Results 4,441-4,460 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Confidence in Government: Motion (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister and I look forward to the responses to the debate. I come at this from a slightly different perspective to that of my colleague, Senator Ross. It is important that he has tabled the motion and that we hold a discussion. I hope the debate will not be on the basis of interruptions and that people deal with the issues. I do not come at this on the basis of issues, but...

Seanad: Confidence in Government: Motion (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: However, there is no support. I watched him dealing with a live press conference one and a half weeks ago. He handled it with style and ability and he knew what he was doing. I listened to him on Newstalk at midday and on the "News at One". I saw him batting in the Dáil this morning. It was one thing after anther. I cannot see anyone better on the opposite side of the House.

Seanad: Confidence in Government: Motion (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The Government side is all over the place but it calls on us to have confidence in it. That is the issue. One need not agree, disagree or "Hear, hear" me. That is not the issue. This is about the uncertainty and lack of confidence that the Government side is infusing into the situation, but it calls on us to have confidence. I trust it will begin to get the message about the difficulties...

Seanad: Confidence in Government: Motion (8 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: That is the Taoiseach Fianna Fáil wants to get rid of.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I was delighted last night when Senator Boyle stated his party should press to have its legislation passed and that he regretted the fact that there would be no legislation on Seanad reform. It is an extraordinary jump from not being able to reform the Seanad to discussing its elimination. This point needs to be responded to by the Government. I am trying to be helpful, as the Green Party...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The Green Party has a clear opportunity to examine how the Seanad can prove helpful and be supportive of national initiatives and ensure the party's business is placed on the agenda and addressed. Although I have raised the next budgetary matter before, it is important that I have my comments recorded. The cut in the national minimum wage was not demanded by IBEC, the Competition Authority...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The Government probably did not give the matter enough thought. I will, therefore, offer a suggestion. Blind people and people with sight difficulties experience the added costs associated with maintaining a guide dog. Guide dogs are expensive to look after and feed. There are also veterinary costs. In addition to the support afforded to blind people and people with sight difficulties,...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Will the Deputy Leader manage it?

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Minister of State, draftspersons and advisers for responding so positively. As the Minister of State mentioned, I tabled an amendment to include the term "trade unions". Draftspersons are horrified by that term. They find it distasteful and have great difficulty using it.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I have needed to concede this point a number of times. They do not find the term "trade unions" amenable. On a more serious point, the staff unions were concerned about their apparent exclusion while everyone else seemed to have been remembered. Will the Minister of State convey this point? I am grateful for the positive response, which deals with my issue completely, but it is also...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I second amendment No. 2.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I second the amendment. We are just trying to avoid a race to the bottom. We want to ensure that what has happened in other places does not happen to the Irish postal service in the effort to undercut everybody. We want to ensure we get efficiency and quality as well as good value. We are talking about value for money here, but we do not want to see advertisements for half the rates the...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Like Senator Fitzgerald, it is not possible to accept an Order of Business providing for the taking of all Stages today of such important legislation. On the question of the bonuses for bankers, I have some experience on both sides of the table of dealing with this issue, negotiating for and against bonuses. I have chaired and served on remuneration committees. What we have heard during...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews. The two previous speakers could swap speeches in six months' time if they swap sides of the House. That is what we will see in the future. Everyone recognised these were difficult times for the Government and hard decisions would have to be taken. The Government has taken them. In fairness to it, the fact the focus of Opposition...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Deputy Kelleher, who will hardly be surprised to hear I will be opposing vehemently this legislation on the national minimum wage. There will be very little agreement from this side of the House. We will be explaining to him why it is absolutely disgraceful that those on the lowest pay rates should have...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: They will simply be sacked and replaced by people on the lower rate, for God's sake.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Why is the Senator doing it then?

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: That is a complete red herring.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister of State's reply had nothing to do with the minimum wage. What is worse is the argument being given to his parliamentary party members who are peddling that line and trying to create a connection between registered employment agreements, joint labour agreements and the minimum wage. I listened very carefully to the Minister of State but I could find no logical connection. I...