Results 2,521-2,540 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I do not want the Green Party to be smothered. Give it a chance.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: In the spring of this year, the Independent Senators introduced a motion on credit union savings to achieve a guarantee of savings protection and a system that would be independent of all representative bodies and others. There was a long debate in the House and at its conclusion the Government Members did not disagree with my proposal that savings in credit unions should have exactly the...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: If we get the small things right in agriculture, we will get the big things right as well.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: This area of the market, which is huge in France, for example, is being ignored. Those who were reared during a particular age will be familiar with the gamey flavour, taste and smell of mutton, which is part of Irish life. I would like the Minister of State with responsibility for food, Deputy Sargent, to come to the House to offer Senators his views on this matter. We need to educate...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: It is the mountainy mutton that gets us going.

Seanad: Climate Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (3 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I am delighted to have the privilege of seconding the Bill. I congratulate my colleague, Senator Ivana Bacik, for introducing this important legislation. I also congratulate her on breaking a long-standing rule of the Independent benches by finishing on time. I must explain to her that we do not do so. It is a pleasure to welcome the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local...

Seanad: Climate Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (3 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Minister and look forward to it. It is only pennies but this is about attitude. The important aspect of Senator Bacik's Bill is that it is concerned with meeting our solemn commitments under Kyoto. Kyoto was not dreamt up when we sat around a table. We signed up to it. During the past month temperatures warmer than we have here today were recorded in the Arctic where it was...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I re-echo the point made by Senator Fitzgerald. I confirm that the Leader's office is co-operating with the various groups to agree a motion. I hope the Leader will confirm that a motion acceptable to all is close to being agreed. Dúirt an Seanadóir Fitzgerald gur cóir don Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta theacht isteach chugainn le gnéithe áirithe oideachais a phlé. Tá rud amháin...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: There was a railway there at one time and it was let go.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: We are at the point in the lifetime of a Government when it starts to fill vacancies on boards of directors. We have previously said that it would be appropriate for this House to have a vetting function in the appointment of directors. If people are to be appointed to the board of Aer Lingus, would it not be useful to do the same as other democracies, where the vacancies are publicly...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I am well aware of that.

Seanad: Shannon Airport: Statements (10 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Government Senators are on the record as having disagreed with it.

Seanad: Shannon Airport: Statements (10 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: He is reading the wrong newspaper.

Seanad: Shannon Airport: Statements (10 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The interruptions are of a better quality. That is the point.

Seanad: Shannon Airport: Statements (10 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: It has said that.

Seanad: Shannon Airport: Statements (10 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share time with my three colleagues. We will speak for three minutes each. I compliment my colleague and old friend Senator O'Sullivan for picking up the mores of Fianna Fáil so easily. It will come as a major surprise to the Senator that it was the Government that called the people of the mid-west whingers. He may talk to it about that. We do not need to be objective about...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: On victim impact statements, an issue I raised previously, their standing in law has never been explained to us. We recognise that certain judges regularly allow or facilitate such statements but we are not sure how they fit into legislation. It would be helpful, therefore, if we had a debate in a non-confrontational manner on where the issue stands. I have a lot of time for Mr. Justice...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, those are issues which should be raised internally at group meetings. The debate on Burma today arose from the meeting of the representative of the different groups. Similarly, we have already decided there will be a meeting on economic issues next Thursday afternoon. The system works.

Seanad: Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2005: Motion (11 Oct 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I move: That, in pursuance of Standing Order No. 132 of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2005, which had reached Second Stage prior to the Seanad General Election, July 2007, be restored to the Order Paper.