Results 4,241-4,260 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Environmental Protection: Motion (23 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: He does not. He and I have sought the information many times.

Seanad: Environmental Protection: Motion (23 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: There are an enormous number of elements involved and certain actions need to be taken. I compliment the Green Party on much of what it has done in government. Like Senator Coffey, I will give credit where it is due. However, certain matters need to be faced. We need to move forward. The Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security is frustrated because the Government is not...

Seanad: Environmental Protection: Motion (23 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I listened to them. I vote on the basis of the wording of a motion. The Government is making a tactical mistake. It should have welcomed the support of the Labour Party and asked it to join with the Green Party.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Coffey raised the attack by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security. I do not have a problem with the Minister having a go at a committee if he wishes to do so. However, what he said was, in all fairness, completely wrong. The Minister said: ...the Oireachtas committee...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: This is causing extraordinary difficulty for some members of Irish society. We should be proud enough to stand up and endorse our own republic, show ourselves to be grown up, stand toe to toe with our neighbours and invite the monarch of a neighbouring state to come visit us as a neighbour and simply say "we are proud of what we are and we respect what you are".

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: It is time we had that debate to allow people to come out and say what it is they have to say. We in County Kerry have profited from royal visits in the past, as I have no doubt Senator Coghlan will explain to us.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: To the Kingdom.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: This has been the most difficult year imaginable for the economy. As Senator Fitzgerald said, families have never found it more difficult to survive and to fight their way through the recession. I am quite appalled by the EUROSTAT food price survey which was released yesterday. It found that at a time when Irish farmers are getting 20 cent a litre for their milk, the lowest price for 40...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: It is time we had a close look at this. I know the Leader sat on a committee which dealt with the whole question of price control and issues such as the groceries order. I do not wish us back in a command economy but if price control is the only way we can get fairness into ordinary trading of food products for ordinary families who are being hit from every side, then it is time we...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2009: Second Stage (29 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I compliment the Minister and his staff on the reduction in the number of road traffic deaths over the last couple of years. It really is a great credit to the Department and to all the other agencies involved. I must declare an interest as I am the vice chairperson of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. The board is issuing its annual report today and it takes a keen interest in...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2009: Second Stage (29 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I will take up some of the points raised in the last contribution. I introduced an amendment in this House to the Road Traffic Bill 1995 to give local authorities and the Minister power to introduce a minimum speed limit. It had an interesting history. It was Fianna Fáil legislation. Fine Gael was in Opposition, and Fine Gael supported me in my amendment. The Government then fell and...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Will the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill then be taken at 3 p.m.?

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: On the point raised by the Leader and my colleague, Senator Norris, during the earlier contretemps, had the House been sitting two weeks ago at least Members would not have had these problems.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: While I am aware of all the external pressures, the Leader will note it was my view at that time that Members should sit and I changed my own arrangements three times to accommodate this. This is the reality in respect of where we are going.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: It is not the issue of the single Bill on today's Order of Business but the fact that over the next two or three weeks, Members face great congestion. I note the Leader shares this view but still it does not make life easier for Members who are trying to organise themselves to deal with the business.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: As for the question of where we are going, Members need to have time in which to tease out matters. This really is the issue and the congested nature of the next ten days will make it highly difficult to do business. On the issue raised by Senator Coffey, I welcome the Government's decision to extend the Luas project and to connect the Luas lines and the entire inner city.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: It is of great importance to take on those people who would wish to push us back into the dark ages. If one considers the points expressed by the United States at the G20 and G8 meetings over the weekend on the importance of maintaining confidence in building and investment projects, this proposal is good in all sorts of ways. Socially, it is highly attractive for the people of Ireland and...

Seanad: Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion (30 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: It is not a change to Standing Orders.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I supported the Bill on Second Stage, not because I am in favour of a charge for prescriptions but because when the an bord snip nua report was published, I was appalled at the figure of €5 proposed. The position taken by the Minister in the legislation is not unreasonable from that point of view and is a major improvement following the shock we got at that stage. I take on board the...