Results 3,861-3,880 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Fitzgerald's points are true; we are certainly living in difficult times. People hold different views on the strike, but they should listen closely to what is being said. We should welcome the courageous stance taken in statements by leaders of the public sector unions in recent days. However, it sticks in my throat to hear calls for social solidarity from certain people. Recently...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: He may not want to.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Since the foundation of the State, the issue of Shannon flooding has been the plaything of different political parties. I recall that Éamon de Valera promised to drain the Shannon 70 or 80 years ago. I introduced a Bill in this House in 1998 with the support of Senators Madeleine Taylor-Quinn and Kathleen O'Meara that was rejected by the Fianna Fáil-led Government. It dealt with the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: It was a political promise.

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I should declare an interest. I am the director involved in this situation as a member of an inquiry committee. The real issue for the supervisory authority is a critical one. These are very litigious times. There has not been a week in recent months where a Member of this House has not asked a question about who is carrying out the investigation into this or that latest scandal from...

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The last consolidation Bill was introduced in 1991 and dealt with in the Seanad for long periods. It would be of benefit if the new consolidation Bill could be introduced in this House where it could be taken more slowly. The people most affected by the Bill will not look at it until the discussion takes place; therefore, it is vital that we do this. We did it in 1991 and it took a lot of...

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to be associated with what the Minister of State has said. I know the work the officials have done on this legislation. I have argued with them over the years and seriously differed with them on many occasions, but I would never doubt their commitment, ability and effectiveness in this area of legislation. The Minister of State and his Department are lucky to have people of such...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Three or four months ago I raised the issue of the Vatican's non-co-operation with the Ryan report and the fact that the role of the Vatican ambassador and the Vatican embassy should be called into question.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Surely the up-front contempt with which the Murphy report was treated by the ambassador and the Vatican State at the very least calls for a re-examination of our relationship with the Vatican. The Vatican's ambassador to Ireland should be called to account. He should be called in by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to explain himself on this situation. It is the least we need. I very much...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: We have witnessed enough of that in communist China with the Falun Gong and in communist Russia's refusal to allow Christians to practise their religion. We reached the giddy limit this week in Switzerland where a referendum was held on whether minarets could be put on top of mosques. That is where such calls lead and it is not our business. However, we need to examine our republican...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The first response to the Murphy report should be to ensure the hierarchy and bishops are removed as school patrons. That will not have an impact on Catholic education. Let Catholics elect their own people if they want to establish their own schools. If they want to appoint the local bishop or parish priest, that is their own business but the notion of a structure where systemically the...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State. I have listened to a lot of the discussion here about what should and should not be done in the budget. The most important point is that there be an element of fairness. The people understand there will be hardship and are ready to take a stand for it. However, they have to be convinced that what is being done is fair. I heard my colleague, Senator Quinn,...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Nobody wants a strike on Thursday and there is no need for one because we are that close to an agreement. We will take the hardship in the budget as long as it is rooted in fairness.

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: That is absolutely correct.

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I think that was the point.

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I hope the Minister of State does not encourage him.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: In the past few weeks I have spoken on a number of occasions about the possible outcome of the negotiations in Government Buildings. The two main objects for everybody are to reduce the public sector pay bill by €1.3 billion and decrease the number of public sector personnel by 15,000. It seemed as if they were two impossible objectives but now it appears the Government has managed to...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: It is interesting to note what has come to light in the past 24 hours. On top of everything we know, apparently developers are paying 20% tax on the vast gains and windfalls made through land speculation in the past seven, eight or nine years. Add to that the myriad tax breaks, capital gains tax write offs and other supports available and it is interesting to note what benchmarking was...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Toole: What about tax breaks for builders and developers and capital write-offs?