Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was given a copy of the Trinity College Dublin student newspaper, the Trinity News, today. I note in it, to my sadness, that Senator Norris, a member of the Independent Group, has decided that he will be standing down as a Senator in January 2024. I ask that, given that the Christmas season will soon be upon us, adequate provision will be made in this House to signal our deep sense of loyalty and gratitude to Senator Norris for 36 years of service in these Houses. I was writing an article for tomorrow's edition of The Irish Timeson a different topic and I was including passages from the Supreme Court's judgment in the Norris case to emphasise that it matters who is on the Supreme Court and I was contrasting the majority decision with the minority decision. As I was reading the judgment, I was wondering how Senator Norris must have felt when it was handed down. The judgment effectively said that his constitutional rights of privacy were not to be upheld, and it took the European Court of Human Rights and a decision of the Dáil some 12 years later to render him justice. He fought his battle valiantly. I know we will do something more elaborate at some time in the future but since this will be in the public domain as of today, bearing in mind that journalists will have access to this interview in the Trinity News, I wanted to mark this occasion and express, on a preliminary basis, my deep sense of friendship, gratitude and loyalty to a member of my group.