Results 1,841-1,860 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole
- Seanad: University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: If my mother watches Oireachtas Report tonight and sees me in the Fine Gael benches it will give her a new lease of life. It will be her proudest moment. If I cannot be heard I am prepared to do that. Can I be heard clearly enough?
- Seanad: University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: Is the sound recorder happy enough? Yes. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire arÃst. Tá mé an-sásta tacú leis an Bhille seo. Ba mhaith liom dÃriú isteach ar rud amháin, is é sin, an pÃosa atá ráite ag an Aire mar gheall ar an infheistiú ar luach â¬1.2 billiún. Is cuimhin leis an Aire go raibh an-dÃospóireacht eadrainn cúpla mÃó shin nuair a foilsÃodh tuarascáil de chuid an OECD...
- Seanad: University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (14 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: On behalf of the House I thank the Minister and her officials for bringing the Bill to the House so quickly.
- Seanad: Care of the Elderly: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: With the permission of the House, I would like to give my last three minutes to Senator Norris.
- Seanad: Care of the Elderly: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I will take the first 15 minutes. I have noticed that Members have been able to negotiate additional time in the past few evenings.
- Seanad: Care of the Elderly: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have a problem when the Government tables a motion congratulating itself and equally when Members on the Opposition benches table a motion condemning the Government. The people in general have a problem with us because of this kind of scenario. I do not see why the Government needs to be congratulated for spending the money it has to spend, that...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: On that latter point, I am sure the Leader will be happy to confirm that the Seanad reform group is writing to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges of both Houses on that issue this week with the idea of moving it on. On the Iran issue, it is crucial that there is an international response to his comments for the second time in two months. We should be aware that, perhaps, unlike other...
- Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2005: Second Stage. (15 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House. I have failed to find the ubiquitous Fr. Healy during the week to explain to him one of the basics of negotiation â the day a person gets what he asks for is the day he should resign. For those of us who have dealt with Fr. Seán this is a moment to be treasured. Much as I love him dearly, he called it wrong this time. I have spoken many times about the...
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. (16 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: The story of the flag reminded me of a great moment we experienced in the House about 15 years ago, when the Cathaoirleach's illustrious predecessor from Ennis, former Senator Tras Honan, was in the Chair. Fianna Fáil had just sold the pass and blinked on the extradition issue. They were very sore at that, so my illustrious colleague, former Senator John A. Murphy and I started softly to...
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. (16 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: I also commend the efforts of Ms Deirdre Lane, Ms Jody Blake and all the team in the Seanad office, who are still under-resourced in terms of the work they have to do on our behalf. They are always there to point out flaws in the amendments we put forward and to guide us. Their work is of a highly-professional standard, a matter which, perhaps, we take for granted. Like everything done well,...
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. (16 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: We should reconsider the idea of having a topical hour at that time, so that people from all sides can say what they have to say in a structured and orderly fashion. We on the Independent benches want to extend warm wishes for the Christmas season to all the people I mentioned, to the Office of the Editor of Debates and to the people who look after the sound. The Oireachtas website, which...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Dec 2005)
Joe O'Toole: The issue of housing stock must be addressed. Some weeks ago I asked the Leader about this after the OECD issued another frightening report that our housing stock is overvalued by between 15% and 20%. My concern is that since 1998 at least 500,000 houses have been built with cavity blocks to a lower level of insulation than will be required by the European directive of 6 January 2006. When...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Jan 2006)
Joe O'Toole: I support the point made by Senator Brian Hayes on privilege. Perhaps many Members of the Houses do not understand the implications it has for them. It may well be, as was evident recently, that the only way to protect information is to put it on the record of the House. This was surely never the intention of the Constitution. I therefore believe we need to examine the issue of privilege and,...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Jan 2006)
Joe O'Toole: The trade unions are fighting to keep Senator Ross in his job.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Jan 2006)
Joe O'Toole: That is six months after the hearing.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2006)
Joe O'Toole: I do not wish to make life difficult for the Acting Leader, but there are substantial issues we need to examine in terms of how we deal with the Order of Business. I will take them in reverse order. No. 2 is an issue that has been discussed at some length in this House and on that basis we knew it would work. Therefore, it is correct that it should be commended without debate and sent to...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2006)
Joe O'Toole: It has been debated by that committee and I have spoken about the issue, but I am not aware it has been discussed by the committee recently. I do not object to it being discussed there. I have discussed the issue with our group members and I know Fine Gael has discussed it. I am not sure the Labour Party has discussed the issue, but I have spoken to people in Fianna Fáil on the matter. The...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2006)
Joe O'Toole: With the agreement of the House, could No. 1 be deferred until the committee considers it and the views of various groups. If the Acting Leader would prefer to do that he can respond in due course. I had looked forward to welcoming the three people on the Garda Ombudsman Commission. They are people of the highest ability and stature and their appointment was superb and creative. I agree with...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2006)
Joe O'Toole: I did not actually propose an amendment because I am waiting to see if the Acting Leader accepts my proposal. If he does not, we will have to vote against him.