Results 1,941-1,960 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: However, I warn Senator Hayes that when I spoke at that time to a number of groups in London, one avid and enthusiastic young journalist took every possible occasion to oppose me. As he is now, 18 or 19 years later, Senator Hayes's constituency colleague and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, I hope his position has changed in the meantime. There is a significant...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I am listening.

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second and Subsequent Stages. (23 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Fáiltím roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá an reachtaíocht thar a bheith tábhachtach. Gan amhras, níl i gceist anseo ach botún a rinneamar b'fhéidir anuraidh nó dhá bhliain ó shin a cheartú. Níl sé sin ró-thábhachtach. Rud atá an-tábhachtach ná féachaint ar conas atá an feachtas seo ag dul ar aghaidh, agus an tábhacht a bhaineann leis sin. Níl rud ar bith níos tábhachtaí in...

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second and Subsequent Stages. (23 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: There is one simple answer — one sacks a teacher as one sacks anybody else. If teachers do not do their work they can be put out the door following due process. That is the end of that discussion. The Teaching Council will withdraw recognition, where required, in a proper and balanced way. I have not the slightest doubt that the members of the council will do their job professionally,...

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second and Subsequent Stages. (23 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It will bring the work of the Teaching Council to a halt. It has not created a problem to date, but it certainly will in the future. We need to give the council the freedom to show us how well it can do its job. If there are problems with its work, we can rein it in, but we should let it off for the time being. The people involved in the council have enthusiasm, energy, knowledge,...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (1 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: On behalf of the Independent Members I wish to be associated with the words of the Leader of the House and of Senator Brian Hayes. There is very little more to be said. I served with Larry McMahon for two terms in this House. I knew him for many years prior to that because he was part of the old County Dublin constituency. Although Councillor McMahon was based in Boharnabreena which is the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I also would like a debate on last Saturday's disturbances. I hesitate to ask for it because it would simply consist of asking how many gardaí were there, what was the intelligence beforehand, and whether the Minister should take responsibility. The issue is simple. It is absolutely frightening that a large number of people in this country believe that the march should not have been allowed...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The situation in the Marino Institute of Education was raised on a number of occasions during the past year. The House should be aware of the fact that recently a supposedly independent report was commissioned and paid for by the trustees and board of the institute, which amazingly found them to have acted absolutely correctly all the way through, which surprised all of us. The reality is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: That is not true.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I propose to share time equally with Senator Quinn.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus tááthas orm gur thosaigh sé an Bhille seo sa Teach seo. Tá sin déanta go minic aige. Is maith an rud é fosta gur thóg sé deis Gaeilge a úsáid i rith na díospóireachta. Tá sin tábhachtach. Tá an reachtaíocht seo casta, tábhachtach agus cuimsitheach — níl sé léite agam. Rinne mé iarracht féachaint fríd an rud ach bhí sé i bhfad...

Seanad: Public Order Offences: Statements. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I am pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to the debate and I appreciate the Minister's presence here. I disagree with many of the comments that have been made. I was disillusioned that within one hour of the events that took place last week we were either blaming the Garda or calling for the resignation of the Minister. That demeans politics. I would make one plea — the Minister...

Seanad: Public Order Offences: Statements. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: ——Cardinal John Henry Newman said the first quality of an educated person is tolerance.

Seanad: Public Order Offences: Statements. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Where is this tolerance? We have failed as politicians to inculcate an acceptance of diversity and difference in our community. There is no longer any space for difference. I would like to have an understanding of this deficiency because we could then solve the other problems. We can remove all the stones from O'Connell Street but that will not deter those who wish to riot. To mention another...

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House. I know the Bill has been discussed at length inside and outside the Houses and everywhere else. I accept the changes made in the Dáil are an attempt to move in a particular direction. I put my hands up and state I come from a biased position. I remember in the nights of my youth watching families of fishermen stand along the quay wall in Dingle wondering...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: My point is related and similar to that made by Senator Brian Hayes on the eruption or great expansion in the use of cocaine in the better-off areas of Dublin and, consequently, in other parts of the country. We should discuss this problem, and I have asked that we do so on previous occasions. Others share the Senator's views on it. Although we may not be able to circulate our message to all...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Over the past number of weeks, and right back to the inquiry into the Garda in Donegal, the force has been to the forefront of many comments made here and in other places. We saw this again two weeks ago in O'Connell Street. The reality is that when push comes to shove gardaí are the people standing there on our behalf. I would be the first to criticise behaviour which I do not accept, and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: On a number of occasions over the past fortnight Senator Ormonde and I have sought a debate on the Marino Institute of Education. The Leader of the House kindly indicated that she will be prepared to organise it. It is an interesting issue and it is probably just as well we have not yet had the debate because each day brings more disclosures. Over the past week we heard that the consultants...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: In that case, I would request that this be done. This House is good at this kind of consolidation. I would like to have the Bill printed and sent to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. If the Department wishes to propose an alternative, let us see it done. Let us act quickly and be seen to respond when the matter is topical in order to allow people to see we care and know what...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I am very pleased with that. We have one more to go and that will be next week.