Results 21-40 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

David Norris: I thank Senator O'Toole for sharing time with me. While I welcome the establishment of the sub-committee, I do not expect that very much will happen as a result. This issue has been discussed throughout the entire period of my membership of the Seanad. The same discussion takes place after every election, but nothing ever happens. There is really very little to add to what has been said, but...

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

David Norris: It happens in the Senator's party also. It is illegal, but members of the Senator's party have told me it happened in the last election. For example, Senator Manning was denied the opportunity to stand for re-election to this House at the behest of a non-elected cabal within the Fine Gael Party. A former Cathaoirleach who had been an unsuccessful candidate in elections for the Dáil and...

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

David Norris: No, I am referring to a previous election. I could not possibly refer to the present Leader of the House in those terms. I am speaking historically.

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

David Norris: Yes – historically. The issues to which I have referred need to be addressed. I agree there is no argument against extending the university panels. I have previously suggested that Dublin City University and Dublin Institute of Technology should be included in the Trinity College Dublin panel and that the NUI panel should also be extended to include other relevant institutions. That would...

Seanad: Address by President of the European Parliament. (10 Oct 2002)

David Norris: I too welcome the President and compliment him on the remarkable way in which he commanded his material. Yesterday in the House we had a discussion on the way in which we run our business and we indicated that we thought it would be much better if people did not use notes or scripts. The President showed himself to be very much in command of everything he said and spoke with real conviction....

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: I join those who have called for a debate in regard to violence and the use of weapons, particularly among young people. I call for a separate debate on the related subject of the increasing problem of under age drinking and the rising levels of alcoholism. It is the responsibility of the drinks industry to play a positive role. It is targeting the most vulnerable groups all the time. The...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: I thank the Cathaoirleach, but have two further small points to make. One is almost a housekeeping matter. I am sure Members have noticed that the interview room has suddenly disappeared without any advance warning. That fine room was very useful to Members for meetings, receiving delegations or making telephone calls. It has disappeared. I understand it has been grabbed by the Ceann...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: Perhaps it should be drawn to his attention, but I am sure Members support me on this.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: A distinguished reporter well known in the House, Chris Glennon, has retired as political correspondent of the Independent Group. He rarely reported on the Seanad, but was a fine reporter. I am sure we are sorry to see him go and wish him well in his retirement.

Seanad: Recognition of Domestic Partnerships: Motion. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: I move: That Seanad Éireann, in the light of the recent Equality Authority Report, requests the Government to give an assurance that it will either accept from the Independent benches or introduce on its own initiative legislation to cover the recognition of domestic partnerships. I welcome the Minister of State. I look forward to an interesting, positive and constructive response in the...

Seanad: Recognition of Domestic Partnerships: Motion. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: Would it not strike one as a bit odd that they could not bless a pair of unfortunate lesbians along with the hamsters, goldfish and everything else? There is a kind of a disproportion there and it is rather a pity. I have already praised the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, for his work on capital acquisitions tax. The Equality Authority has produced a really important series of...

Seanad: Recognition of Domestic Partnerships: Motion. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: She lived to the age of 103.

Seanad: Recognition of Domestic Partnerships: Motion. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: A good midlands woman.

Seanad: Recognition of Domestic Partnerships: Motion. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Recognition of Domestic Partnerships: Motion. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: That was not too long ago.

Seanad: Recognition of Domestic Partnerships: Motion. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: I thank my colleagues for such a wide-ranging, excellent and well-informed debate. I am extremely heartened by it. I should have not doubted it would happen when I look at my old friends and colleagues and my new friends with whom I spoke on the telephone, two gracious women Members of the Seanad, one on each side of the House. I spoke to them last night and I am not at all surprised that we...

Seanad: Recognition of Domestic Partnerships: Motion. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: These matters are private and should be left so. There are public aspects such as tax, inheritance and the home in which the couple lives. Further benefits for married couples include tax relief for a spouse for VHI and other qualifying payments made for the other spouse and tax relief for one spouse on gifts made by the other. Medical expenses incurred or defrayed by one spouse can be...

Seanad: Recognition of Domestic Partnerships: Motion. (16 Oct 2002)

David Norris: I will finish with one more quotation from this book, two sentences which put the whole matter in context: The income tax system is weighted in favour of the married couple. Unmarried couples, irrespective of their sexual orientation, are taxed as single persons. Thus, where only one of the couple works, the single standard rate tax band will apply, with no allowance being made for the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Oct 2002)

David Norris: I join with colleagues in calling for a debate on the tragedy of the sexual abuse of children. It is a great pity that we have never included the abuse of children by violence and we should look at this issue because it has done extraordinary damage to people. It has not happened simply in Roman Catholic schools or been done only by Roman Catholic orders. It was endemic throughout society in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Oct 2002)

David Norris: The Cathaoirleach has, and I am grateful to him for it.