Results 2,221-2,240 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I am not seeking an interim report on it.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: As someone who has regularly raised the Curtin affair over the past two years, I believe this House should give thanks to the members of the Committee on Article 35.4.1° of the Constitution and section 39 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924, who worked tirelessly to do all that was required of them. I never thought they would be able to conclude their work because the cards were repeatedly...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The High Court came to a very sensible conclusion on the issue to which Senator Brian Hayes referred. In the aftermath of this morning's revelations on nursing homes, we have become utterly confused about the issue. Some of us debated the issue last night, yet we are no clearer this morning whether differences exist between public and private homes in terms of scrutiny. Several nursing...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It is not our function to be happy.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: A petitions committee established by the House would be impressed by the level of consultation by the group of people who spoke to us on child trafficking. I agree with the points made by Senator Brian Hayes in this respect. It is an example of how engagement with the public can work when legislation is proposed. I was sickened to hear how innocent young women from foreign countries are...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Ryan will be pleased to hear it was done with the support of the Labour Party in Kerry.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I thank Senator Quinn for tabling this motion. I agree with him about the importance of dealing with inflation. In 2001 and2002, there were worries that inflation was about to take off again. In the partnership talks, all sides raised the importance of the issue, so much so that we established a group to deal with inflation. Whether we were successful or lucky, it dropped for a period...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The reality is our train ticket prices are far cheaper than those in the UK or France, just to take our two closest neighbours as an example. I travel by train in those two countries and I always bring the ticket stubs with me.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I recently travelled by train from Bristol to Falmouth, and the cost was far more expensive than any cost of train travel in Ireland. It is similar in France. It is interesting that Senator Quinn considered taxis, as people in Ireland always tell us how expensive taxis are. I was delighted to see taxi fares being increased, as Irish taxis are far cheaper than those in London or Paris,...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I do not know why anybody bothered putting pen to paper to write it down, and I do not know its aim. I will oppose it, although I do not know what it means or if it is worth anything. It is so bad it must be opposed. I second the motion.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It is appalling that work on the M50 is not carried out at weekends. However, I passed by one night recently at 3 a.m. and people were working on the motorway but they were not there four hours earlier. I came to the conclusion they must start work after the pubs close. Generally speaking, they are not working there at weekends. This House has discussed on a number of occasions the problems...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Children with dyslexia and their families have enough to cope with without wondering how their leaving certificate will be perceived. They do not want to be worrying about going to court to defend their rights. This House had a major debate on education. Senators from all sides of the House argued that the education system should be rights-based. We all fought for it, but the Government...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Le déanaí anseo, bhí an-chonspóid agus argóint againn mar gheall ar logainm ar leith i gCorca Dhuibhne, agus ba é an moladh a bhí agamsa ag an uair sin ná gur chóir go mbeadh logainmneacha dátheangach tríd an tír. Inniu tá agóid lasmuigh d'oifigí an Aire Iompair, an Teachta Cullen, agus an Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, an Teachta Ó Cuív, i nGaillimh. Is é...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: This relates to Gaeltacht areas. My two friends obviously do not know what is going on in the Irish language.

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, to the House. If he does not mind, I will use the opportunity to speak more on the general issue of energy, to which he referred several times, rather than on the specific legislation. However, I would like to raise one point that he made. I was listening to him with half an ear, trying to do two things at once, but I believe he spoke of...

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It is only €39,000 for the Saab 9-5.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The point raised by Senator Brian Hayes on mandatory sentencing is important because it goes to the core of the separation of powers principle. I voted for the legislation and two similar Bills when they were before the House, but each time I raised with the relevant Ministers whether mandatory sentences were unconstitutional owing to the separation of powers. The Judiciary is supposed to...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: That is the point.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I call for a debate on the under-representation of Kerry people.