Results 1,661-1,680 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: That was sent by a concerned member of staff.

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I hope the consumer strategy group will look carefully at tonight's motion and amendments and at the issues we have discussed. The most amazing aspect is that the motion makes only passing reference to the groceries order while the Fine Gael amendment makes no mention of it.

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: It is exactly correct. If the consumer strategy group expects action from the current or the possible next Government, forget it. It is not going to happen. This is political dynamite and one may read from tonight's motion and amendment that neither of the two main parties wants to know anything about it. My friend and colleague, Senator Coghlan, has to represent a particular viewpoint. I...

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: He thought that this new body will have no teeth. Even if it had, he suddenly thought to himself, it might begin to interfere with the market. From the point of view of Senator Ross, the last action we want to take is interfere with the market. He backed off that and began discussing quangos, trade unions and the absence of action. That is exactly what will happen here. I tried to be fair...

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: The eradication of the groceries order would leave us placing our trust in these people. I agree with Senator Ross on the issue of the cartels which operate all over the industry. I invite anybody, on their next 100 mile trip outside Dublin, to ascertain for me the number of small towns in Ireland where retail fuel outlets have differing prices on their boards. This does not exist unless...

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: Can Senator Leyden explain what is positive about that? The Senator has made up his mind that he is in favour of it.

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I would not throw stones if I were Senator Leyden.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: All sides of the House would welcome a discussion on the risk equalisation proposal because it has been discussed here twice in the last week. Several Members have raised it time and again and it would be helpful to allow people go on the record on this. Many of us do not understand the Tánaiste's reasons for her decision and she has said that we have not fully understood her explanation....

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2005: First Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Official Languages Act 2003. I seek leave to introduce the Bill on the basis that we were invited to do so and the need to amend the Official Languages Act. It is something the House should have discussed and for that reason the Bill was printed and placed on the Order Paper.

Seanad: Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2005: First Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Seanad: Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2005: First Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: On Tuesday, 4 October 2005. I am an optimist.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2005)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Henry recently raised the question of the difficulties for non-EU qualified doctors of gaining recognition, acceptance and entrance to practice in this country. She particularly raised issues with regard to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. There is also the issue of how the Medical Council deals with this issue. It has been represented to me that the process is...

Seanad: Tributes to Head Usher of the Houses of the Oireachtas. (1 Jul 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I would like to associate the Senators on the Independent benches with the words which have been said by my colleagues about the retirement of Mr. Ray Hesse. I wish to express our gratitude to Ray for many years of diligent and polite service in these Houses. We have been impressed on many occasions by the even-handed manner in which he deals with people, regardless of whether they are mere...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (1 Jul 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to be associated with the words of thanks to the Cathaoirleach, to the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Acting Chairmen who have conducted the business of the House. I particularly extend thanks to the Leader and to Eamonn McCormack. It is important to recognise that we end this session with 11 Seanad Bills still sitting on the Dáil Order Paper. There has been quite a revolution in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I record my appreciation that the Leader has acted on her promise on the last day of the last session to hold a debate on child care and early childhood education. I am pleased to see such a debate on today's Order of Business. I agree with the points Senator Brian Hayes has just made about circumstances in the North of Ireland. The general thinking appears to be that we will have the...

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I, too, welcome the Minister of State to the House. I remind him that since the redrawing of the boundaries, I am now his constituent and expect to be listened to. I promise him that, as a graduate, I will look after his needs. There is a considerable amount of material associated with this subject. I sense that the Minister of State has been sent in to bat with a fine speech that says...

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I know. I guarantee that if we come back in several more months it will still be working for several more months.

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: It will work for several months after several more months have passed, that is the difficulty. At that stage we will surely be close to an election, at which time there will be room for all sorts of promises. I concur with the points made by Senator Fitzgerald. I would like him to be able to say, "I told you so, we did it," to Senator Ulick Burke in two years time.

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: Yes, but I do not believe Senator Ulick Burke is at all worried that will happen. That is the truth of the matter and we must bear it in mind. I have been considering the work of the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education, which has been mentioned. I have been considering what the Irish Childcare Policy Network has done and have examined the OECD report and the statements of the...