Results 2,161-2,180 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Petitions Committee: Motion (4 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: That Bill took away the rights of people in the Gaeltacht to have a say in the name of their own place, a right enjoyed by everybody outside the Gaeltacht. This is not the place to argue the rights and wrong of that case but it is a good example of the issue we are discussing. It would have been useful in this case if we had known, through a process of consultation before this legislation...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (11 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Those of us on the Independent benches wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy. It is unfortunate that none of us had the pleasure of working with Tom Fitzpatrick so we know him by reputation only, although Senator Norris claims a very remote family connection in the extended family gene pool. He gave extraordinary service as a councillor, Deputy, Senator and Minister. His...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I do not know if the points raised by Senator Brian Hayes are correct but there is a ring of truth about them and there is certainly much worry in this instance. If people are to be penalised for saving, it will be the second own goal of this fortnight. It would be appalling. We need clarification on this issue. I hope Senator Brian Hayes is wrong because if it is the case, it brings into...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: This is exactly what we have seen. When we discussed this issue months ago we asked if somebody could point out a privatisation either here or in the UK that has worked. What is extraordinary about the Aer Lingus case is that there was unanimity on the left and on the right of political comment that this was a bad deal and it has proven to be a bad deal. We are seeing the same thing happen...

Seanad: Energy Resources: Motion (11 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share my time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Energy Resources: Motion (11 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to make some straightforward points. On the issue of wind energy, I want to clarify a number of issues. I agree that wind farms might despoil the landscape but we might have to make a choice some time between that and the possibility of sea water encroaching on some of the beautiful parts of the Minister of State's county, among other areas. That is a choice we must make. I want to...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I strongly support the points made by Senator Brian Hayes on SSIAs. It is not good enough for the Minister to claim that only a small number of people will be affected because the issue will affect families which have skimped and scraped over a number of years to save for an SSIA in the hope that the resulting bonus would help send their children to college. Now, however, the reward for...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The House was misled.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements (12 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This does not reflect on the current Minister of State or the Government but when one hears Government speeches about the number of houses it has been responsible for building, one has an image of members of Cabinet opening up foundations, pouring in concrete and laying a few blocks. Given that Government is blamed when houses are not built...

Seanad: Ageism Policy: Statements (12 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I commend Senator White on producing this report, which has fostered an important debate. I wish to discuss the losses to the economy caused by ageist policies and structures. The Shinto religion in Japan, which is the basis of much of that country's development, is centred on the experience of previous generations. For a similar debate on this issue ten years ago, I asked some experts from...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I am uneasy about taking No. 1 without debate. Almost all Members had an input to make during the passage of the Act and representations were made from all sides. While I do not wish to go against the procedure for dealing with such matters, it is a significant issue pertaining to how disabilities will be addressed under the different headings of health, enterprise, transport, etc. Issues...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I am not prejudging the trial, that is not my business. It is encouraging that the Garda has moved this forward. Dare I mention voting machines? I notice the Taoiseach has been talking about them again and has referred to the current voting system as "that old system that we need to get rid of". I happen to agree with the Taoiseach on this issue, though I have been afraid to say it for a...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: ——with the exception of some neanderthals and luddites. If we could get the voting right in Trinity College——

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: ——I can see how the machines might be a help there.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: This issue is being addressed in the United States prior to the November elections and there is already a great deal of anxiety relating to the types of voting machines that will be used. We can all recall the row about hanging chads in the 2000 presidential election. I suggest we have a debate where we no longer mention the €67 million that has been wasted on this so far and how much...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Pre-Nuptial Agreements: Motion (18 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Let us have some optimism and romance here.

Seanad: Pre-Nuptial Agreements: Motion (18 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: With the permission of the House, I would like to give my last two minutes to Senator Norris.

Seanad: Pre-Nuptial Agreements: Motion (18 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I thank and congratulate Senator Browne for putting down this important motion. The Minister's points are well made. In approaching this issue I was instinctively and clearly in favour of the concept of pre-nuptial agreements. That was until I examined the issue and read and thought about it. The more I did that, the more confused and uncertain I became. I accept the points the Minister...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The supposed level of inspection of nursing homes has been raised on a number of occasions in the past two weeks. The Department or the Health Service Executive, HSE, has appointed people to do a check but they are the wrong people. In many cases, a check might be carried out by an environmental safety officer when someone with more professional qualifications would be required. We must...