Results 3,701-3,720 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: We would never do that.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Rather than repeat comments made by previous speakers, I propose examining where the proposal on blasphemy sits within the law, what is its intent and where it came from. I gently correct the Minister on the matter of where the offence of blasphemy stands in the Constitution. While the offence is referred to in the Constitution, it existed before the Constitution was drawn up, yet no one...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Even if defining the offence of blasphemy were a constitutional imperative, and I do not accept that is the case, it would not constitute a sufficient reason to support the Minister's logic. The Minister referred to the Law Reform Commission's report on the crime of libel. The report stated there is no place for the offence of blasphemous libel in a society which respects free speech and...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I would like to correct one thing. I understand the Cathaoirleach's ruling, but this is not a resubmission. This amendment was never submitted as it was too late. This is the first time it has been submitted to the House. In that sense it is not a resubmission.

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Le cead an Tí, ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt le Seanadóir Pearse Doherty, le do thoil.

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I congratulate the Minister and his team on the work done in Europe during the past few months, which has been, as I stated previously when the Minister was not in the House, very impressive. The Minister has done difficult but important work. I extend those words of congratulations to the Minister's team of advisors who I am sure also did a huge amount of work in this regard. It is very...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The House will note that a former Leader of the House, the former Senator Maurice Manning, who is now the head of the Irish Human Rights Commission, has expressed extraordinary concern about the fact that the commission is being deprived in terms of its budget to do the work that it has been set up by these Houses to do. It is also critical and concerned about the rushing through of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Might I interrupt? This is the third time in the last fortnight that someone has allowed his phone to ring and gone out to answer it. Anyone can forget to turn it off, I am not being precious. The last person I saw doing it in these Houses was a Member of the Upper House in the other jurisdiction. It is insulting to the House.

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I believe St. Benedict said that.

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: It was interesting to listen to the points made by Senator White, and I agree with much of what she said, but when I hear members on the Government side talk about an issue, I wonder whether they ever listen to what they are told. I raised the price of electricity in this House ten years ago and pointed out time and again that the Government strategy was to raise the price of electricity to...

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: That was the policy of the Senator's party and of the Fine Gael Party. It was done quite deliberately because Irish electricity was too cheap and the private sector could not get involved in that field. The regulator was given this job to do to raise the price of electricity and we are all paying the price for it. We all knew it would happen. The Senator is right in what she said about...

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Dr. Whitaker.

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Dr. Whitaker did a massive job for Ireland. Political leadership is important. It is also important that we look at how we got to where we are. I listened to an extraordinary discussion on radio recently between a well known figurehead of the Irish motor industry and a member of the Green Party, who is a Member of this House. I listened in astonishment to the head of the Irish motor...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I am glad we have an opportunity to discuss the economy later. However, I would like to refer to the issue of public sector bashing, which is giving pleasure to some of the people who got us into this trouble. IBEC was first in the queue. Has the media forgotten that the six largest members of IBEC - our large banks and financial institutions - got us into this mess? IBEC and the media...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

Joe O'Toole: In the meantime, I would like us to have a discussion on the public sector and what it is contributing to the economy in order that those working within it would see there is respect for them in some parts of public life. During the summer the Leader of the House issued a statement on Seanad reform. Is he ready for it? We know about the University Senators and will go along with it. What...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Bacik has moved to the Labour Party benches.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Of course, we were informed.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, I am being misrepresented. On no occasion did I offer a view or was I in favour of getting rid of Private Members' time. Private Members' business should be taken this evening. I said that consistently to the Leader. I acknowledge I asked for a debate on the economy.