Results 1-20 of 567 for idea speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

David Norris: ...rather than expand legislation. For that reason, I propose to delete "including knowledge of humankind, culture and society". What is "knowledge of humankind" anyway? It is either such a vast idea or such a daft idea that I am rendered speechless.

Seanad: Budget 2022: Statements (12 Oct 2021)

David Norris: .... We have a history here. Until 2008, primary schools received funding to stock libraries with new books to help students to learn and develop and to support their well-being. That was an excellent idea. It was forward looking. This grant, however, was cut in 2008 and has never been restored. I ask that the Minister restore this grant. Allocating just €10 to every primary...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

David Norris: ...that they look at the people who were involved in the "Yes" side during the marriage equality referendum campaign because they have a great deal of talent. That they succeeded in getting the "Yes" idea through to the Irish people was a remarkable achievement. I wanted to come to the House today to remark on the situation regarding Katherine Zappone and to say that she has not been...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

David Norris: ...since 1979 the extension of the franchise to the University of Limerick and Dublin City University. I have always been onside for that and I think it would be a good thing. I also think the idea of an element of universal suffrage is terribly important for the democratic strengthening of the House. My friend who has just left the Chamber challenged me on the question of democracy in...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

David Norris: With regard to the Bill, the idea of one constituency - I will come back to this - is absolutely unmanageable and would lead to a kind of gerrymandering because young people would be gerrymandered out of the process. There are references to various institutions in the Bill but I think it should now be the technological university that is mentioned. There is no question that the register is...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Nov 2020)

David Norris: ...to pay me €1,000. I asked the garda if I could have the address and he said, "For what?" I told them it was so that I could write and thank them. He said he did not think that would be a good idea at all. I had my lip split on my own front door. I have had death threats, some of which were quite funny. One man rang me and said, "I'd like to come around there and shove a machine...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Nov 2020)

David Norris: ...attacked and stabbed on the basis of his assumed sexuality. I received a lengthy document from a group of women who have problems with the hate crime legislation because they said it allows for the idea of gender to replace the idea of biological sex. They say it lets someone who identifies as the male gender to be recognised by the State as a biological male and for someone who...

Seanad: Withdrawal Agreement Between the United Kingdom and the European Union: Motion (23 Sep 2020)

David Norris: I am very grateful to my colleague, Senator Craughwell, for giving me this opportunity. It would be a good idea if the Government sent a copy of this important debate to the British Government so that it can see the strength of feeling in this country. I feel particularly strongly because my father was English. He was an honourable man. He won the marine VC in the First World War. He got...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Joint Labour Committees) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2019)

David Norris: .... This is part of that great liberal tradition in this country. An Act was introduced in the British Parliament in 1909, the Trade Boards Act, which was intended very clearly to reduce the whole idea of downward wage progression. Even somebody as conservative as Winston Churchill proposed and supported it. At the time he said, "the good employer is undercut by the bad, and the bad...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2019)

David Norris: ...(2)for the purposes of this paragraph, was not, a practising barrister or a practising solicitor. I want to get rid of all that content on the definition of "lay person". I disagree fundamentally with the idea that there should always be a majority of laypersons on the commission. Amendment No. 10 reads, "In page 8, to delete lines 33 to 37." This deals with the period of time. In...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)

David Norris: ...layperson who is a member of the commission and includes a chairperson. This is to get rid of the definition of "lay member" from the Bill and to stop an outrageous situation. It is the particular idea of the Minister, Deputy Ross, that there should not only be a majority of laypeople but also that the chairperson should be a layperson. It revolts the intelligence that this should...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)

David Norris: It is a new idea.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (19 Nov 2019)

David Norris: ...to be members of the commission. It is clear that the intention of the person who inspired the Bill was for there to be a majority of lay people on the commission. I do not think that is a good idea. The Senate is an elite body to which people are appointed or elected because of their expertise in particular areas. It is very important that the majority of members of a commission of...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (19 Nov 2019)

David Norris: ...are often passed on the nod. It happens on many days in this Seanad without discussion. This ensures that no such action shall be taken without the supervision and oversight of the Houses. The idea behind the amendment is to make absolutely certain that a ministerial order commencing any aspect of the legislation is subject to the passing of such a resolution by each House. This...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2019)

David Norris: ...from the Green Party. I wish to raise the issue of privatisation, which seems to be a madness spreading all over this country. The bin services were privatised, which was an absolutely lunatic idea. We are now paying about three times and in three separate ways for the collection of bins. Half a dozen different bin companies are charging up and down the streets of residential areas at...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2019)

David Norris: ...likewise. I also wish to raise an extraordinary document that I have received from Allied Irish Banks, pimping, prying and squinting into every conceivable aspect of my financial life. I have no idea what this is. It is supposed to be something to do with European law but it looks to me as though Allied Irish Banks is looking for a hell of a lot more information than it is entitled to...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

David Norris: ...reference to matters, which may not be in the public interest to be bruited abroad. It insulates the records of the commission from orders for discovery in court proceedings, for example. I am aware of the idea of discovery, which is an important element in the law, because I made some very important discoveries in a libel case I once took. A woman published an interview she did with me...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

David Norris: ...that I am 75 years of age and I am still fairly active in this House. I completely approve of judges being allowed continue. They do get wiser as they get on - or most of them do - and I think the idea of increasing the retirement age is a very good one.

Seanad: Climate Action Plan: Statements (4 Jul 2019)

David Norris: ...would also like to say that we are only gradually becoming aware of this problem. We did not think of it before. I remember the hot summers in the 1950s and we thought it was glorious. We had no idea of the damage that was being done even at that stage. Some 25 years ago, I was on the transport committee and I remember raising the question of exhaust emissions from jet aeroplanes....

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

David Norris: That is a good idea.