Results 161-180 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: I would like to return to a question I raised yesterday on licensing laws, planning and so on. There should be a debate in the House on the matter which should include the question of planning. It is extremely disturbing to find out today that planning permission has been granted by An Bord Pleanála for some kind of visitor centre on top of the Cliffs of Moher. Apparently a hotel will be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: I support what the Minister is doing in regard to the dual mandate and I hope he manages to have the legislation passed. There is a practical reason for that measure which we in this House know perfectly well, that is, one cannot get meetings of committees because there is some kind of little council huddle in Ballydehob which people insist on going to, which is wrong. (Interruptions.)

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: I do not agree with Senator Finucane in regard to the Arts Bill. I was interested to receive a heavily orchestrated campaign on the issue, which I read with great interest. I then discovered that distinguished traditional musicians such as Paul Brady and the Chieftains took a completely different view. I am pleased the Minister had the courage to listen to these submissions because he was...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: I did not—

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: I did not say that.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: Far be for me to challenge any ruling of the Chair but I think Senator Ryan's argument is relevant because it provides a context for the amendment. It is perfectly all right to say that it is not reasonable to expect this House to deal seriously with amendments which we received with a degree of haste.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: I will say no more in deference to your seniority and wisdom. Although I disagree with the Minister on this, I do not think he has any intention of treating this House with discourtesy.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: It is a little odd that this Bill was whizzed in here having collapsed with the previous Government. I know there was a little jiggery pokery involved. A Bill should be presented to this House ab initio following the election of a new parliament.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: That is the jiggery pokery I referred to. It slid in.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: It is an abuse of democracy and I strongly object to it. I will leave that issue to one side and make a comment on the amendment.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: Yes, I am firmly governed by the Chair. The Minister was very honest and forthright – as he always is – in saying that he wants deliberately to extend this provision to commercial vehicles. Most people think of lorries in the context of the tragic situation which occurred in Wexford. I know the Minister was as upset about that incident as the rest of us and he wishes to do everything he...

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: People are routinely taken off buses and trains simply because they are not of Irish nationality by those vested with the responsibility of patrolling our tight little island. That is the real danger. I predict with great confidence that this is precisely what will happen when this Bill comes into operation. There may be legal reasons that questions of definition are involved – I bow to the...

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: Such an incident arose on the Belfast train. I can cite it for the Minister.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: Without interruption, that is most unusual.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: It is even more likely to happen.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: While I may disagree with the Minister, Deputy McDowell, in relation to various matters, I do not think it is appropriate to bracket him with the Deputy who has been mentioned. I exonerate the Minister from the charge of sharing the views that the Deputy in question routinely expresses. It is not realistic and I do not wish to be party to the accusation made by Senator Ryan. Although there...

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: He would be delighted.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: This is a disorderly House.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: That would not be a bad thing.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

David Norris: We are bedevilled by McDowells. Sons of the devil.