Results 4,421-4,440 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: These are important amendments. I seek clarification on certain issues. My understanding is that this amendment deals with the issue I attempted to deal with in amendment No.41. In other words, the decision of the commission would stand rather than stand suspended. In that case I take the view that the provisions of amendment No. 41 have been met by the Minister, which I appreciate. My...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I am happy the Minister will get back to the Attorney General's office on this matter. However, I caution him that attorneys make work for other attorneys. I hope the Minister will listen to his advice and then make his decision. Unless the Minister is convinced that this provision is necessary, will he take it out of the legislation?

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I move amendment No. 44: In page 41, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: "(c) Where there is a dispute in relation to a levy drawn up by the Commission either party will be referred to binding arbitration.".". This amendment proposes an appeal against a levy can go to binding arbitration. This will tidy up what I consider a loose end.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I spoke on this amendment earlier. My point is that, rather than running to the courts about everything, binding arbitration would allow matters to be sorted out pretty quickly. I am raising this suggestion, as I have done in a number of other instances, although the Minister was not amenable to it earlier. Amendment No. 44 states that "Where there is a dispute in relation to a levy drawn...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I would like the Minister to respond to it.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I support both amendments, as well as the contents of both sections, but I wish to raise one question. The United States has a clear law that anybody who uses the mail in pursuance of any crime is guilty of a crime. These two sections are trying to do that but are also trying to anticipate the actual actions. Has the Minister considered putting in place a provision making it illegal for...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I accept what the Minister has said but, nonetheless, there is a wider issue in sections 47 and 48 and it is in that context that I am raising this matter. I do not require the Minister to reply, but I am happy that he has said he will examine the matter from that point of view.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I am pleased Senator Fitzgerald has raised the issue of education. It was also raised yesterday by Senator Cummins. I would like to provide a simple explanation for what has happened. On the last occasion the test was carried out in Irish schools there were particular levels of resources in respect of the provision of special schools and classes, in which children with special needs were...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: -----and it is going to get worse. Teaching and teachers have not changed. However, the outcomes are different for this reason. We provide community-type education, of which everyone is in favour, where all children are educated together in the same classrooms, regardless of whether they have special needs, are of another nationality, from Traveller groups and so on. Previously such...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Fianna Fáil has tripped him many times, for God's sake.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: How many were in the class?

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Reform.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: In light of current whisperings from the Cabinet table, do we need to deal with this amendment at this time? Is it superfluous? There is a strong view that Senators will not need to take advantage of free post anymore. Should we go through with the amendment? This facility is provided via registered post and it was put in place in 1937. Communications are required under the Act to be sent...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I recall it well. The Minister made life very difficult for me.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: It has always been registered post and I assumed it was because of a legislative requirement.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: We can offer savings.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I do not have a problem with the amendment, but will the Minister give an indication of the timescale involved in the production of postcodes? How close are we to having them? Will they be based on co-ordinates or random numbering? What system does the Minister favour? I accept that this is not his final decision; therefore, I do not intend to challenge him later if something different is...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to remind the Minister about the issue to which he said he would return on Report Stage, the cost of the universal service, how it might be related to people bidding for sections of it and in what way the various costs might be taken into consideration. We talked about the various items that could be taken into consideration when determining the access charges and the Minister said he...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: That is much appreciated.