Results 3,961-3,980 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I agree 90% with Senator Fitzgerald on that point. The Government did the right thing in reversing the decision. I know I am in a minority position on that point. It was taken in terms of fairness for that particular group but the Minister did that group no favours by not explaining what he was doing in the House on budget day when he dealt with all the other matters. I know the way the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Joe O'Toole: And the DART to Dingle.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (27 Jan 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the extended family of former Senator Billy Kenneally. I did not know him, although I know his son only too well. I never had the pleasure of serving with him. Nonetheless, on behalf of Members on the Independent benches, I wish to be associated with the tributes being paid to him today. At a time when politics is held in low esteem by the media and the general population and it...

Seanad: Haiti Disaster: Motion (Resumed) (27 Jan 2010)

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

Seanad: Haiti Disaster: Motion (Resumed) (27 Jan 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I congratulate the Minister of State on the comprehensive outline he gave Members. I thank him for the composed manner in which he has dealt with this issue in the media and his avoidance of grandstanding, so to speak. This is not surprising because in my dealings with the Minister of State on behalf of another continent, I have always found him to be aware well-informed and committed to...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Earlier this week Senator Fitzgerald raised the issue of special needs assistants in schools, with many Senators mentioning the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act and the lack of support from the Government. This is a constitutional issue. Therefore, I invite schools and parents to take a constitutional case against the State to assert the right of children to primary...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Second Stage (28 Jan 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I also welcome the Minister, even though I often argue with him about some of his proposals. I tend to be 90% in agreement with his agenda and I welcome this legislation. I compliment his officials who have put a great deal of work into it. The Bill reflects international best practice. One of the great problems is the lack of clarity and responsibility in this area. Until now, the health...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The points raised by Senator Fitzgerald are crucial. Whereas I do not completely agree with her point about the amendment to the NAMA legislation, it did provide, as I stated at the time, the opportunity for the Government to put something in at that point. I do not think the Fine Gael amendment did precisely that, but it did open the door for it to be done and that party did ask for...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Some weeks ago I raised the issue of human rights in Colombia and the fact that negotiations were going on in that regard between the European Union and Colombia. We agreed to pass a motion supporting the stance on this taken by all the Irish MEPs. However, we neglected to pass that motion, No.18, through the House and therefore I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, namely, that...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: It demeans what we are doing politically. There will be another report on this matter very shortly. People are asking why we have not implemented this. They do not understand that when a Bill is passed by the Oireachtas without a commencement date, which happens time and again, nothing will happen until the Minister commences it. This Bill has not been commenced and children are...

Seanad: Free Trade Agreement with Colombia: Motion (3 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I move: That Seanad Éireann concurs with the view of all 12 Republic of Ireland MEP's in seeking that the EU suspend the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with Colombia until their Government respect Human and Trade Union Rights.

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (3 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share time with Senator Paddy Burke.

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (3 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: There has been a very healthy debate all afternoon. It touched on many issues and it was good to hear a consensus emerging on how we approach the problem. We have examined this matter for years. It was good to hear Ms Grainne Kenny recognised today. I dread to think of how many years it was since we sat down together at a committee meeting; it must be 25. She has stuck with it all those...

Seanad: Water and Roads Infrastructure: Motion (3 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share time with Senator Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Water and Roads Infrastructure: Motion (3 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: On these benches we tend to have problems with motions which begin by condemning the Government, and we equally have problems with amendments that begin by commending the Government. We must travel a steady line between the two positions. With regard to the motion before us, I do not feel strongly about condemning the Government but every other element of the motion is positive and must be...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The House should acknowledge the progress made by the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, on pharmaceutical products. It was a very important step. For many years both sides of the House raised the need to address the issue. However long it took her, despite the fact that it was a difficult group to deal with, the Minister achieved a result, although we are quick to...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The issue was then raised by Senator Ciaran Cannon who produced a document in the House on developing the green economy which had been signed by two Ministers, namely, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Mary Coughlan, and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan. A recommendation that there be a national water...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: What about the Government's policy?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.