Results 19,921-19,940 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: The Senator is welcome to those 200. I hope they take some of the creatures that we see in here sometimes; they will be grand down in Roscrea. In fact, the Senator can have the whole damn lot of them if he wants them. That the authority is being decentralised to Roscrea while the Department is largely staying here is significant. It is being taken away from the area where it fits in...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I thank my colleague, Senator Henry, for making this time available to me. Senator Cox referred to the multicultural society which is correct and there is some recognition of this fact. I am disappointed, however, that no attempt is made here to investigate the registration of same sex partnerships. This is a lamentable situation. Between today and yesterday three couples have come to me...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: It is not a trivial matter.

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I speak as a confirmed and conscientious Luddite. I have never been attracted to this system for which there is not the slightest demand. Can the Minister of State give any indication that the Irish public demanded this? It seems to be an outbreak of technophilia. I thought I had invented that word until I read a very interesting paper by Mr. Andrew Ó Baoill so I am not alone in suspecting...

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: Or ATMs and other such machines. It is mad to assume that machines are incapable of fallibility. A person called Cringely — I apologise because I am not sure if it is a man or a woman, although the name could perhaps be the reason he or she concealed his or her sexual identity — said something interesting. He or she states: We turn to technology because it supposedly eliminates human...

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: It was a trial vote. I voted three times and no one spotted it. I almost did the same this morning, but then I thought it would treat the operation with contempt. I feel a little contempt for it. We must remember the deep vein thrombosis problem. Getting sedentary politicians to stand up and march around is good. It is also an opportunity to lobby and discuss issues. It allows for human...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: Could we have that in English as well, as Senator Ross is concerned that we might be appointing a commissioner to Tanganyika?

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I imagine the House would like to congratulate the Government on the success of its negotiations on EU funding. It is a very important development which also indicates that we must now proceed with major infrastructural projects like the metro. Therefore, we must first congratulate the Government and then act on the development. I am surprised nobody has raised the nasty item on the front...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I am indicating a context forsomething I really want to say. A number of editors were asked a series of questions on the wireless today and not only did they continue to gloat in a most obscene manner, they went on to demand that this House and the Lower House pass Bills further weakening the position of individuals. It is not enough that the whole newspaper empire should crucify one...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I will finish on this point. We should have been given a proper opportunity to discuss these kinds of important issues in this House because, in the absence of a proper ventilated debate, this is the type of ignorant behaviour that is going on in this country.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I would love to, but we would have to have a special session.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

David Norris: They do not want independent regulation. They want to police themselves.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I echo the compliments paid to John Hume. One of the most significant points about Mr. Hume was his way of expressing a complex political view with simplicity and clarity in a completely lapidary manner. Although, towards the end of his regime one became a little used to them, certain phrases, such as that about the significant border being in the hearts and minds of the people and not on a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I ask the Leader to make representations regarding this matter in the appropriate quarter, which I presume is that of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to ensure monitoring of this type of attack. The report concluded that the matter was now resolved as the two women had relocated. It is not appropriate in this day and age that two young people living together peacefully...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2004)

David Norris: You have the Roman Catholic Church sewn up, so let him have the universities.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2004)

David Norris: While I sympathise with the position taken by Senator Mansergh, if we have difficulty with the attitude of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and I share the reservations of my colleagues on this side of the House, we have the remedy in our own hands. Theoretically, this House directs and orders its own business but what happened last week exposed the cosmetic nature of this...

Seanad: Israel-Palestine: Motion. (4 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I would like to thank the Minister and the Minister of State and all my colleagues who took part in what was a very important debate. I have not changed my position. I continue to state where I stand, fully in support of the human rights of ordinary people on both sides. When the state of Israel violates those human rights I will speak out and hope I will be heard. With regard to the business...

Seanad: Israel-Palestine: Motion. (4 Feb 2004)

David Norris: We started about five or six minutes late.

Seanad: Israel-Palestine: Motion. (4 Feb 2004)

David Norris: I move: That Seanad Éireann: —commends the Government for its balanced policy towards Israel/Palestine and in the light of recent tragic events affecting both communities and of Ireland's Presidency of the EU requests that the Government use its position to ensure that this problem remains a priority area for the EU; —notes with satisfaction the presentation of the common EU submission...