Results 1,681-1,700 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

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

Joe O'Toole: That seems very niggardly, if that is the best the Cathaoirleach can offer me. It may be a long minute. The experience of other countries should be studied. The NESF has conducted a survey of the literature available. There is nothing the high-level group can do that has not been done. The proposals made by the different groups should be considered. The proposals from the national quality...

Seanad: Garda Investigations: Motion. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, to the House. I wish to make a short contribution to this important debate, which offers Senators an opportunity to acknowledge again the importance of justice as a cornerstone of our democracy. It is important that the pillars of justice are seen to uphold what the Members of the Oireachtas stand for. We should take this opportunity to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the comments by the Taoiseach yesterday on behalf of the ferry workers. It raises an important point. Over the past seven or eight years, people in this House have discussed Members' involvement — or non-involvement — in the partnership process. This is a good example of why we need a partnership process. It would be useful to invite the Taoiseach or another member of the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: It is not redundancy at all.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials and thank them for the work they have done in drawing up this Bill. I am aware that the Government engaged in an intense process of consultation with the social partners on the legislation. Unlike my colleague, Senator Coghlan, I understand the reason such legislation takes a long time to produce. Nothing is easy and considerable compromise is...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (5 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: Those of us in the Independent group wish to be associated with the words of sympathy expressed on the death of Liam Burke. We are somewhat at a loss in that none of us served with him in this House. We met him over the years coming and going in the House and found him to be a warm and generous man. He was a very open man, easy to talk to, always ready to offer a view and to chat. As Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: In spring last year Senator Ross and I put down a motion in the House concerning auctioneers and auctioneering and the need for regulation. It was accepted by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Michael McDowell, who acted on it by setting up a review committee which has now reported. We have not seen the report yet but we are aware he will propose a regulatory system...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to make another request of the Leader that we discuss the Irish Ferries issue. I raised the matter yesterday and later in the afternoon I heard a remarkable statement from IBEC blaming the trade unions for the proposals from Irish Ferries management. That is a bit like blaming Strongbow for coming ashore in 1169 and causing the 30 years of struggle in Northern Ireland. I have also...

Seanad: Corrib Gas Field: Statements. (6 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: My greatest concern is the safety issue and the fact that the people of Mayo are getting nothing out of the gas find. The final point made by Senator Burke is crucial. The people of Belmullet, the town closest to the gas find, and also the other towns mentioned, should get access to the gas and get the value of it. Even if the safety audit finds the gas pipeline to be safe, it should be moved...

Seanad: Corrib Gas Field: Statements. (6 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: It is a system the House devised.

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (6 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State and associate myself with the words of congratulation and acknowledgement to all concerned, namely the Taoiseach, Senator Mansergh and others behind the scenes. It is an extraordinary achievement. Some people upbraid political parties for confronting Sinn Féin but it is healthy. It means that party is being welcomed into constitutional politics. They are part...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (6 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: That is what we need to try to do. Children are born in a Roman Catholic hospital, live in a Roman Catholic housing estate and go to a Roman Catholic school and, after being looked after in a Roman Catholic hospital are buried in a Roman Catholic graveyard. It is the same on the other side. Why can the children of this island not be educated together and follow a common curriculum in their...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: As a native of a small fishing village, I have a great deal of sympathy for the points made by Senator Brian Hayes and I congratulate Senator Dardis on the extraordinarily good work he does in the area in question. The Independent Senators have a motion on the Order Paper which deals with that issue but it might be more ecumenical and Catholic of us——

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: ——if we were to simply table a motion welcoming the policy statement and agreeing with the conclusions and proposals in Senator Dardis's paper. We could adopt an all-party approach to this matter. I ask the Leader to consider holding a discussion on Senator Dardis's policy paper on fishing with a view to the Seanad supporting it and taking a vote on that basis.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: To do so would show a proper cross-party and cross-grouping approach to a difficult issue. This is a matter about which the Government does not need to be told about our business. We can go ahead and do it. This is within the House and we should carry out our business and make the Government respect us. We should send a vote of thanks to the OECD for announcing yesterday that while life...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I apologise, the proposal to work until age 85 must be discussed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: As a contributor on this issue for many years, I have always been unhappy with the outcome of debates. However, I wish to request another debate. The difficulty with debates at OECD and European level is that the approach taken is broad brush or blunderbuss. In other words, if we have a problem here we should shoot over there. There is no finesse or attempt to get matters right. During the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: No, no.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: The Progressive Democrats.

Seanad: The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act: Motion. (11 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I thank Senator Henry for sharing time. I welcome the Minister and concur with the support expressed for him and the motion. It is important that we look at this issue in a way that can make a difference for young Irish people in the United States. It is most important that we say to those people on Capitol Hill who oppose this proposed legislation that every single economy in the world that...