Results 3,761-3,780 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I presume there are four sides to the table because the unemployed and the community and voluntary pillar should also be represented. Ordinary workers and trade unionists want certainty and honesty. Once they can see an end to the crisis, it will be easier to get their support. However, the leadership of the trade union movement needs to be able to explain how we can end the pain.

Seanad: Mortgage and Debt Support Measures: Motion (4 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I propose to share time with Senators Twomey and Mullen. I found the reply of the Minister of State to be interesting and reassuring in ways. I do not agree with the Government motion. There could have been more movement towards the Fine Gael position. I refer to the call for the Government to establish an alternative dispute resolution system to deal with cases where people are unable to...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: To beat an old drum, I again make reference to the talks taking place in Government Buildings between the social partners, the Government and the various other groups involved. I made the point yesterday that, in terms of the way we were engaging with the matter, talk of strikes, actions, etc. was part of the essential choreography and stage direction of these events and that this was not...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: We need to see what we will happen in the future. Senator Fitzgerald mentioned "Morning Ireland". I had a spring in my step after listening to the programme this morning; I can only put it down to the fact that there was no economist on it for a full two hours.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: No; there was no economist wearing an economist's hat. I will come to Garret in a second. It is important to recognise that the trade unions, the Government, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and everybody else needs to be informed of the reality of the situation. That is happening. I heard no one in the past two or three weeks argue about the fact that savings of €4 billion were...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Absolutely. Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, I inform the House that Senator Mullen's motion was not born until after the leaders' meeting on Tuesday.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Unlike my esteemed colleague, Senator Fitzgerald, I welcome the Taoiseach's statement over the weekend. It was called for, measured and people listened and paid attention to it. He has got himself into the driving seat to ensure he will push and deliver on public sector reform. It was an important statement and one that now allows him to follow his own agenda and the wider agenda, in that...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey. I hope he is enjoying the debate which is slightly more informative than what he might have heard in the other House. It is interesting to hear the point made by previous speakers who asked whether there were alternatives or whether this was the only game in town. It is not true to say that this is the only game in town. A number of other...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: It was as an objective of NAMA about which I said was sceptical.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: It was a consequence as opposed to an objective.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: It is interesting to hear the songs from offstage on the issue of how the Government is approaching the budget. It was also interesting to hear the Minister for Social and Family Affairs talk about a three tier approach to certain aspects of social welfare on the same day we are told the EU is considering giving Ireland a fourth year to get its finances below the 3% budget deficit. As I...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: That is not actually what he said.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: No, they do not.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, to avoid the need to ask other questions on the Order of Business, will the Leader clarify where he stands on the debate on social partnership with various persons being invited along the lines of his recent meeting?

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: He is referring to asset management as opposed to the control of credit.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: A number of issues need to be clarified because I am certainly confused by some of the argumentation to date. It comes back to the fact that people are referring to banks acting in the public interest. Section 210 contains a reference to guidelines but also deals with regulation and how it impacts on the market. It seems that under the provisions of the Companies Acts, banks are required...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I raised this point in my speech on Second Stage. The Minister said then that part of the object of section 2 would be to resolve problems created by the financial crisis or facilitate the availability of credit. It may facilitate it, but it cannot actually require it. I would like the Minister to clarify this point, which cuts across the points that have been made by Senators Donohoe and...