Results 621-640 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I accept that point.

Seanad: Death of Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy. (7 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: None of the Independent Senators has had the pleasure of working with or being a colleague of the late Senator and Deputy, Bernard Markey, but we would like to join in the expressions of sympathy to his family and recognise his years of commitment to public life and his work as a public representative for Louth, the broader constituency he represented in this House and his home town.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: In echoing Senator Brian Hayes's comments about the actions of members of the Garda Síochána yesterday, we should remember that such actions have a long tradition in the force. As a young Garda sergeant, the current Garda Commissioner also faced down an armed gunman for which he received the Scott Medal. I referred to this matter on the day of Commissioner Conroy's appointment. The public...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: A telephone box sized party called the independent Progressive Democrats has also emerged recently. There is utter confusion in the House and among the public. It would be worthwhile if we sorted out the matter among ourselves to find out exactly where people stand.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: The Leader is correct that somebody needs to shape up and questions need to be answered. I would like to hear answers to the questions raised by the spokesman for the Fine Gael Party, Senator Brian Hayes. I also have others, for example, will the two Luas lines ever meet and, if so, how will they be linked? What will happen at the Red Cow roundabout? What will happen with the connection to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: My reference was to those in Government.

Seanad: Order of Business: Motion. - Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements. (7 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: The manner in which this issue has reared up and become so difficult is unfortunate. When we passed legislation some years ago, I recall that there was unanimity in the House, as there should be when approaching this issue. It is unfortunate that this is no longer the case. The Government may fire shots back across the floor at the Opposition, but I do not believe the Opposition can be blamed...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I support the proposal for a debate on transport. I raised the matter yesterday and I would like to gently remind the Leader that she did not say whether she is happy to have such a debate with the Minister for Transport. Regardless of the points that were made, which were not tongue in cheek, it is a serious issue. I would like to mention the plight of the families in north Mayo that were...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I would like the Minister to come to the House to explain what he will do for the families in north Mayo. I have raised issues pertaining to rural Ireland time and time again. Senator MacSharry raised the issue of An Taisce on the Order of Business yesterday and Senator McDowell responded by asking what An Taisce is about. We need to examine this issue. Nobody favours the sale of sites for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Some people in An Taisce are completely deluded and misinformed, however. This matter needs to be examined and dealt with in a balanced way. Similarly, I mentioned the rail line between Sligo and Rosslare yesterday. I did not know at the time of the accident near Cahir. Despite the half-assurances provided by the Minister in the other House yesterday evening, I am terrified that the accident...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I would like an absolute assurance that there is no danger of the closure of the line. I am sure that public representatives from the constituencies in question will ensure that the matter is examined. I would like a debate on the Government's policy in respect of the development of rural Ireland. The Minister's positive statement on decentralisation stated that towns that will benefit from...

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: This motion emanates from the same genre of political imagination that gave us the proposal to compensate Eircom shareholders and taxi drivers.

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: The idea behind the motion will die a death. (Interruptions).

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his protection. Listening to the case in favour of the motion, I wished the proposers and those in the Fine Gael Party who dreamed it up had gone to the trouble of making a few telephone calls because it is based on false information and a complete lack of understanding of the benchmarking process. The consultants who produced the report sat down with every...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I congratulate Fine Gael on its major victory last night in getting access to material which was publicly and freely available anyway.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: That should be acknowledged. I have raised the issue of rail transport in recent days. The Shannon Airport group has produced a new survey on the viability of what I refer to as the Sligo-Galway-Limerick line and what the group calls the Ennis-Limerick line. The Seanad discussed this issue previously in the context of the viability of the airport because both subjects are inter-linked. If...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Sorry, Mr. Kelly.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Keep the money coming and Fine Gael can claim all the victories it wants.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Jumped up Trotskyites is not a fair description of many people. While I pay my bin charges, I also support the right to protest. We need to reach a balance in this regard. (Interruptions).