Results 2,241-2,260 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the opportunity to comment on the Leas Cross report. This matter was referred to on a number of previous occasions and the Minister of State, whom I welcome, has dealt with it in public several times. One of the matters that saddens me about debates of this nature relates to the issue raised by Senator Feeney regarding the scoring of political points. The Senator is absolutely...

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The report has been published without legal difficulty. This creates a lack of trust and confidence.

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Which is the advice it gave to the Minister of State but it was wrong. Senator Ryan is correct that a systems failure should be attributable to a person. If I were in the Minister of State's position and I were given advice to relate to a committee of my peers which was subsequently contradicted when the report was substantially leaked, I would trace who released the information because...

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: These guys are too smart. Many Members were concerned about how the issue of the legal advice would be dealt addressed. Patients are happy and content in most nursing homes. Recently, I visited a number of nursing homes for a number of reasons. I received a great lift when I sat beside a 90 year old woman from west Clare in the reception area of a nursing home in the midlands. I asked her...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I dread to make any reference to the distinguished son of Kerry who has been elevated to the leadership of the Fine Gael benches today and who is making such succinct and able contributions on behalf of Kerry, as always. I am a former pupil of the Irish Christian Brothers, a group of people I hold in high regard but who have made some serious and significant mistakes. It saddens me, as it...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (30 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, to the House. Like other Members, I am pleased to see the legislation. We have known for some time that it would come. I am not as certain as my colleague, Senator Quinn, on this question, which I have debated many times. If someone is being punished by society, should that include depriving him or her of the right to vote? We deprive them...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I fully support the call for a debate on this issue. I was talking to a number of colleagues about it before lunch and I found the programme very troubling. The Minister of State's comments were beyond belief, in that he is trying to shove the blame onto consultants. I am as critical of consultants as any of us, but I do not believe anyone has until now subscribed to the view that they...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: During a discussion on a related matter here a few weeks ago Senator Brian Hayes raised the question of mandatory sentencing. I agree it would be helpful to have a debate on the area of sentences from the courts. People have all sorts of views on the matter. Some suggest locking people up and throwing away the key and others ask whether there is rehabilitation in prison. We need...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I suggest we should be more creative and relaxed about our budget debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Would the Leader accept an amendment to the Order of Business to have our budget debate at 1 p.m. with a proposal from the Government side congratulating it on reducing tax and on mortgage relief——

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I am trying to be helpful. I recall a Minister of State once having to resign because somebody knew something about the budget in advance.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: We could have the debate, the congratulations on the one side and an amendment from the other side with regard to the profligacy of the Government and the waste of money. Will the Cathaoirleach consider it?

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: We dealt with an issue yesterday and the comments on it by the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley. Let us see what the budget does in that regard. We could still have a debate and focus on that issue after hearing what the Minister has to say about how he will spend his money. Other groups also have an interest as their budgets have been hit...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2006: Motion (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I am pleased to have the opportunity to say a few words and I thank my colleague, Senator Quinn, for sharing time with me. I do not fully agree with his opening comments on inflation. I was pleased it was the first matter the Minister mentioned. I thought it was important that he explained to us that it would be reduced, even by 0.1%. Senator Quinn and I would look to see such a trend....

Seanad: Budget Statement 2006: Motion (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Luxembourg is probably the only one below us at the moment. That aspect is a huge element. I agree with Senator Quinn that this is an election budget. The Minister is like a mobile ATM machine spitting out billions here and there.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2006: Motion (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Another one. Some years ago, an American politician was doing an interview on RTE and said, "You put a billion here and a billion there and shortly you're talking about serious money". We all fell around laughing because we did not understand what a billion was. Nobody was laughing today, however, even though billions were going in all directions. This is a good budget and I welcome its...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2006: Motion (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It was obvious that the old age pension would feature in the budget but, nonetheless, it is welcome to see the increase hitting the €200 mark. While the non-contributory pension has been kept on the bare €200, I thought the Minister could have raised it a bit more. I do not know why the contributory old age pension contains an odd figure of 79 cent, but that is the way they work in the...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2006: Motion (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The Government seems to have held together despite the fact that there is €3 billion to come back to us. The cap on mortgage relief for first-time buyers does not need to be that low. The amount of money involved is tiny and while I do not think it should be unlimited, it should be more or less based on the average house price. It would have been a welcome step if the Minister had taken...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2006: Motion (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Talking of spending a billion of one's own, that leads me almost to my next point. The "something borrowed" element is probably the worst aspect of the budget. I wish to remind the House of what I said here three weeks ago. I said that "something borrowed" is the money we are spending to buy carbon credits and allowances. It is disgraceful. Whereas I welcome the grants for solar panels...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2006: Motion (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: He had a habit of giving people a great bargain.