Results 3,101-3,120 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

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

Joe O'Toole: In any case, a magic line is coming through. The Greens would not get it because they are against building, are they not?

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

Joe O'Toole: The issue is that whatever comes through, it will not be somebody in the building section but somebody in the Department of Education and Science who will have to go through the whole process all over again. Despite this, we will not get an answer and Deputies must put down a parliamentary question or Senators must raise a matter on the Adjournment. Senator Doherty has a matter on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: It is very interesting to note where we find ourselves with the decisions of central banks around the world to reduce interest rates. The ordinary people of this country are discussing the point raised by Senator Fitzgerald, namely, whether the banks will pass on the benefit of the interest rate cut. It would be interesting to contextualise the debate in terms of the comments made over the...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Let us blame the unions for the recession.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: We certainly do not.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I feel wasted. I spent one career trying to reduce class sizes and another trying to keep the minimum wage out of the tax net. In one short speech yesterday, the Minister turned on its head a large amount of good, hard, committed and energetic work done by many people over the years. It will return to haunt the Government. There is nothing wrong with the 1% and 2% income levies. Asking...

Seanad: Unemployment Levels: Statements (15 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I see the Government side is losing its appetite for debates on unemployment and the budget. However, I hope there is a full attendance at the debate on the budget later so that Members can do their duty. In terms of unemployment, the budget is regressive. There are a number of points that will create difficulty. In fairness, Senator Hanafin...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I second the amendment. I would like a commitment from the Leader that there will be questions and answers tomorrow. I agree with the points raised by Senator Fitzgerald. During a discussion two weeks ago on related matters, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance took questions from Members and it is difficult to go along with this change without debate. Like Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I agree with the points made by Senator Fitzgerald. How many times have we discussed the importance of the Upper House and that it should be relevant, topical, responsible, caring and retain a connection with ordinary people? That is what this is about. If it is being discussed on every radio talk show, in every lounge in every pub and at every dinner table in every house, it is daft not...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I suggest that the Order of Business be amended so that we can take statements on the three issues mentioned in my motion — the need to exclude the minimum wage from the income levy, to restore the universal entitlement of people over the age of 70 to the medical card and to reverse the proposal to reduce class sizes. I ask the Leader to provide for such a debate immediately. We need to...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I do not know how anybody in this House would live on €36,000 a year. There seems to be a suggestion that elderly people can live at a cheaper rate. It is not on. I would like to mention another thing that has been done in a sneaky way. The budget proposal in respect of medical cards was based on one's net salary — one's salary after the costs associated with housing and various other...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I do not suggest that Senators on this side of the House are any better than our colleagues on the other side of the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I ask Senators on the Government side to go back to their parliamentary parties and lift out of it those who are making proposals of this nature. Certain facts need to be checked. There are arguments against the universal approach to the over 70s. I was prepared to listen to some of those arguments last week. However, I heard over the weekend that the Government is reconsidering the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Okay.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: While I fully accept the good offices of my colleagues on the other side of the House, I do not believe they are being told about what is being thought up.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: They were misled in the past. I ask them not to allow themselves to be misled again.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Absolutely, I said that. Every retired teacher, civil servant and other public servant should be eligible.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Yesterday, I made the point that these issues are being discussed everywhere, including the Dáil, yet we seem to be silencing ourselves on them. It does not make any sense. Members on both sides of the House have views which they should be allowed articulate. I support the call from Senator Frances Fitzgerald that we need to discuss these issues and open the debate to allow Members say...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The so-called higher paid, those pensioners who earn €35,000 a year, will now have to pay for a medical card. The Government should stop using that terminology, describing these people as higher paid. It is disgraceful and only adds to people's feelings on the matter. They are angered, traumatised and incredulous by what they see happening. The Government needs to reassess where it is...