Results 2,801-2,820 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister for Education and Science has had an instructive Easter travelling to the various teaching, education and management conferences and will no doubt have learned a lot. It would be very helpful if we could hear what she has learned over the past three weeks, especially the advances she has made on issues affecting primary education, such as class size, capital funding and special...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: What a loss that would be for the rest of us.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I wish the new leader of Fianna Fáil well and I congratulate party members on making their decision so promptly. I hope it all works out well for them. I heard one cautionary tale about Deputy Cowen earlier, which would make me very afraid if I was facing him on the other side of the House. When he was a minor playing hurling for Clara in a match against Lusmagh, his team was behind and...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I recommend to people in Fianna Fáil and in the Opposition who never heard of Lusmagh that it is worth visiting and reading about the Lusmagh revolution and agrarian revolt and reform in the late 1950s and early 1960s. A lot would be understood about the nature of people from that part of world, including our Cathaoirleach. Inné fuarthas an tuarascáil bhliantúil ón gCoimisinéir Teanga....

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The Leader is safe enough now.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs: Motion (9 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs: Motion (9 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Corrigan is learning the rules of the game quickly. It was the best eight minutes I have ever heard. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I congratulate Fine Gael on tabling the motion. I have a reasonably balanced record in the House of giving credit where it is due but Senator Corrigan's criticism of Fine Gael for not acknowledging developments is misplaced. I said to...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Leader for facilitating a brief debate on Ingrid Betancourt. It is much appreciated and is the way we need to conduct our business more often. Over the past two days comments have been made about China, the Olympic Games, Tibet and so on. People have strong views and we need to have a debate. I could make a very strong case about a country in which people cannot practice their...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: No one has asked them not to travel.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: No one has suggested that.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Not in Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: No.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The former Senator and President, Mary Robinson, did so and I raised this issue in 1987.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Death of Former President: Expressions of Sympathy (15 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to offer the condolences of the Independent Members to the family of one of the most exemplary and outstanding supporters of the NUI constituency. Dr. Hillery always took a great interest in that constituency and was a close supporter of my colleague, Senator Quinn. He was also the Senator's near neighbour and good friend. Dr. Hillery attended last year's election count, which was...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: In the past year, we have had a number of debates on the question of civil partnerships, in respect of which there have been some extraordinary developments. Yesterday held an embarrassing moment when the Judiciary was required to fill the gaps in legislation left by the seemingly indolent politicians. Yesterday's decision of the High Court, which I welcome, should not have been necessary....

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I agree with what Senator Fitzgerald has just said. Perhaps the Leader was not aware of the situation. I have been invited, along with a number of colleagues, to meetings organised by Fine Gael on the Lisbon treaty. All the activity in my area has been organised by Fine Gael. I am totally disinterested in this issue but Fine Gael has pulled out all the stops and deserves credit for it. A...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The word "liberal" is a bit of a misnomer.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I was referring to a child in third class in school.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Toole: We can read one page a day.