Results 1-20 of 23 for "direct provision" speaker:David Norris

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

David Norris: ...with a sense of humour and a sense of decorum. I am sure that the new Cathaoirleach will find his example very valuable in the way he conducts himself, and I wish him very well in his new role. With regard to direct provision, four or five years ago I introduced legislation into this House that was very narrowly voted down. The legislation would have completely solved the direct...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Motion (29 May 2019)

David Norris: ...sign. No one could disagree with the statement that "adequate mental health services are vital to secure the dignity and wellbeing of all those within the State, including asylum seekers within the direct provision system". I am glad that Senator Mullen has isolated for particular attention people who are in the direct provision system. I introduced a Bill a couple of years ago that...

Seanad: Reception Conditions Directive: Motion (23 Jan 2018)

David Norris: ...huge range of jobs. It has been pointed out that this measure discriminates particularly against women because most of the jobs that will be open to asylum seekers are male-dominated. We must bear in mind that in 2000 the direct provision system was originally an interim arrangement for a temporary period. However, we have been stuck with it for 18 years. One really is a little...

Seanad: Direct Provision: Statements (4 Oct 2017)

David Norris: ...Irish in the United States, of whom there are 50,000, should see this as directly analogous to the treatment of asylum seekers in Ireland. This is a case that those of us who have been campaigning on the issue of direct provision have made over many years. I would also like to point to the specific difficulties of gay people who apply for asylum. In the past they were asked questions...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2017)

David Norris: I have raised the question of direct provision over a long number of years. I actually prepared legislation on it, which has been introduced twice. It is on the Order Paper, so it could be moved at any time. This decision was interesting because it was a unanimous decision of the seven-person Supreme Court. As has been stated, the case was taken by a Burmese man who has been eight years...

Seanad: Micro-plastic and Micro-bead Pollution Prevention Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Nov 2016)

David Norris: The same thing Sinn Féin did with direct provision. They are all the bloody same.

Seanad: Micro-plastic and Micro-bead Pollution Prevention Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Nov 2016)

David Norris: ..., that important legislation is being delayed for party political reasons because a collection of dogs in the manger do not want to give credit to the Green Party, but that is not unusual. I prepared a Bill on the direct provision system that would have solved all of the problems, but it was held up because-----

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2016)

David Norris: ...Street and Inspector Clouseau in the Élysée Palace. I was quite surprised to hear the leader of Sinn Féin on the wireless this morning complaining about the lack of action on the system of direct provision. I raise this matter in the context of the fact that in the last Parliament, approximately 18 months or two years ago, I introduced a comprehensive Bill that would have...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2016)

David Norris: I would welcome the opportunity to have a debate on direct provision. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on it in order that the matters in dispute between Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, whose work as a Minister of State I applaud, and I can be teased out. Very little has been done. The matter could and should be addressed and, with the impetus of Seanad Éireann...

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Jun 2016)

David Norris: ...xc9;ireann, the Irish Refugee Council and the Human Rights and Equality Commission, but also of His Excellency, Uachtarán na hÉireann, President Michael D. Higgins, who, in 2014 in South Africa, said that the direct provision situation in Ireland was completely unsatisfactory. He said that the Irish system of direct provision did not address the human rights of people seeking...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2016)

David Norris: ...by them. It is not the fault of the Parliament. This situation is regrettable and should be examined. Departments should be encouraged to continue preparing legislation. I will introduce a Bill on direct provision next week. Senator McDowell has a Bill on reform of the Seanad. There may be other Bills in the Independent pipeline. At least this side of the House is doing its duty. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2016)

David Norris: ...an obscenity that the mother of an unfortunate child who has no brain, no nervous system and so on should be forced, whether against her will, to keep the child. We must look also at the question of direct provision on which I have legislation that I hope to present to the House. It nearly passed the last time. The President has called for the Oireachtas to get involved in this issue....

Seanad: Direct Provision: Motion (27 Jan 2016)

David Norris: This is an unexpected and unanticipated honour which I am happy to take up. I raised the issue of direct provision in October 2014 and was told in this House - I think by the Minister of State - that it would all be sorted out by April. That was accepted by the House but it has not been addressed. Will the Minister of State give us a progress report? What has actually changed? Apparently...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

David Norris: ...of the Irish Refugee Council. Why have such a council and why bother consulting it if the Government does not take a blind bit of notice of what it proposes? I introduced a Bill to address direct provision and the Minister gave undertakings about direct provision. It would be a dreadful comment on our society if greater rights are provided for asylum seekers who are brought in under this...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

David Norris: With regard to direct provision, I understand there have been some ameliorations but the situation is not being addressed globally. It is not being addressed in the way proposed in the Bill I presented to the House, which would have progressed had Sinn Féin not got cold feet at the last minute. The Minister of State said that more than a quarter of the recommendations have been taken...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

David Norris: ...I acknowledge this is an objective of the Minister of State, who is a good and efficient Minister. I am aware he hopes it will be a period of six months, as do all Members, but can I point out that the direct provision arrangements were introduced 15 or 20 years ago and were meant to be for a limited period? Initially, they were meant to be for approximately six months but here they are,...

Seanad: European Council Decisions: Motions (1 Oct 2015)

David Norris: ..."Yes", which is a very large majority. I will ask the Minister of State a specific question. The Tánaiste stated recently that we would welcome 5,000 refugees and they would not go through the direct provision system. Is that true? Ms Sue Conlan from the Irish Refugee Council has stated quite clearly that it is not true. She states:I want to debunk the myth that these people will...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2015)

David Norris: I see. I thank the Senator for that clarification. With regard to direct provision, the House is more or less united on this, even though it voted down my legislation on a series of completely spurious grounds, and we were promised that there would be movement on direct provision almost immediately, but we are still waiting for that. We have the report now, and for goodness' sake, let us...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

David Norris: What is the Government doing about it? Interestingly, Mr. Seán Kelly, MEP, also raised this issue. The issue of direct provision was mentioned. I prepared legislation and tabled it in the House. We were told that, of course, it would all be sorted out in a matter of weeks. Rubbish.

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Oct 2014)

David Norris: ...any room used as a sleeping apartment, for any person is less than four hundred cubic feet (the height of the room, if it exceeds eight feet, being taken to be eight feet, for the purpose of calculating free air space)". Direct provision centres are overcrowded according to the Housing Act of 1966. Section 63 (a) of the same Act states that a house shall be deemed to be overcrowded when...