Results 1,121-1,140 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I think we should be more creative about amendments to motions in this House. The kind of amendments tabled here all the time would not be allowed in any other organisation and they are probably seen as a direct negative. Like Senator MacSharry I welcome the fact Fine Gael moves closer to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions position which is a very healthy development and which, no doubt, is...

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Senator John Paul Phelan referred to a conversation we had previously. I took as an example the case of County Mayo. It is my belief that County Mayo, properly organised and harnessed, could be supplying Ireland with a substantial amount of its energy needs in a very short time indeed. First and foremost we need to get the Corrib oil on shore. This demands and requires political...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Joe O'Toole: While listening to a report this morning about a golf club on the north side of this city which has wasted the time of the court in an attempt to prevent women from joining, I assumed it was an April fool's joke, but I found out later in the morning that it was an actual court case. The court's time is being wasted by some elderly types who cannot handle the women in their lives or who wish...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I stand corrected. It is a very fair correction. I withdraw everything I said and will put it all on hold until the result is given.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Joe O'Toole: On a more serious issue, we should all support the representations made by the Irish Cancer Society regarding the impacts of smoking on cancer. We should not be facilitating people who smoke to smoke more at the cost of their health and the public health as well as the cost to the health service. We should make representations to the Minister for Health and Children on that issue. Next...

Seanad: Forthcoming Budget: Statements (26 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome this debate and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, to the House. I thank the other Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, for his contribution earlier. While there are many aspects to look at, we need to keep examining the broader issue. One of the difficulties is that the public looks at this purely as Ireland Inc., whereas we need to look at the nation and how...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: To follow up on the last point made by the Senator, a number of us have said that the first victim of recession tends to be democracy, and the first post-democracy victim tends to be a free press and freedom of expression. One can see this running through society at present. We must be aware of and watch these themes. Yesterday, there was general cheering about the fact that the nominee of...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (25 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I support the points made by Senator Ross. I was also impressed by what the Minister stated in his speech. However, in all fairness it takes a brass neck to table this motion. I do not take from the commitment and honesty of my colleagues on the other side of the House. However, it is shameful where we are in the broadband league. Look at where we stand in the OECD league, the European...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Taoiseach for listening to the suggestion I made yesterday to the effect he should contact and engage with the social partners.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: This is an important move forward but it is incumbent on us to consider the next step. The points raised by Senator Fitzgerald are extremely important. However, I wish to provide another perspective. The debates that will take place in the Seanad in respect of the economy etc., will revolve around Ireland Inc. However, those that will take place between the Government and the social...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The issue to which I refer has been raised on a number of occasions but there is now a real need to give consideration to it. This is a classic example of the social partnership approach. I guarantee that the debate on this matter in the House will focus on costs, the children of millionaires etc. Third level education is as important as primary level education. It represents an...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: That is the way in which we should consider this matter. I ask the Leader to make time available for a debate on third level education at the earliest possible opportunity.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State. I concur with many of the points made by Senator Walsh as I have never been a great believer in limits as an appropriate means of controlling and regulating electoral expenditure. It is always possible to circumvent such limits and they always give rise to confusion. For these reasons, I do not believe it is possible to apply spending limits effectively....

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The country faces a national day of industrial action next Monday. This is unnecessary and does not need to happen.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: It is a direct result of the uncertainty about figures and objectives referred to by Senator Fitzgerald. The Government must explain to the social partners what it is doing, what its objective is and what the problem is. This industrial action is unusual. It reflects anger and uncertainty among workers across the country. It is different from industrial action that seeks to reverse a...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I would like to pick up on the points made by Senator O'Sullivan. This is a classic example of how the Upper House works and how the Lower House cannot operate. The Lower House could not have done what was done here because it would not have been given the time. If Senator O'Donovan was a Member of the other House, he would not have had the opportunity to engage in that level of...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I second amendment No. 9.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: She assaulted a garda.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I thoroughly support the idea of a debate on the Fine Gael document on reform of the Houses, and it would be very useful for the Government side to provide for it. It should be put out there so we may discuss it. We need to do that particularly at a time of a recession. It was never more important for us to extend to ordinary people the political scrutiny that is crucial in such difficult...