Results 341-360 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: On a technical issue in that regard, we need to know whether it is a statutory instrument or a ministerial order and whether it is a decision taken on the basis of a decision prior to a debate in the House or one which can be rescinded within 21 sitting days. We need to be aware of those issues before we can make decisions about taking it without debate. If it is a matter requiring a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: —and I hope people will at least take account of our views. Nobody can control the voices of those on the other side of the House, even if their votes can be controlled. At least, they are free to speak and I look forward to hearing their support on this issue.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Is the Leader accepting Senator Hayes's amendment?

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to raise a point of order. Senator Norris was very careful not to criticise, in any way, the Minister of State personally. He said the Minister of State was from another Department, did not have information to hand and that information was not available. That is correct. There was silence yesterday afternoon while the Minister of State consulted his advisers who did not have the answers.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Having consulted with Senator Callanan, I have to press it. Amendment put: "That statements on the report of the Information Commissioner, which was received yesterday, be inserted before No.1." Tá

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I agree with Senator Higgins's assessment. Effectively, for the first time in three days, the Government side is right about an argument. I happen to agree with what Senator Mansergh is saying. I said the same thing in 1997 when I considered that five years was too short a period and I still believe that to be the case. I support the amendment for the reasons given by Senator O'Meara, namely,...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: What she was saying today on "Morning Ireland" was significantly different from the views the Minister of State attributed to her last night.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I move amendment No. 10: In page 9, line 40 to delete subsection (d). The amendment addresses the need for the Government to consult party leaders before taking certain decisions. Its acceptance would ensure a degree of consultation would take place with those who were Ministers during the period to which a specific request related. Earlier Senator O'Rourke reflected the thinking behind...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: We might be prepared to accept the Minister of State's position if he accepted Ms McDonagh's advice on both issues. Now that this side has been forced to accept it on one issue, will he be consistent and accept it on a second? Senator Leyden likes consistent behaviour.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: We are flying through the Bill.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I move amendment No. 11: In page 9, lines 41 to 46 and in page 10, lines 1 to 37, to delete paragraph (e). The amendment proposes to delete the text between line 40 on page 9 and the table on page 10. Why has it been changed to leave the table in the Bill?

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: That is fine. Section 12(e) is the meat of the legislation, without which I would support many of the changes being introduced by the Government. As I stated during my Second Stage speech, the crucial issues to which we object are all included in this section which is inconsistent with the report of the high level group. As I recall – I stand to be corrected – the group did not mention...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: They are fine people.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I have a great deal time for them. They do a very good job and I wish I had some of them working for me. The Bill proposes to place a wall of secrecy around those whose job is to control the flow of information. This is a retrograde step by any standards. The Government will probably respond by defending the honour of special advisers. I will save it the trouble; my comments are not a...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I realise that is embarrassing for Senator Mansergh and that it goes against all his principles.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: We are trying to make it easy for him. I do not know why he is putting himself through all this pain. He is sharing our pain in defending a Government measure to which he is intellectually opposed in principle. That is the reality. I might give way to other speakers at this stage, although I have not yet started on my script. I was merely warming up. I will come back to the amendment.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I am speaking metaphorically. My heart is my script.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: So let us make the move.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: That remark does not become the Senator. It is irrelevant.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I am sure Senator Mansergh knows of a good reason for that.