Results 781-800 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Immigration Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Jan 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I have worked in this area for 20 years and the Minister of State's colleagues will tell him this too.

Seanad: Immigration Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Jan 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Does this not apply to every autistic person?

Seanad: Immigration Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Jan 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister of State is avoiding the question. This issue is as clear as day; let us go through the different categories.

Seanad: Immigration Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Jan 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister of State can talk until midnight but it will not change it.

Seanad: Immigration Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Jan 2004)

Joe O'Toole: It is just another unanswered question.

Seanad: Immigration Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Jan 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The Department was busy in the meantime.

Seanad: Immigration Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Jan 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The Government Members can have the whole lot to themselves, as far as I am concerned.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Last week, there was a perfect example of how badly the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform does its business and tries to interfere with the running of this House.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: It is worthwhile that we should keep an eye on how it does its business. Members from all sides of the House — the wisdom is not just on this side — have raised on several occasions in recent weeks the issue of the huge level of crime. I have just checked the situation. Is the House aware that there have been 200 early releases from our prisons in the first two weeks of last month and of...

Seanad: Third Interim Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House. I refuse to make any political point on this issue and we should all move away from making such points. There is no point trying to blame those currently in authority. I do not believe anybody in Government is trying to cover up anything in this regard, although they might not have handled it as well as I would like. I would like a more pragmatic approach...

Seanad: Israel-Palestine: Motion. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I would like to share two minutes of my time with Senator Henry.

Seanad: Israel-Palestine: Motion. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: To reiterate what previous speakers have said, it is crucially important that we recognise the effort, diplomatic and otherwise, Senator Norris has put into this motion. The motion, which is to become a resolution, praises the Government for its balanced policy. I have no difficulty in supporting it. I have always felt proud of the foreign policy position of successive Governments on the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I support Senator Hayes regarding my constituent, John Hume. We take a broader view from these benches.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I can assure Senator Ross he has been an NUI voter for many years. I also support what Senator Hayes said about his absolute courage at all times. I remember meeting him here in 1988-89 during the talks with Gerry Adams, which had begun at that stage. I asked him if he was very busy meeting many people and he said none of the party leaders, including those of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael or...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister said we had the best water in Europe.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Voting Labour.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I am delighted to have this opportunity to contribute to this debate. I have given serious consideration to supporting the Government motion, but I have a personal rule about Private Members' motions which congratulate the Government — they are impossible to support. The Government's approach gives the fingers to the other side of the House. I always appeal to Governments not to propose...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Such an argument sounds better from those who do not intend to stay here. I may not have reflected exactly the points made by Senator Ormonde, but I am pointing out what comes across to me when I hear such speeches. The Dublin-centric view of society holds that we should make space for those of us who have a right to be here. It is a difficult issue. We could be doing many things that we are...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: ——I think it would be a splendid country residence for the President.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The castle was built many years ago by Ulick de Burgo.