Results 2,401-2,420 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The groups which cause me concern are those I mentioned with years of experience working as architects. First, in the Minister's considered view would those who are working successfully as architects within the State encounter any difficulty in becoming registered? Is there any reason they would not be registered? Will they encounter difficulty in becoming registered? If they did, I would...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Will all registered people have votes?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: It would be very easy to disagree with Senator Brian Hayes but yesterday afternoon, while doing some work, I tuned into the debate on a number of occasions to hear discussions on what I believed were related to the Defamation Bill but instead concerned mushrooms.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I heard discussions on the commentariat and pinko extremist commentators and various other issues which I felt had very little to do with the business at hand. There is, therefore, some element of truth in the point made. Apart from the great entertainment provided by Senator Norris and the Tánaiste, who seemed to be enjoying themselves with very little else to do, the discussion seemed to...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: There are issues to be considered. We discuss important matters such as the hospital in Monaghan.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: There are two community hospitals, one in Dingle and one in Kenmare, which are on the books and have been promised, talked about, proposed, dealt with, built and built again. Where do we stand on the issue? I would like to be able to talk to somebody about what exactly is happening there. They are also taking over half of another hospital in Killarney, St. Finan's.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: That is part of it. What happened to the ferry services between Dingle, Portmagee and Valentia or the Dingle walkway? Dingle is just one example, but we could discuss Offaly or elsewhere in the same way. We should examine and have a discussion on regions.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Recently, I recommended that all committees should go outside the Houses, but the only committee that travels on a regular basis is the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, which visits a number of areas around the country. It is chaired by Deputy Cassidy, who is from the Leader's constituency and shares her thinking in this respect.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The issues must be examined. Would it be possible to have an Adjournment debate and a discussion on the regions to examine each county or area, such as the south west, and determine what needs to be done?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The midlands is getting a railway between Mullingar and Athlone, but we are concerned about the railway between Killarney and Tralee which has not been upgraded to the same extent. We would like to discuss these issues.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: With respect, I made the point about the discussion on mushrooms and pinko extremists and the commentariat and that I saw some sense in the point raised by Senator Brian Hayes.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Debates on the needs of local communities.

Seanad: Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: In fairness, I do not think the Senator said that.

Seanad: Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House. I also welcome the legislation. I want to put a few matters straight. I was one of the people who was critical in my contribution on the budget debate about the €270 million allocation but that did not mean I am opposed to emissions trading. I was one of the people who criticised the Power of One campaign but that does not mean I am opposed to any of...

Seanad: Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I do not depend on lobbyists. They might give me an interest in something but I do not depend on what I get from them. The Bill is welcome but minimalist. It does not deal with the issues. I regret the Bill was not introduced in this House, as I would have made a number of amendments to it with which I believe the Minister would be in agreement. In regard to section 8, the Minister said,...

Seanad: Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: It does. I was a primary school teacher and I can multiply.

Seanad: Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Some 18 million allowances multiplied by €25 works out at €450 million but the Minister has allowed for a figure of only €270 million. I am not making a big issue of this.

Seanad: Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Yes.