Results 401-420 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: While I was pleased to hear about East Timor and was glad to note the Minister of State visited the region, that is not what is at issue in this debate. I wish to counter some of the assumptions made about Members on these benches. I am not, nor have I been, a pacifist. I believe in taking appropriate action to deal with matters. I would have preferred if the United Nations had passed a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I notice the Order Paper now has a fancy cover. This is a disposable document, something that we throw in the bin at the end of the day. The new cover is lovely and it looks well, but it seems to be a huge waste.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: It may save money in printing costs perhaps, but the cover is made of at least 100 gram paper and that means many more trees have to be cut down. The management of waste is important to Members on both sides of the House. If it is the case that, because the tax laws regarding such matters as VAT are so convoluted, irrational and illogical, we can save on VAT by wasting more paper and killing...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: We must be modern and progressive.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: In the PPF there was also a condition that economic growth would be of the order of 5.5% on average. There was a row over whether it had to be 5.5% per year or 5.5% on average. I argued it was 5.5% on average while he argued it was 5.5% per year. The nature of these things is such that one learns to change the words the next time around. On the question of priority there was a concession on...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I have not tabled a recommendation on the following point but I would like to hear the Minister's views on it. In the context of the various credits available to people in this section and in the wider way through SSIAs etc. a common issue is that of housing. I would like the Minister's view on my next point – I want only a personal view I do not expect him to give a detailed one at this...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: There is a real issue in regard to housing and I support what Senators McDowell and Higgins and the Minister have said. The market was managed. It drives me mad when I hear about housing being released to young couples looking to put a roof over their heads. Something is happening here. Over 50,000 houses and apartments are being built each year, a figure higher that is than the birth rate....

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: There is not a free market in housing. The problem is that there are controls.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: The problem is that the supply is regulated.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: On an issue of procedure, we debated the Finance Bill yesterday afternoon during which the Minister for Finance was open to taking questions and dealing with issues as they arose. Senators Higgins, McDowell and I were of the view that it was a very useful way of doing business. I ask the Leader to consider introducing a type of Question Time in this House. Yesterday's debate provided a good...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: There is an easy way for them to protect themselves. All they need do is come into the House, outline and they will be completely covered. They have chosen to take a stand on principle which we all admire and support. The Government should take a closer interest in the matter.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I also welcome this legislation and the reference by Senator Hanafin to last year's European debate, when Mr. Anthony Coughlan snowed us under with information about how we would have to deal either with a "flood" of people from eastern Europe or else keep those people out. That fuelled an unnecessary and dangerous racist-based debate in this country and debased the whole European debate. One...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I concur with Senator Brian Hayes's comments in support of what my colleague, Senator Norris, has been saying for the last two weeks: we must have a continuing debate on the conflict in Iraq. There is an appalling picture in today's world newspapers showing the reburial of 600 of the 10,000 victims of the massacre in Srebrenica. It is only eight years since it happened but it is outstanding...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I compliment the Irish media as being quite superb. RTE and The Irish Times have been particularly outstanding in their unbiased commentary. We need a fair view and it would be very useful if European politicians, including ourselves, decided to go on a delegation to Iraq to see what is happening there.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2003)

Joe O'Toole: We could report on what we see happening there and tell the truth as we see it, whether we agree or disagree. There are Irish doctors, nurses and religious there and there are Irish troops in that area. There are all sorts of people there and I do not see why we should not be prepared to take a stand, if only to state what we see. We are not getting the truth in the news and it is impossible...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2003)

Joe O'Toole: The Small Firms Association blamed the workers.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Yes.

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq: Statements. - Regulatory Reform: Motion. (2 Apr 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I am glad to have the opportunity of responding to this debate. First, I welcome the Tánaiste and congratulate her on the work she has been doing for the consumer in this area. It has been progressive and positive in many ways and I have been very happy to co-operate and support it in as many ways as I possibly can. The initiatives that have been taken are having an effect, albeit far too...

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq: Statements. - Regulatory Reform: Motion. (2 Apr 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I passed through a town today where I counted seven large service fuel stations and not one of them offered a price that was 0.1 cent different from any of the others. I passed through the next town, ten miles away, to find there was a broad difference of ten cent between the cheapest and the dearest. It is very easy to see that seven outlets do not suddenly come on the same figure of 89.9...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Apr 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Opposition Senators tabled an amendment on Report Stage of the Bill to which Senator Hayes refers seeking a commencement date for that appointment. The then Minister of State responsible, Deputy Hanafin, gave us an absolute assurance that there was no need to do so because the post would be operational as soon as practicable after the Bill was passed. On that basis, this side of the House...