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

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (16 Apr 2003)

Joe O'Toole: We were just being made fools of. People should remember that limited liability was granted by society to the business community on the basis of trust and confidence that people would not lose out. If people cannot comply with that, then, quite rightly, they should not trade under limited liability.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: In the first week of February I raised the importance of having a debate on the health service and at least one of the reports on the service which were then due to arrive. There are now three full reports sitting on someone's desk or locked in someone's drawer. They have not been seen, apart from the selective leaks to the media. At the time I asked that the House look at and respond to one...

Seanad: Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption: Motion. (7 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I appreciate the opportunity to share Senator Mansergh's time. I will not take up the time of the House. I record my total support for the Government's position. We have seen the Government climb down in the face of pressure groups, particularly in the building trade, and I do not blame it for this. It was overwhelmed by the building lobby and, appallingly, had to pull back on the question of...

Seanad: Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption: Motion. (7 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Somebody should explain to Government that imagery is important. It could have sent an extraordinarily strong message by supporting the Labour Party tonight. All-party consensus on a hugely important issue would have been demonstrated. Speaking as a former spokesman, I do not object to people smoking but this measure has to be put in place in relation to public places. I support fully the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: It is worth noting the point made by Senator Brian Hayes but it is also worth noting that both Houses of the Oireachtas legislated in recent times to make it legal to discriminate on the grounds of religion in every primary school and institute of education. We should not stop at the scouts. We are now paying the price of the so-called equal status legislation which has introduced...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Luckily nobody can take Fungi from us in Dingle.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator is embarrassing Senator Ross.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Some of us start on Monday morning. (Interruptions).

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: The Seanad can finish in three days—

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I want to bring the attention of the House to the fact that we have successfully raised and pressurised the appropriate authorities on the question of Kilbeggan racecourse. I am glad we have forced those people to change their minds. I thank the Leader for her support on that issue which will be well recognised as an important move forward.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: We are on a roll here between Connacht rugby and the Kilbeggan racecourse. We will be the saviours of the west. We have referred on a number of occasions to the Taoiseach's continuing commitment to making some decision about the ability of the State to take ownership of land and to define the use of land which, some would say, requires a constitutional amendment and others say does not. The...

Seanad: Health Service: Statements. (13 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I am glad the Minister is finally getting support from his party.

Seanad: Health Service: Statements. (13 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: This debate is obviously taking the same route as the recent one on agriculture, like every debate on these subjects that I have listened to during the past 16 years in the House. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, to the House as it is the first time that he has been in the "hot seat" when I have been contributing. I must tell the Minister of State, however, that nothing...

Seanad: Health Service: Statements. (13 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: As regards moving the deckchairs within the current Government, however, I want to say, "No". There is a caring, responsible and committed Minister in office, although he has made mistakes upon which we should focus.

Seanad: Redundancy Payments Bill 2003: Second Stage. (14 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: When I addressed a large demonstration outside Buswell's Hotel last November in support of the Irish Glass Bottle workers, redundancy was a huge issue. I gave a commitment at the meeting, on behalf of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, to make redundancy a key issue during any new negotiations. In welcoming the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the House this afternoon, I did...

Seanad: Redundancy Payments Bill 2003: Second Stage. (14 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: No. As I said here last night, I am prepared to go on the record as honestly as I can in relation to issues. That is the position. As I said to the Tánaiste, if this was Boston, we could do with a little more of it. If we can double or quadruple payments to workers at any stage, I am prepared to consider this whether it comes from Boston, Berlin, Brussels or otherwise. I have been a constant...

Seanad: Redundancy Payments Bill 2003: Second Stage. (14 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I am sure the Senator will put this in another context when he gets the opportunity, and will be quite right to do so. There is a huge imperative to get this legislation through the House as quickly as possible, to which I realise Members have today committed. This is a confidence boosting measure in regard to Sustaining Progress. It is the first legislative measure to come from it and there...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I support fully the points made by Senator Brian Hayes. I speak as one who did not support the abolition of third level fees because I did not believe it was the best way of dealing with the money. However, once it was done, people changed their arrangements and cashed in education policies, new expectations were created and people had new dependencies. It would be outrageous to pull the rug...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: They will have to walk into a travel agent's office.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 May 2003)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator should surely get the European nomination.