Results 2,261-2,280 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: There has been a very disturbing report on a subject that has been raised on a number of occasions, by myself and Senator Coonan among others. It concerns the differentiation between retail prices and farm gate prices and the undermining of farming. It is nothing to do with my colleague, Senator Quinn, who has left that behind him, but the farming element. There is something wrong if...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: We must consider how this works. Farmers are not getting a fair deal. They are arguing about the wrong issues and perhaps we should argue on their behalf because they need some support in this regard. They are not getting the value of their work.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Social Welfare Code (22 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter and I thank the Minister of State for dealing with it. It is not the responsibility of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment but the Minister of State is an accountant and it was an accountant who brought this to my attention. Why is a married person working for his or her spouse who is a sole trader, in the context...

Seanad: Social Welfare Code (22 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I should have said that. I just took the example of a husband and wife.

Seanad: Social Welfare Code (22 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: So the Minister of State is on my side.

Seanad: Social Welfare Code (22 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I appreciate the Minister of State's answer. That people might have mutual affection for each other and should not expect to be rewarded with a salary is quite an appalling suggestion to come from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Under the nine grounds cited in the Equal Status Act, this is discrimination on the grounds of marriage. One issue with which I did not deal and which...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Earlier in the week the Senator said it was in every school in Ireland. I look forward to him proving that.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: They do.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I referred to County Galway generally.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: In my 20 years as a Senator the Leader's office has never worked so efficiently as it does now. Anything I say is no criticism of the Leader. We normally receive notification of changes to the Order of Business but did not receive any such notification yesterday. An Independent Member was present when the announcement was made in the House but understood that an e-mail would be sent to...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: It was published for political reasons.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, for the record of the House and the constitutional position, members of the Judiciary sitting on those tribunals do not earn one extra penny, so they can have no additional interest in keeping them going.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: It is a point of order.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: When the progress of the tribunals was discussed previously in the House, everyone who spoke agreed the tribunals should continue to do their work. We agreed that perhaps the terms of reference might be changed slightly and narrowed to give a more focused approach. There can be no case for closing down the tribunals. Those of us who are Independent Members would not be as sophisticated in...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: ——because we thought this was just politicking with two parties in Government trying to establish their different identities going into a general election. We thought this was just an attempt to win back headlines in a week when things were going in the wrong direction. The Leader may explain this to the House in her reply. It has come to my attention recently that the names of primary...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: We were becoming concerned that the Senator's party was getting lost.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: First Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: First Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' Time".