Results 3,081-3,100 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Orders of Reference of Select Committee: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: If the Minister of State does not mind me asking, from where did this advice emanate?

Seanad: Orders of Reference of Select Committee: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Is the Minister of State referring to the secretariat of this House?

Seanad: Orders of Reference of Select Committee: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Is the Minister of State referring to the secretariat of this House?

Seanad: Orders of Reference of Select Committee: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Does the secretariat of this House agree with that advice?

Seanad: Orders of Reference of Select Committee: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Did the secretariat of the Seanad say this was an appropriate course to take?

Seanad: Orders of Reference of Select Committee: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: That sounds like it did not. It sounds like a "No".

Seanad: Orders of Reference of Select Committee: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I do not expect the secretariat of a committee to understand the intricacies of the operation of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Orders of Reference of Select Committee: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister of State is clearly saying the authorities in this House ruled it to be in order, and that it was put there after consultation with them. I find that hard to believe, but I have to accept his word.

Seanad: Orders of Reference of Select Committee: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: This is a very easy question to answer. I regularly go to the Seanad office where there is an old grey document that goes back to the foundation of the State. The people in there are the only people who know. If the Clerk's office in the House said this was in order, I would have to accept that point. The staff there know it backwards, but I would like to be told that.

Seanad: Orders of Reference of Select Committee: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, can I suggest we proceed with item No. 2? Nobody has a difficulty with that. I also suggest that we defer No. 3 until business tomorrow morning. Nothing will happen between now and then. If the advice comes back in the interim, I will stay silent.

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Joint Committee on European Affairs: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I move an amendment to the motion: To insert after the word "That" in the first line, ", notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders and the Order of the Seanad of 24 October 2007 in relation to the establishment of the Joint Committee on European Affairs,". This amendment is simply a fail-safe mechanism to ensure the committee is unchallengeable and above reproach. It covers the two areas...

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Joint Committee on European Affairs: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Yes, on 24 October 2007.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: It is reasonable to ask for the Government to outline its position on the scheme. A commitment was given to bring in the regulation this week. While supporting the call for an explanation, I am not saying the Government should rush the delivery of the scheme. If I were in Government, I would favour examining the detail some more. However, if there has been a change of mind by the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: There are bands which determine the order of priority of applications, there are stages of building, there are teams which are changed at will, and there is ministerial intervention built into the process without any criteria. The system is opaque and there is a lack of transparency and understanding. Will the Minister for Education and Science come to the Seanad to discuss the matter...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Let us do that.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I am not nearly as impressed with progress by the Government as the Senator.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I compliment Senator Keaveney on buying well into the chapter. I remind her that her Government talks about looking forward rather than back. What happened last year is eaten bread and is soon forgotten, despite how well it might have been received. I welcome my old friend, the Minister for Education and Science, to the House. I support the Fine Gael motion and will use the opportunity it...

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: We cannot understand it.

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I know it is not meant to be understood, but the ordinary people of Ireland do not realise this. There are various bands and procedures. If any school could understand where it was in the process, it would be great, but this is not the case. There are two serious issues, the first of which concerns the quantum or sum of money. I am not talking about that today because, as a realist, I...

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I accept the Minister's word that it is on its way.