Results 1,781-1,800 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole
- Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements. (23 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: At the very least I am confused and at another level I am deeply suspicious. I recall when former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds came back from Edinburgh with the famous â¬8 billion in EU funding in the early 1990s. We all cheered and believed it was great â it was. Some years later I looked at where that â¬8 billion went. More than â¬6 billion, in one form or another, went through one Irish...
- Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements. (23 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I will conclude by painting a beautiful picture of an area in the Leas-Chathaoirleach's constituency.
- Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements. (23 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: If the people of Bellavary, outside Castlebar, which is a small community surrounded by land, decided to grow rape-seed, put up three or four wind generators and a solar panel on every house in the village and install a sewage treatment system, would they not be doing us a favour? They would be looking after themselves and raising awareness. They would be role models for the rest of the...
- Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements. (23 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I thank the Minister.
- Seanad: Iraq War: Motion. (23 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate my colleague, Senator Norris, for tabling this motion. I apologise for my absence from the House for almost all of this crucial debate. However, some issues should be put on the record and examined. I regret that the amendment was tabled, as it does not deal with the issues. The Government and the Minister of State's party has...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: It is important the House recognises and acknowledges the point raised by Senator Brian Hayes. It is the second issue of its kind in a week. A week ago Ryanair finally conceded that blind people travelling with carers on aeroplanes did not have to make any special arrangements and now the case yesterday has been won. I also note a matter with which I would ask the Leader to take issue....
- Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I am sorry. This has nothing to do with the Minister of State; this is a bigger issue.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I grew up in an environment where to me the essence of a great civil servant was one whose Minister did not know what his or her politics were. I am not referring to this case. I am a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, as is Senator Mansergh. The Senator will confirm that the commission regularly comes across situations where issues need to be explained to the parties and the...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I accept that, a Chathaoirligh. I promise I will put the question, not to you or to the House, but to the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, when I see him. The issue is that we protect the division between ourselves and the Legislature, as we regularly do in this House. There is also a division between ourselves and the Civil Service. The Civil Service has a job to do. It serves our needs...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, a Chathaoirligh, you made a ruling which I observed.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I did not speak about specifics.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: If one wants to discuss the incident, I absolutely disagree with the point that has just been made.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: But if we want to talk about the issue, that is an incorrect presentation.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: The Cathaoirleach will be aware that my colleague, Senator Norris, has tabled a motion to have the Order of Business extended to an hour. He will also be aware that we previously discussed having a topical hour at this stage. This is one of those times when so many things are happening that Members of the House need to have an opportunity to express themselves. We should look at this matter...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I will defend the farmers as well. From 1990 to 2000, I listened to people unfairly trying to convince Irish farmers that in some way we could avoid the world beet price. We all knew it was staring us in the face. Every year the rainforests of the Amazon are cleared to the extent of the acreage of Ireland. Two factories producing sugar in the Amazon will wipe out not just the Irish but the...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: The Government passed a law giving the church certain rights, which it is now abusing. That is why it is our business.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)
Joe O'Toole: It is true.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I wish to return to a point made by Senator Brian Hayes. The Minister of State has shown extraordinary abilityââ
- Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: Senator Brian Hayes raised an extremely important point, although I do not fully agree with him. I have grave reservations about the proposals to deal with individuals on-the-run who are wanted on criminal charges. I instinctively dislike the notion that individuals wanted on criminal charges might not be brought to justice in a democracy. How we deal with them afterwards is another issue but...