Results 2,361-2,380 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Agreed.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: We debated at length in the House the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill and received all sorts of reassurances in respect thereof, especially concerning section 13 which deals with resources. During the course of the discussion, I and others said there was a shortage of therapists of every kind, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: To correct the record, I was nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Seanad: Defence of Life and Property Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House and the opportunity to say a few words on the legislation. I am glad this discussion is taking place some months after a case that was a major media event. I compliment Senators Morrissey and Brennan on bringing forward the Bill. It is useful to have debate on the issue. Having looked at the proposed Government Bill, I prefer the definitions in it on...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I did not refer to Paul Appleby's demand for additional staff on yesterday's Order of Business because I chaired an audit review committee six years ago which reported to the Committee of Public Accounts. Mr. Appleby was head of the committee's secretariat. The report was accepted by the committee and it led to the establishment of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement which...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I do not wish to be tabloid, so to speak, but this issue needs to be examined. Today is work-life balance day and we should all attempt to achieve a work-life balance. Members might take the evening off.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. I appreciate the opportunity the Government has given me to debate this Bill in Government time. I cannot remember the last time I was given such an opportunity, but I am well entitled to it after 20 years in the House, a period slightly shorter than the length of time I have been involved in the...

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Is that a new coalition? They should just get into bed together.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: To which section does the Senator refer?

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator is correct. This is an error that should have been removed.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: It was a mistake on my part and I guarantee it will be removed on Committee Stage. While I specified the removal of references to Deputies and Senators, I was taken at my word and the reference to local authorities was retained.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Minister of State and Senators for their contributions. They were very helpful. The debate progressed the issue substantially. I welcome the point made by Senator Ó Murchú. I also heard differing views from various credit unions. The one aspect which depressed me about the matter was that some people told me their views but asked me not to mention their names. It bothered...

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Motion to Withdraw. (1 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I move: "That leave be granted to withdraw the Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007."

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I agree with the first point raised by Senator Brian Hayes except that I do not believe it was a spinning machine but rather bad media coverage. It was not just a young man who was supposed to be known to the Garda but there was also supposed to be a drunk Garda off duty. The reporting of the incident was wrong in all sorts of ways. In the first report I got the clear impression that a...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Second Stage (6 Mar 2007)

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

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Second Stage (6 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House and listened to his erudite explanation on issues dealing with insulation and heat loss, on which he and I disagree. I tend to agree with the other player referred to in the construction industry on that argument. When watching television last Friday night, I said to my wife that I might take the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Second Stage (6 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I was not going to go down the road of either person's argument. I was about to suggest looking at it differently. I agree it is a mistake not to outlaw hollow block building. I believe we should do that and there is an overwhelming argument for doing it. In terms of independent surveys, there is one to match the other. The Minister can say one, I can say Nicholas Stern. The Minister...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Second Stage (6 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Despite the fact that we have promised, time and again, to charge for waste collection by volume, weight or bin, why is it there are still local authorities that charge an annual amount? One can send out a barrow load every week and nobody makes any change. While that is not the main issue being debated, perhaps the Minister would examine it. Two years ago I made the point here that the two...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Second Stage (6 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: ——or the Ponte Vecchio in Florence? We must assume there are good architects who never had a qualification. The independent architects may have gone overboard with the argument but they have made the point. We have moved from there to architects and professionals developing at the knee of the master. That is the way the profession developed. The independent architects must recognise...