Results 2,461-2,480 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The list did not feature any teachers either.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I do not have a difficulty with No. 1 on the Order of Business, which is due to be taken without debate. However, I would like the matter to be discussed when it has been dealt with by the relevant committee. People should reaquaint themselves with the Schengen Agreement. Our attitude towards the latter is the reason we are still obliged to show our passports when passing through half the...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: ——with environmentally friendly bulbs that do less damage in terms of carbon emissions. I note that the Government issued a statement yesterday to announce its intention to increase the price of incandescent bulbs. That is a regressive and regrettable measure. What does the Government expect people to do? Will they sit and curse the darkness or buy another light bulb? It is simply...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: What Bill is that?

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: They shall have it in Mullingar and can travel to Athlone.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (3 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Is the Minister speaking on section 5 or will that be covered in the next grouping? Has he addressed amendments Nos. 25 and 26?

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (3 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to raise an issue with the Minister that I raised on Committee Stage. I have no objection to the amendments, but I would like clarification. The question of Irish people living abroad accessing Irish broadcasting is a matter of some significance in respect of which the Minister has been supportive in his comments during the years. I am trying to establish the situation regarding...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (3 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I recognise the intensive work that has been done by the departmental officials. I thank the Minister, who has been well advised on the legislation, for being so open to the views of Members. The review provisions are crucially important because it is so hard to keep up with the changes in technology. One can go to the local car park and buy a card to receive various channels. A slingbox...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I would also welcome a discussion on that same matter. The Leader will recall that over recent years there has been much brouhaha and a great welcome for the education for persons with special educational needs legislation. The commitment was given by Government that this would be fully supported and provided for and that people with special learning needs would be looked after. This Act...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: In trying to get large corporations of all nationalities to produce their reports as Gaeilge, bheadh sé i bhfad níos fearr féachaint ar na rudaí a ba chóir a dhéanamh. Mar shampla, foilsíodh tuarascáil an Choimisinéara Teanga an tseachtain seo. This is the kind of thing that drives me mad. Sa tuarascáil sin, he makes it very clear that the child protection guidelines on sexual...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: With the MacEntee report and the chief inspector of the Garda inspectorate, Ms O'Toole's recent speech to the AGSI, there is a strong case for a debate on the Garda force. We need to see a rebuilding of the trust and confidence in the force. A structure needs to be in place where individual issues do not take from the reputation of the entire Garda force, which is inclined to happen...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: We are merely protecting the environment of the place the Senator visits.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (25 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Táimid tagtha le chéile chun slán a ghabháil le cara agus comhghleacaí, an Seanadóir Kate Walsh. Tar éis di na blianta a chaitheamh ag troid i gcoinne an galair, theip uirthi ar deiridh, faraoir. Chaith sí a saol ag obair ar son mhuintir Celbridge, go mór mhór. Dhein sí obair den scoth ar son mhuintir na háite sin. Watching the flag flying at half mast over Leinster House...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: In the past ten to 15 years, I raised the importance of having a vetting process for people who would be in charge of children. That was eventually conceded and agreed to by the Government. However, I discovered something disturbing in recent weeks. The vetting process for teachers is being done by the Teaching Council, which is the council that approves the qualifications of teachers and...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I think Senator Dardis proposed the same thing in this very House about three years ago. I had to defend the Senator's position on it.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Yes.

Seanad: Risk Equalisation: Motion (26 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I disagree with my two colleagues who have just spoken. I agree with the Minister because I do not believe it is about competition in the provision of health care. Rather, it is about competition in the cost of provided health care, which is the essential difference. I have dealt and fought with the VHI over the years where I believed it put charges on my cost which should not have arisen....

Seanad: Risk Equalisation: Motion (26 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Yes, although I would like the Minister to wait for the two minutes when I speak.

Seanad: Matter of Concern to Member (26 Apr 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I appreciate the Minister staying for the two minutes. Mothers of newborn babies leaving hospitals in Dublin get what is called a bounty pack, which, among other things, contains a box of nappies and a few yoghurt cartons. What I am proposing today is in the context of the document which I believe the Health Service Executive recently sent to every house in Ireland. This bounty pack is...