Results 21-36 of 36 for nama speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

David Norris: ...amending body. The Seanad operates effectively in this area. I can list a number of amendments that I have secured and I was also happy to second important amendments of Senator O'Toole to the NAMA Bill, a significant achievement by the House. There are even more frequent occasions on which the Minister will accept the principle of the argument and introduce a Government amendment...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

David Norris: ...that entail? Investors should believe their investments are safe and credit should be made available for business but that has not been the case in the recent past. I am deeply concerned about NAMA. I do not intend to show malice towards the Government because we were all enmeshed in this but I suspect the sums may be wrong. Recent news reports indicate an additional €1 billion in...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

David Norris: ...next Tuesday. It will not calm matters. The same bank announced it underestimated by €1 billion the write-off of its current bad loans. What does that say about the Government's figures for NAMA? A major property developer whom I will not name said at the launch of Fintan O'Toole's book yesterday that the Government's figures are off the wall. I put on the record the views of Mr....

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Motions (12 Nov 2009)

David Norris: ...scrutiny of this legislation is important. I have only just seen the amendments but I understand they are intended to extend the protection of the whistleblower section to personnel under the NAMA umbrella who were not previously covered. That is very important. I had not realised that this was a Fine Gael suggestion. It indicates that the Government can work well when it does so in a...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: ...more severe than for the offence we have just been discussing. It would be appropriate for these two offences to be harmonised. Attempting to interfere illegally with the operation of NAMA should be treated at exactly the same level of seriousness as an individual making a false accusation against someone. In the case of a corrupt intervention or lobbying offence, the fine is not to...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

David Norris: ...if the guidelines were a complete load of rubbish? Could they be thrown out? The amendment should read: "Guidelines issued under this section must be approved by the Oireachtas commission on NAMA before issuance". In other words, they could not be issued until they were approved. The logic behind this amendment seems to be that the commission must approve everything. However, I...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

David Norris: ...purpose. It is not realistic that Fine Gael expects, on foot of its amendment, that the Government will be likely to vote in favour of handing the chairmanship of the committee supervising NAMA over to a Member of the Opposition automatically. This is not politically realistic at all, although I cannot think of a better candidate than Deputy Richard Bruton, who has shown the same...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

David Norris: ...be closed, merged, or temporarily placed in public ownership … there have been numerous instances (for example, Japan, Sweden and the United States)". I commend Peter Mathews' article, headlined "NAMA will lose €12 billion". He describes NAMA as the Titanic. It is not. We are on the Titanic. There is a distinct possibility that NAMA is actually the iceberg. I hope to God it is not...

Seanad: Mortgage and Debt Support Measures: Motion (4 Nov 2009)

David Norris: ...of the principle thrusts of the motion is the terrible situation regarding unemployment. I have spoken about finance; it has never been reported in this House. I came up with an idea comparable to NAMA some time ago which I will not go into. One of its elements concerned the land banks around cities. It was a simple, perhaps naive idea, but I think it would help. I suggested that some...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2009)

David Norris: ...possible protest against this violation of a young woman's right to self-development. I wish to comment on the fact that the Government finds it impossible to provide time in the Dáil to discuss NAMA and must make use of this House to get its amendments through. That should be drawn to the attention of those who believe Seanad Éireann has no function whatever. It plainly has an...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Business Plan: Statements (29 Oct 2009)

David Norris: ...not be likely to give me the €54 billion. The sums are so staggering in this case that we need to be very careful. The Minister of State said that definitive figures will not be available until NAMA has had the opportunity to assess in forensic detail the loan books involved. Why did they not go straight in, seize the books and examine them immediately? Who the hell are these people...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

David Norris: ...board and the Tory Government unilaterally started closing mines and the miners' strike was in response to that. I ask the Leader to consider extending the ten minutes allotted for questions on NAMA, subject to there being enough questions. It is not sufficient for such a serious matter as NAMA because it only allows for two questions and replies if they are to be in any way...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)

David Norris: ...leaders of the various Palestinian groups to see if his release can be secured? With regard to the IMF and the economy, the record of the House will show that I suggested something very close to NAMA practically two months before the Government came up with it. I also suggested they would have to merge the banks and nationalise them. According to the IMF, I was right about NAMA, mergers...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2009 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (28 May 2009)

David Norris: ...on the record. I am not innately antagonistic to the Government and say "Well done" on successfully floating Government bonds. This was an interesting indicator of some degree of resurgence. NAMA is another interesting development. I understand that Accenture plans to relocate its headquarters from Bermuda to the IFSC. I would insert a caveat, however, because I understand that only...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency: Statements (26 May 2009)

David Norris: ...be done by the Minister and advisers such as Dr. Peter Bacon. I was unable to attend this morning's meeting but I corresponded a little with Dr. Bacon. I asked him when the idea of setting up NAMA first arose. He said the report was submitted to the Minister on 20 March 2009. I mooted the idea of a somewhat similar agency, the national property management agency, on 10 February 2009....

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

David Norris: I support the calls for a discussion on NAMA. It is extremely worrying that Dr. Michael Somers has said he does not know how it will work. He does not appear to have the staff or resources to deal with the role and appears to be pleading ignorance about it. That is very worrying from the person supposed to run NAMA. I would welcome the opportunity to talk on the issue because, on 10...