Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In October 2014, when I came in here for the by-election count, which saw me into this House, it was initially very difficult to get to the Ceann Comhairle’s dining room. When I eventually arrived down there, the one person who stood beside me as the count took place was you, Senator Norris. I will never forget your generosity on that day.

My sister sent me a text this morning in which she asked me tell David Norris that she has admired him all her life. That is what people out there think. When you think of Seanad Éireann, you think of David Norris and the rest of us fall in somewhere behind that. Thank you for that, Senator.

On the day that David Norris is retiring, it is ironic that I must draw Senators' attention to the House being used as a rubber stamp for the Bills to give effect to the thirty-ninth and fortieth amendments to the Constitution. It is appalling that 90 minutes have been allocated for these debates, with 20 minutes for the Minister and 70 minutes to be divided between 60 Senators. To meet the ballot date of 8 March, the deadline for the Bill passes on 23 January. This House that Senator Norris loves and cherishes and in which he has spent years defending democracy and has stood with people like Feargal Quinn to ensure it was not abolished in a referendum is being used as a rubber stamp with little or any care for its Members or anything they have to say. Bringing a Bill to this House and not providing sufficient time to debate and making it perfectly clear that no amendments will be entertained under any circumstances is repugnant to the democracy of this country and to everything David Norris ever stood for. I do not care which side of the referendums Senators are on; they need proper democratic debate, which is what this House is here for. If the Government does not want to do that, it should abolish the goddamn House and get rid of us all.