Results 2,201-2,220 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: There are two community hospitals, one in Dingle and one in Kenmare, which are on the books and have been promised, talked about, proposed, dealt with, built and built again. Where do we stand on the issue? I would like to be able to talk to somebody about what exactly is happening there. They are also taking over half of another hospital in Killarney, St. Finan's.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: That is part of it. What happened to the ferry services between Dingle, Portmagee and Valentia or the Dingle walkway? Dingle is just one example, but we could discuss Offaly or elsewhere in the same way. We should examine and have a discussion on regions.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Recently, I recommended that all committees should go outside the Houses, but the only committee that travels on a regular basis is the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, which visits a number of areas around the country. It is chaired by Deputy Cassidy, who is from the Leader's constituency and shares her thinking in this respect.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The issues must be examined. Would it be possible to have an Adjournment debate and a discussion on the regions to examine each county or area, such as the south west, and determine what needs to be done?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The midlands is getting a railway between Mullingar and Athlone, but we are concerned about the railway between Killarney and Tralee which has not been upgraded to the same extent. We would like to discuss these issues.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister made a number of solid points. I gave careful consideration to the lobby material I received and I spoke to some of the people involved. I tried to work my way through this matter on the basis of the experience I gained in other areas. I set aside the Competition Authority's view on the matter. I accept what it is saying but I am not sure it is completely relevant to what we...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The admissions board will be responsible for overseeing admissions. This board will be comprised of seven members and a chairperson. Three of its members will be architects nominated by the RIAI, four will be nominated by the Minister and will not be architects and a person with a legal background will be charged with chairing the board. As well as registering graduates from the NUI and...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: ——but I am sure it will not do so. In terms of the way the legislation is presented, however, it could decide to proceed in this way. If the admissions board is unsure about or does not wish to make a decision with regard to someone applying on the basis of experience, it will be able to refer the matter to the technical assessment board. The latter will be also comprised of seven...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Therefore, there are three structures in place. If that were the case, I would like to hear the Minister say so. I also would like that the persons who were nominated by the Minister might necessarily be ones from without the RIAI. I have no difficulty with the RIAI being the registration body per se, but I am uneasy that its members are the only architects involved in everything. If we...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The groups which cause me concern are those I mentioned with years of experience working as architects. First, in the Minister's considered view would those who are working successfully as architects within the State encounter any difficulty in becoming registered? Is there any reason they would not be registered? Will they encounter difficulty in becoming registered? If they did, I would...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Will all registered people have votes?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I very rarely raise the issue of what people in the public service are paid because I genuinely believe they earn what they get. However, I find it impossible to reconcile today's news on the issue of overtime, in particular. I have been dealing with the public service and the Civil Service for many years but I have never heard of senior management getting overtime. It does not happen in...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: He was in Athlone.

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus roimh an mBille. Tá sé tábhachtach agus in a lán slite tá muid ag feitheamh leis an Bhille seo leis na blianta. Tá na rudaí istigh ann pléite go maith ag an Aire, againne agus ag múinteoirí sa chéad agus sa dara leibhéal le blianta: na deacrachtaí balance a fháil i gcomhthéacs chúrsaí smachta i scoileanna, go mbeadh cearta na ndaltaí agus...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The Leader of the House will recall a famous case in County Longford some years ago. A school was taken to court even though it had followed the appropriate process as it understood it. All sorts of comments, letters and statements were issued which caused a great deal of trauma for all involved. The school authorities emerged satisfactorily from the traumatic process which was a huge...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: We must think of the other children in the class as well. We can only strike the necessary balance if we use an agreed process. This Bill will allow such a process to evolve, develop and work. I do not doubt there will be difficulties with it; there are bound to be difficulties with it. The teachers who have been waiting for a new system to be put in place will be able to deal with it....

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The House will have noticed today that the first major decision of the recently partially privatised Aer Lingus was to increase prices for luggage and other items. I make the point to remind Senators that some in the House argued that its privatisation would make the industry more competitive and drive prices down. When we set up the new structures in Eircom we had great hopes for what it...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2007)

Joe O'Toole: In addition, broadband is unavailable to half the country. It is very important to bear that in mind. Does anybody seriously believe that divesting the ESB of its network of wires and distribution will somehow create more competitiveness and make it cheaper for the consumer? When people in the trade union movement raise questions about this they come from bitter experience. I would like a...