Results 1,981-2,000 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share my time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I am firmly committed to an upper house. At present the Seanad is unrepresentative, undemocratic, anachronistic and unfair in the way it is put together. The point raised by Senator Alex White is right in that a university electorate is elitist, a cadre, exclusive and unacceptable in a democracy. However, it is not the only thing which is unacceptable. The only reason I am on the...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: However, we must ask why there is a university panel. If we worked on the basis of one person, one vote I would not have a difficulty with maintaining the university panel. In other words, if we elected people by direct vote and if 10% of Members were elected by university graduates — although I have no doubt a lot more than 10% of the population would be graduates — I would not have a...

Seanad: Realising Equality and the Traveller Community: Statements (28 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I thank Senator Norris for sharing his time with me. I have been involved in this issue for many years. One of my assentors for my very first election campaign was Nan Joyce, a spokesperson at the time for the Traveller movement. There is a need to ensure we take the proper approach on the Traveller issue. I listened carefully to the Minister of State's speech but did not think it as...

Seanad: Realising Equality and the Traveller Community: Statements (28 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Incidents arose in Galway some years ago, and Tipperary and Wexford in more recent times, whereby unacceptable comments were made about Travellers. The idea of an ombudsman to deal with issues pertaining to the Traveller community is useful and sensible. However, having been a supporter of Travellers' rights for as long as I can recall and having fought to ensure they received education and...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Last week and the week before I suggested a debate on legislation that established the HSE, the Health Act 2004. This would allow an informed debate on the different roles of people. It is crucifying to hear views in the public debate and the Dáil debate as if people never read or debated the legislation previously. Perhaps it is the trade unionist in me but I tend to react strongly when I...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I believe in holding the Minister to account and disagree fundamentally with many of her views. I will continue to debate them. There must be proper due process and a clear understanding of accountability so that when there is a change of Government, the next Minister with responsibility for health, if he or she comes from this side of the House, will not have to put up with the same...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator will have that sorted by next week.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: They never asked me.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Education Policy: Statements (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share my last five minutes with Senator Norris. I expect to receive any tolerance the Acting Chairman intends to give before we go over to Senator Norris.

Seanad: Education Policy: Statements (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House. Fáiltím roimh an Aire. Ba mhaith liom dhá rud a rá leis roimh a thosaím. What is the best way to contact the Minister's Department to track, for example, a building project? There seems to be some confusion as to whether we should ring the Minister's office or the relevant section. Those in the section send the query to the Minister's office, and...

Seanad: Education Policy: Statements (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I will do so.

Seanad: Education Policy: Statements (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I wrote a letter to the Minister this week with a PS which contains a tongue-in-cheek story of a recent experience. By the way, I must point out that the Minister's officials are always helpful and pleasant to deal with. This is not a personal criticism as the fault is in the system. Ba mhaith liom a rá chomh maith go raibh rud ar an gclár inné that was mentioned by Senators Norris and...

Seanad: Education Policy: Statements (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I tried to do it in other lives but I could not convince my own side, never mind Senator O'Sullivan's side. An rud atá i gceist agam ná seo. An exercise I have tried with people on many occasions is to look at education in terms of serving the community and at the kind of community we now want. If one takes a group of people and asks them what qualities they want to see in the next...

Seanad: Education Policy: Statements (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: ——and if one does the same in the case of trade union leaders, business leaders, etc., they tend to come out with the same list. There are attributes such as creativity, risk taking, articulation, leadership, tolerance, mercy and others which one cannot measure and for which one cannot get points in the leaving certificate or in any examination. How does one deal with that? We should...

Seanad: Education Policy: Statements (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Education Policy: Statements (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: When will the Minister commence the sections of the Education for People with Special Educational Needs Act?

Seanad: Education Policy: Statements (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: No.