Results 1,021-1,040 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 29. (30 Apr 2004)

Joe O'Toole: While I regret the Cathaoirleach's decision I will, as always, accept it. I cannot recall where I was in my contribution on No. 1.

Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 29. (30 Apr 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I feel as if I have descended from Mount Vesuvius.

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Joe O'Toole: There is an interesting parallel between the issue of electronic voting and the issue before us. As regards the former, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, flushed with success, infused with second termism and with no room for doubt in his mind, convinced the Government, his party, backbenchers and members of Cabinet and both Houses that his approach was correct....

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Joe O'Toole: That is a view and that is how lawyers make their money. People have different views.

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I grew up in a house where there was a view that teachers should never become Ministers for Education, doctors should never be Ministers for Health and that lawyers should never be Ministers for Justice. The more I see, the more I agree with that view. Lawyers make very good Attorneys General and very poor Ministers.

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I want to make another point on that. I agreed with the Minister on the issue of a non-citizen. The Minister did not deal with the place of the family in the Constitution and he might do so in his response. We will now have different categories of people within the family. That was never contemplated by the Constitution. That is an issue which needs to be spelled out. There could be two...

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The group to whom I suggest we send this issue is the Human Rights Commission in order to get a clear view on it. I will oppose Second Stage of the Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I second the proposal. I was disappointed with the Chair's ruling last week that it was unnecessary to adjourn the House to discuss this issue, but I accepted the ruling. It is unfortunate that we did not have a debate. For that reason it is crucial we support Senator Brian Hayes's proposal that this debate be taken. It is a very serious matter. It is daft that we should enter a debate on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I want to know how that came to be the case. The Minister said the problems mentioned by the commission were brought to its attention by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: If that is the case, why were the problems not brought to the attention of the Houses, particularly the Seanad? There is something completely and utterly wrong about that. We need to discuss the matter. Most of us feel it should be considered. I do not know if we were misled by choice or inadvertently. Members on all sides could suggest better ways to use the €50 million that has been spent...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: It has lost one, kicked out another and another one is going to the House of Lords. I do not know where Fianna Fáil is going.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I do not know where the republican party is going now. Is it going to send a few more over to Westminster?

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I would like to know whether Dr. Conor Cruise O'Brien's problems with the Revenue Commissioners will cause a difficulty for the Labour Party.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: And Independents, no doubt.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of information, we are not members of the Opposition and are independent of all others.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: He is one of the leprechauns.

Seanad: Ombudsman's Report: Statements. (5 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I am glad to have the opportunity to discuss the first report of the new Ombudsman, Ms Emily O'Reilly, who does justice to her office in the report. I welcomed her appointment and, on reading the report, I believe that welcome was justified. I welcome also the clarity and openness of the report but perhaps the most positive reflection on the work of the Ombudsman is, strangely, the fact that...

Seanad: Family Law: Motion. (5 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: This debate is a landmark in the discussion on this issue. The positive input by the Minister to this motion, proposed and seconded by my colleagues, marks an important move forward. I ask the Minister and his Department officials to examine this in a challenging and open way, along the lines proposed by Senator Hayes. This is not a party issue. There is no political or party gain to be made...

Seanad: Family Law: Motion. (5 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: They are cohabiting.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I have no difficulty with the Order of Business. The Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill is a classic example of an instance where all Stages should be taken in one day. The legislation is more like a schedule to a Bill than an actual Bill. On the issue raised by the Leader of the Opposition, Senator Brian Hayes, I wish to indicate my great admiration for the retiring President of the...