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David Norris Quotes

David Patrick Bernard Norris is an Irish scholar, independent Senator and civil rights activist. Internationally, Norris is credited with having "managed, almost single-handedly, to overthrow the anti-homosexuality law which brought about the downfall of Oscar Wilde", a feat he achieved in 1988 after a fourteen-year campaign. He has also been credited with being "almost single-handedly responsible for rehabilitating James Joyce in once disapproving Irish eyes".Norris is a former university lecturer and a member of the Oireachtas, serving in Seanad Éireann since 1987. He was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in Ireland. A founder of the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform, he is also a prominent member of the Church of Ireland.

He was a candidate for President of Ireland in the October 2011 election. He topped numerous opinion polls and was favourite among members of the Irish public for the position but withdrew from the race months before the election, before returning to the race in September 2011. Wikipedia  

✵ 1. July 1944
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David Norris: 10   quotes 0   likes

Famous David Norris Quotes

“If I were a woman I would not be reassured by being told the legislators are apparently not concerned with the health of a woman. They should be.”

David Norris

1 May 2013 http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-05-01a.7&s=speaker%3A210#g16

“It does not say much for a person's morality if he is prepared to sacrifice what he believes in for a job.”

David Norris

28 May 2013 http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-05-28a.7&s=speaker%3A210#g126

“On a point of order, I thought I was in Seanad Éireann, but it appears I have inadvertently wandered into a meeting of Donegal County Council.”

David Norris

4 July 2013 http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-07-04a.7&s=speaker%3A210#g55

“The Minister of State should stop saying "with respect". He and his Government have no respect at all for this House.”

David Norris

At Brian Hayes on 4 July 2013 http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-07-04a.180&s=speaker%3A210#g310

“Barack Obama has been a grave disappointment to many of us, particularly with the increase in the number of drone strikes. His Administration is now strangling any country that would dare to stand up to the might of imperial America. Ireland should be an example of a small country that stands up against this international bullying. It has already got Bradley Manning, a person I salute, from inside the army. We need more of these people to tell the truth. Meanwhile Mr. Obama is off on this vulgar deathbed tourism. The one time I agreed with Mrs. Winnie Mandela was when she condemned Jacob Zuma for having his photograph taken with the poor unfortunate Nelson Mandela who was a complete zombie in the photograph and did not have a clue who it was who was molesting him by touching his hand and this horrid stuff. Let us, please, have a little [interrupted] I am asking him to appeal to the Government to offer sanctuary to Mr. Snowden. Even though this is a small country in economic difficulty, we should affirm to the world that we stand for openness, accountability, truth, honesty, decency and integrity, all of which Mr. Snowden represents.”

David Norris

2 July 2013 http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-07-02a.8&s=speaker%3A210#g52

“The reason for the lack of business in this House is perfectly clear and it is not the responsibility of this House to deal with the matter. The Taoiseach and the cabal that runs Fine Gael have decided that they will take over the role previously held by Fianna Fáil as the slightly constitutional party. They have decided to destroy the Seanad by refusing to refer legislation to it.”

David Norris

14 May 2013 http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-05-14a.7&s=speaker%3A210#g37

David Norris Quotes

“Two charming young women approached me and lobbied me about this matter because they both have Down's syndrome children with a reasonably high IQ.”

David Norris

29 May 2013 http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-05-29a.223&s=speaker%3A210#g233

Women , Children

“Will he listen to the voice of the people, this wonderful democrat, this absolute democrat who would not recognise democracy if it came up and puked in his face?”

David Norris

At Endy Kenny on 27 June 2013 http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-06-27a.134#g174

People , Democracy

“The Senator is a drug dealer.”

David Norris

27 June 2013 http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-06-27a.397&s=speaker%3A210#g425

“I believe that at some stage some citizen across Europe will drop a match on the floor and the whole bloody thing will go up, and it cannot come soon enough as far as I am concerned.”

David Norris

24 April 2013 http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-04-24a.7&s=speaker%3A210#g25

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