Results 3,361-3,380 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I say to the Leader there is a range of subjects we might discuss during this proposed period of adjournment. They include child abuse, cuts in health and education, difficulties in accident and emergency departments, the need for public sector reform and the need for the Government to raise funds internationally. I set aside the issues we are to discuss later on tonight. We should take...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I agree completely with the points made by Senator Fitzgerald. There is a sense of déjÀ vu for me and some of my colleagues. I recall that previously there was a special sitting of the House to bail out Goodman. On this occasion the House has been recalled to bail out the banks. I want to be absolutely clear about the reason I oppose the allocation of time. I am not politicking here....

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: As a member of the board of the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority within whose remit this issue falls, I have many views on the issue of auditing standards, on which I will not speak at this time. However, company law is an issue at which we need to look carefully. I want the Minister to indicate clearly his views as to whether a person needs to be in breach of written...

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: My view of the world is that common law is clear about the responsibilities of company directors, a matter about which we had long debates in 2003. It seems any director of a company who acts against the best interests of that company, and the common good in as much as it applies to that company, is in breach of common law. It is also clear, as I understand it, that the compliance...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: There was a great deal of debate over the weekend about the outcome of the Roscommon incest case and related matters. I did not listen much to it because I can no longer stomach the craw thumping, puke inducing hypocrisy of commentators shedding crocodile tears for children who suffer abuse and neglect while blaming the HSE and everybody else along the way. It is 22 years since I was first...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: We never gave it the power to do it.

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (27 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I reflect what has been said by the previous speakers. It is important we are having this debate and that Members put what they have to say on the record. I agree with much of what Senator Marc MacSharry said. However, in fairness to Fine Gael, I must say two things. It is not fair to say Fine Gael forecast 4% growth this year. It was very clear in its election manifesto that on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I would appreciate the views of the Members on the issue of the discussions on the economy. The trade union movement, including public sector unions, have offered a €2 billion recovery bond to the Government, which they are prepared to champion, support and sell. There has not been an adequate response to that proposal. This money is on the table for the Government to use. Two actions...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: It would be useful if this House held a debate on the Eames-Bradley report, which forces us to confront certain issues. It is easy to understand why it was met with an extraordinary degree of emotion in the North. However, being able to understand the reaction of all the parties concerned does not necessarily mean one would agree with them. It behoves us to examine the report and to...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (29 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share my time with Senator Bacik.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (29 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House and I express my respect for his keen interest in local and national democracy. It has been very helpful that he has offered views on it regularly since his appointment as Minister. I very much agree with the comments made by the previous speaker. I am very concerned about the shift eastwards of the representatives in Dáil Éireann. There is a problem...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2009)

Joe O'Toole: It is unfortunate that the talks involving the social partners did not reach a satisfactory conclusion last night. It is also important, as Senator Fitzgerald remarked, that we discuss this matter. I have put the suggestion to the Leader, who has some difficulty with it. We must recognise that there are 2 million in the workforce, 300,000 are unemployed and 300,000 working in the public...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2009)

Joe O'Toole: It is not only public servants who say as much. One can put the question to anyone in the street, asking their views on the way with which the banks have been dealt. We are taking our money and investing it in banks which are the cause of this problem and which are still being run by the same people. It simply is unacceptable. No matter what people try to convince themselves of, there is...

Seanad: Report on European Union Scrutiny: Statements (3 Feb 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus roimh an deá-obair atá ar siúl aige leis an post nua atá aige mar Minister of State with responsibility for food. Táim an-shásta seans a bheith agam cúpla focal a rá mar gheall air. Maidir leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Ó Súilleabháin, this week I spoke to my lamb producer and he is allowing one of the lambs to grow into...

Seanad: Report on European Union Scrutiny: Statements (3 Feb 2009)

Joe O'Toole: There is a racecourse near it. It is quite near Huntingdon.

Seanad: Report on European Union Scrutiny: Statements (3 Feb 2009)

Joe O'Toole: It is called Melton Mowbray, which is famous the world over for pork pies. Melton Mowbray pork pies are like Dover sole or Dublin Bay prawns. It is a brand. However, pork pies were being made and sold by Tesco and by all the big distributors as Melton Mowbray pork pies, even though they never saw Melton Mowbray. The people of this small town got together and took a case to Europe. They...

Seanad: Report on European Union Scrutiny: Statements (3 Feb 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I am disappointed the Minister of State did not say something about those appalling stamps called "best before". They should be banned. They are an absolute disgrace. They cause war in my house, because somebody sees that the best before date on a product is two days ago or a month ago and they throw it out because they think it has something to do with health. We need to be told that the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I have just put down the telephone from a couple who were in tears, a nurse married to a teacher, comfortably off, with their own house and paying back their mortgage. They outlined to me what their position will be after yesterday. His mother is in a nursing home and he has only one other sibling with whom he shares those costs after his mother's pension is included. The couple used to...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Joe O'Toole: ——with their big multi-million pay deals, who pay no price at all. This will not hold. It will bring social and industrial unrest. It cannot hold at the centre unless we bring balance to it. One cannot explain to public servants why they must do what is being asked of them if there is not a balance somewhere else. I am being told also of employers in profitable industries who are...