Results 2,981-3,000 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: To clarify, is this because the matter was not raised on Committee Stage?

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I recognise what the Minister has done with amendments Nos. 80, 81 and 106, which include provisions for Irish language programming for children, for Irish language programming, and for Irish cinema, respectively. I deeply appreciate the efforts he and his officials have made with these amendments. My amendments contained a number of proposals, but the Minister has met many of them and he...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: In fairness, we cannot but say that Deputy Ryan is a listening Minister, in terms of the number of changes and amendments that he has been prepared to take on board as we have gone through this Bill. I always believe this reflects a confident Minister in charge of his or her brief. I welcome the fact that he has listened to our arguments on this general area of the issue under discussion,...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I will go back to college then.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I move amendment No. 99: In page 121, line 25, after "licence" to insert the following: "and at all times practicable that RTÉ use the maximum power levels as sanctioned by the ITU and licensed by ComReg in the case of an LF broadcast transmitter serving the island of Ireland and or Irish communities abroad". This amendment concerns the issue of long-wave broadcasting, which is of concern to...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: We could receive it only at night when the signal could travel. The reverse was the case with RTE. Broadcasting on medium wave, its reception was much clearer at night than on long wave. Long wave radio needs to have its output and strength increased at night rather than decreased. Why is RTE broadcasting only at 62.5? I did not really want to start this speech and I have not even...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: No. We cannot agree to conclude all Stages by 5 p.m. if we are not finished dealing with matters. Six or seven Senators wish to speak. I am quite happy to resume at 4.30 p.m.

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. Fáiltím go mór roimh na leasuithe atá romhainn in ainm an Aire. Chuir sé isteach go mór orm nuair a thuig mé go raibh seans ann go mbeadh deacrachtaí acu siúd ata ag freastal ar an gcúrsa úd faoi láthair. Tá mé an-sásta leis na leasuithe atá molta aige. I will withdraw my amendments because the Minister's ones deal with the...

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Tá an cheart ag an Aire.

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Agreed.

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, táimid imithe ó Chéim an Choiste without dealing with Report Stage.

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Aontaím leis an Teideal. An deacracht atá agam ná in case anybody challenges it afterwards. We moved straight from Committee Stage to Fifth Stage without taking the stage in between. We must agree that there are no amendments on Report Stage.

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Fair enough.

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Could I be associated with those remarks? Mar a dúirt mé nuair a bhí mé ag caint níos luaithe, fáiltím go mór roimh na leasuithe a dhein an Aire ar an mBille. Bhí sé thar a bheith tábhachtach that the Department listened leis na rudaí a bhí ag cuir isteach ar daoine. Tá réiteach na faidhbe seo againn. Tá mé an-sásta leis. Ó thaobh an obair atá déanta ag na advisers,...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, to the House. This matter is of serious import to many people. There are aspects of it that are not entirely under the control of the Department or the Minister and I acknowledge that. It is of serious political concern to the rest of us and for that reason we must have some reassurances from the Minister of State. RTE reception,...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Is freesat available in the United Kingdom or in Ireland?

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. However, I repeat that this merely constitutes half-information. For example, the Minister of State referred to freesat. He stated the RTE stations will be on freesat and will be available to people who do not have a subscription to Sky. It can be obtained on Sky without subscription at present. This kind of half-information...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, back to the House and I wish to respond to the points he made. I intend to state, as succinctly as possible, that under section 114 of the Bill, there is a commitment, as far as practicable, to the whole community on the island of Ireland. The object of RTE is to establish, maintain and operate a national television and sound broadcasting...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I move amendment No. 110: In page 144, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: "(c) No person shall be sent to jail as a consequence of any conviction for non-possession of a TV licence. However, an order for attachment of earnings may be made by the court in order to discharge such an obligation.". This amendment concerns the extraordinary situation that exists currently where...