence of tunnels to dislodge the worst of these commercial...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

David Norris: Temper.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

David Norris: Will the Leader arrange a series of debates on Iraq? In the run-up to and early stages of the war in Iraq, the Seanad played a useful role in political life by holding a series of rolling debates during which we constantly monitored the situation. Further debates are necessary because of the assault under way in the city of Falluja. We know 100,000 civilians, mostly women and children, have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

David Norris: Having already sought a debate, I now call on the Leader to ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, the number of times the jet in question has landed at Shannon Airport, its purpose, the reason the Garda has not boarded it to ascertain what it is going on and to report back to the House. Details on this matter are on the record. I propose that the House note...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

David Norris: Shame on the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Nov 2004)

David Norris: He is Tweedledee and I am Tweedledum.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Nov 2004)

David Norris: I support the calls for a debate on transport. I echo what Senator Dooley said about the Leader when she was Minister for Transport. She was the only Minister in living memory who had the courage to keep an open mind on the metro project. I appreciated that very much, as did all sides of the Houses, and she did a good day's work. It is important we have a debate on the metro. This does not...

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome the introduction of the national car test system which is very important I can see its merits increasingly as I have another little house in Cyprus, which has just joined the European Union. The condition of vehicles there is appalling. They never seem to service them because black diesel smoke pours out, even from fairly modern...

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: I will but he specialises in Jaguars. My Jaguar is a very old one that I got for next to nothing.

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: I can put the Senator in touch with him, however. He will sell the Senator a car first and will then service it for him. The last time I went for the NCT my car was not a total failure but it did not pass first time. The reason was there was a small rubber nipple less than a quarter of an inch in diameter missing from underneath the back seat of the car.

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: I do not believe I could blame my serviceman for not finding that problem. While it seemed niggling, perhaps NCTS was right. I have found the staff at the car test centres to be very courteous and helpful. I spoke to the tester and suggested it seemed to be pretty pettifogging. He told me that theoretically exhaust fumes could come into the car and gas me, which seems pretty unrealistic. I am...

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: On Joe Duffy's radio programme I heard about somebody whose car had failed the test because the "L" learner's notice on the back window was deemed to have been made of the wrong material — the driver had made it himself. I do not believe that is a threat to anybody's safety. The test should be focused on issues of safety. I put my cards on the table and I make no apologies in saying I have...

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: My cynical friends on the same side of the House are making rubbing gestures with forefinger and thumb suggesting it is about money. I would hate to think that was the case. Some of the reasons for failure are just niggling and sometimes do not reflect the safety issue and the welfare of people on the road. If a car is tested and found to be roadworthy it should be deemed to be roadworthy for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: Shame.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: As a graduate of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, I extend my congratulations to University College Dublin which is celebrating its 150th anniversary today. It has provided many distinguished graduates, some of whom have served in this House. The anniversary of that remarkable institution is worthy of note.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: James Joyce for one. I do not have to go much further than that. If UCD had only produced Joyce it would have done its job for Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: Will the Leader investigate the possibility of the Government introducing legislation concerning work permits? There was a harrowing story on the news the other evening about two Indian gentlemen, one of whom had to send his wife back home.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

David Norris: The other one was in tears. They came to this country on the understanding that they would get certain jobs at certain rates of pay. The employers hold the work permits, however, and were able to use that to blackmail them into accepting a lower rate of pay. Legislation is needed in this area. I do not share Senator Leyden's views on the presidential election in the United States. It seems as...