Results 961-980 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: We should debate that issue at some other stage. This is not the correct way to start it, before we see the proposals. I do not believe that the masters of the hospitals said that the Minister misrepresented them. I did not hear them say that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: That is why need to see this in writing. Members on both sides of the House have agreed that we need a regulated system. I have criticised the Government more than most on this issue but we should look at the proposals first and then deal with them. I fully support Senator Brian Hayes's point and ask that the House would formally express to the Government our view that we should convey our...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Nothing gives a clearer reflection on how our society has deteriorated as much as the decision which will effectively rob widows of a mere €12 million.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: At a time when the Government will make the case that there are bureaucratic reasons for bringing us in line with the rest of Europe, I ask that we do not become involved in those issues in this House. I am simply asking that whatever the arrangements and the double payments, that the €12 million should be given back and then whatever needs to be done can be done.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: If the Cathaoirleach was allowed to have a view he would share my view. It is not about the structure or about the double payment, but about taking €12 million from people who can least afford it and it should be given back.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I accept your ruling, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Cathaoirleach and I appreciate his support and protection from the Senator. I ask the House to refer to the extraordinary, iconic vision of two bits of a wheelchair and a blob of blood on a Palestinian street as a recognition of how we have entered a new dimension of extra-judicial executions with targets now including political and religious leaders. It seems there is no end to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Things are fine until we get to Dublin.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I support the last point made by Senator Brian Hayes. The House should know that it was the arrangement for a number of years, agreed by the previous Minister, that in the event of the system not being able to cope with the demand for child psychological evaluation at primary level, a certain amount of funding was made available to schools to purchase services in the private sector. There was...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to seek a manual vote.

Seanad: Agency for the Irish Abroad: Motion. (24 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, to the House and thank the Labour Party for putting down this crucially important motion. Senator Dooley said that it must not be forgotten where this problem began. However, we must have absolute clarity in our recollections. These emigrants were people from every street, town and county on this island who went across to England under various...

Seanad: Agency for the Irish Abroad: Motion. (24 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Now 30 years later, those who worked on the Tube and buses and for local councils are surviving on their pensions. The Irish emigrants, such as those on the recent "Prime Time" programme, are the ones with no pensions, supports, prospects, homes or families. They were never given the opportunity in England. Instead, they were mistreated, abused and exploited right the way through. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: On a related topic, Members may be aware of the comments made by Mr. George Soros over the past 24 hours on his visit to Ireland. He dealt with two issues. One represented a road to Damascus conversion for Mr. Soros, in that he said the market has failed to deliver the social structures and supports needed in a fair and equitable society. His argument is worth considering. More important, Mr....

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I spoke at length on this issueon Second Stage when I indicated I wouldtable an amendment which I have subsequently withdrawn having discussed the matter with the Minister. I thank him and his advisers for their help in going through the issues with me. The issue at the time was that those who had left Aer Lingus since October but who had bought into the scheme and had agreed with the whole...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: It is understandable.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: That is what makes it great.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the clarification from the Minister of State. I am concerned with the outcome, although that has nothing to do with the legislation, and wish to pick up on some of the points made by the Minister of State. He said, quite correctly, that it would not be appropriate for the Department to make proposals on this matter to the trustees at this time. I agree fully with this as such...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I agree with Senator McDowell's interpretation of the section, which is paving the way for privatisation. I am absolutely delighted by the changed emphasis to slots over the past two months after an official said Heathrow Airport would do whatever it wanted with its slots, including giving them to airlines without necessarily being sold on. Suddenly the value of Aer Lingus goes up and down on...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The reason we have concerns about slots is that we remember what happened before. The Minister has dealt with slots previously. It is interesting that he referred to Aer Lingus flying to Heathrow. In 1989, following considerable investment in consultancy, planning, advertising and marketing Aer Lingus developed five to seven daily slots to Stansted, but the current Minister, who was then also...