Results 1,281-1,300 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Book of Estimates 2005: Statements. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share time with Senator Henry.

Seanad: Book of Estimates 2005: Statements. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I would be pleased if he would stay for the Private Members' debate but that environmental issue appears to have been grabbed by the Department of Transport. I believe the M3 should be the concern of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government rather than of the Minister for Transport but that is a...

Seanad: Book of Estimates 2005: Statements. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Does the Government need another term?

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I move: That Seanad Eireann, —while fully accepting the importance of developing an adequate roads infrastructure and ever mindful of the need to have a practical approach to planning matters, is appalled by the prospect of a motorway being constructed through archaeologically important sites near the Hill of Tara; —recognises that the current proposals are likely to destroy at least 25...

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I asked that representatives of the Government talk to the people in the area with whom I spoke.

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator is incorrect.

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I have spoken to the people in the area.

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Some of them were farmers, believe it or not.

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Precisely.

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: He is not being allowed to make the decision. The Minister for Transport has taken over.

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I thank Members most sincerely for their contributions. It is very important that this debate took place. I am deeply dissatisfied and it is not satisfactory that the Government tabled a 31-line amendment to the motion which makes no mention of Tara or its heritage. I am deeply unhappy with the contributions from the Government side of the House because they do not address the issue. What...

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Half my neighbours are from County Meath and those with whom I discussed this issue are all from the county. As a Kerryman, I have a fatal attraction towards Meath people because they wear the green and gold colours.

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: It is a typical Fianna Fáil trick to raise many matters with which Senators agree. While I agree with 90% of what was said by Government Members, the issues they raised were irrelevant and lacked focus. As regards Senator Morrissey's question, as the Minister of State will confirm, I answered it two weeks ago in the House when I pointed out the problems encountered at the point at which the...

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: There are no park and ride facilities on the M1, N2 or N3. We will know the Government has acted when we see these facilities. I share the concerns expressed regarding the Natterjack toad, the Kerry slug, bats in Ardrahan and so forth and I often visit the Broadmeadow Estuary to watch the swans, which are flourishing. Those are not, however, the issue before us, which is the Hill of Tara and...

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: As I look around the House, I see Senators who have taken brave decisions many times on development issues. I ask the House to make one more such decision.

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I understand Senator Dooley is an up and coming Senator with a major career ahead of him. I commend him on wanting to do a good job as a Fianna Fáil Senator, but he is wrong on this occasion.

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: While important, Senator Mansergh's statement that the NRA is the largest employer of archaeologists and the second largest planter of trees is irrelevant in the context of this debate. Senator Cummins recently asked me what was happening with regard to Woodstown, County Waterford, where a commitment has been given that certain archaeological finds would, to use the words of Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I agree that we need an early debate on decentralisation, which is a debacle. I put it to the Leader that the House was seriously misled on this issue. During our last discussion with the Minister, I asked him four times if he was certain this could be done in three years. I could see no way that it could be done in three years but felt there might be some way of making it work if there was a...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to correct the record.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I have consistently supported decentralisation and I requested a debate on it.