Results 2,001-2,020 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Education Policy: Statements (22 Nov 2007)

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

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I support the Minister for Health and Children on the pharmacists matter. It has been raised twice on the Order of Business by Senators Doherty and Ross. While I understand and approve of what the Minister is attempting to achieve, I do not understand what the row is about. It would be helpful for a debate on the issue to clarify certain matters. The Irish Pharmaceutical Union is not...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I was seeking information.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The matter I wish to raise was mentioned yesterday by Senator Fitzgerald. We should be given an indication of the Government's legislative programme. At present, six Seanad Bills are before the Dáil but no legislation is coming to the Seanad from the Dáil. Can we have clarification on what is happening in the Dáil? This reflects badly on the House. Our programme of work over recent...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Will the Leader clarify——

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Perhaps the Taoiseach might be invited to the House to clarify his intentions. I listened to him last night——

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I note the Taoiseach indicated last night that he would be around until 2011 at least. That, coincidentally, is the same year as the next presidential election. Is it the intention of the Fianna Fáil leader to do as Mr. de Valera did——

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: ——and move from here to the Phoenix Park in one swift movement?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: It should be clarified. I am not being mischievous.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: It is just that Senator Norris and I have been wondering whether we should gear up our campaign for the presidency.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Mark Daly brought to my attention the fact that the Dublin Institute of Technology, the largest third level college in the country, does not have access to the Irish Research Electronic Library initiative, while the seven universities do. That is disgraceful. There is no case for excluding the DIT. It smacks of an elite cabal of senior educationalists keeping the institute out. It...

Seanad: Cancer Services: Statements (20 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Was Senator Leyden with them?

Seanad: Cancer Services: Statements (20 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Minister for taking questions. I have three questions to put to her, the first of which was raised by Senator Bacik who has been unavoidably detained. She would like clarification on the recruitment freeze. That issue was discussed by a number of our people and we would like to know the current position in that regard. It is having a clear impact and we believe we are being...

Seanad: Cancer Services: Statements (20 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: We could then place the blame where it should lie. Those are the three issues I want to raise. The last one is on key performance indicators, targets and objectives and whether they can be shared with us or outlined publicly to allow us to inquire about them. The second one is on the problems with the consultants' contract and the third concerns the recruitment freeze. Senator Norris has...

Seanad: Cancer Services: Statements (20 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: It is difficult to take an independent line in these debates. I welcome the Minister to the House and thank her for her generosity in making herself available, on which all sides can agree. I support what the Minister is doing in terms of centres of excellence and the cancer strategy, but I have many codicils. I have listened to oppositional politics for 20 years and Senator Feeney, in a...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The Leader should not start this, we have heard it 20 times before.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: We will sit on Christmas day just to clear it up.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Cassidy should not go there.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I raised last week the importance of having a debate on the report of the review body on higher remuneration. I raised that in the context of where stands accountability and responsibility. We could widen that debate. We need to know where we as a political society are heading. It seems that every time we decide to take away decisions from politicians, a short time later somebody wants to...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2007)

Joe O'Toole: ——and that they have been fed, welcomed, cheered and applauded in Westminster, in Dublin and in western Europe. We should take a stand against the horrific goings on in Saudi Arabia, beginning with this one.