Results 1,121-1,140 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State. I agree with the comments he and the relevant spokespersons made to the effect that the Bill is much improved. However, I would place it in the same category as the Sermon on the Mount or the principles of Christianity or those of socialism. It will be great if it gets the opportunity and is given the resources to allow it to work.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I have a major doubt that this will be the case. I cannot accept that there is anything revolutionary about section 13. If there is anything revolutionary in the Bill, it may be contained in section 9(7) which states that a principal shall make resources available. That is new but, unfortunately, its effect is immediately emasculated by section 13. The Minister of State was correct to...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I was always a sceptic but never a cynic. I am prepared to accept that I may be wrong about this.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: This comes down to resources. I mentioned the resources in terms of providing the specific set of additional support services outside the school. There may be requirements for the class teacher to provide additional types of assistance and support structures. In a situation where more demands are put on the child's class teacher, it is inevitable that attention will be diverted from other...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The service does not exist in some places and we should address the matter. There is another reason we should move it forward. An unintentional impression is created in the Bill that an educational psychologist carries out an assessment and is then off the scene. In most other European countries, for instance in the North and the rest of the UK, educational psychologists are also involved in...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I have more than one minute, because when Senator Fitzgerald was informed by the Chair that he had one minute remaining he continued for at least four minutes. He has eaten into my time.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I am aware that you are flexible, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, and will not take advantage of your good nature.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I think you started the clock when Senator Fitzgerald was supposed to finish, rather than when he did finish. That is the problem. There is not a great deal of difference between either side of the House on what is being sought in this legislation. The only difference that has emerged is on the question of resources. Senator Fitzgerald is confident they will be made available. Senator Ulick...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I want to see principals of small schools getting resources. The vast majority of principal teachers have full-time class responsibility. They are now being lumped with a significant additional workload on the basis of this legislation. I want that to be recognised through the allocation of the necessary additional resources for this purpose. The same applies to class teachers and schools in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I fully agree the topical issue of the day is the visit of the American President. We need to deal with it in a sensible way, which is not to spend too much time talking about the visit, because he is coming, but to lay out the agenda. Rather than focus this debate on whether we are insulting the American people and the American President, who is the elected President and who is coming here...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: And steel.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Perhaps they can buy them in the supermarket.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: It is the anniversary of the Senator's name and shame campaign.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: There has been much debate recently about the impact of e-mailing and texting on the ability of the next generation to communicate by letter. We should recognise the advances made by Fianna Fáil in proving in the Wexford area that the pen is mightier than the canvass and that it has restored the ancient art of letter writing to its rightful position.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: We will watch with interest to see how that will develop through the party. I will say no more about that because it is not my business. I do not object to No. 2 being taken without debate but on at least four occasions in the past two years I have raised the implications of the Abattoirs Act and the importance of certain aspects of it in terms of traceability of meat. When the joint...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: That is not the issue. It is not representations but decisions that count.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House. Having listened to his speech, I would have to say that this was not his finest hour. In fairness to Senator Ó Murchú, he is one of the more thoughtful contributors in this House, but his last contribution would hardly rank among his 250 best speeches to the House. It was a classic example that, despite the fact that Senator McHugh went out of his way to...