Results 2,281-2,300 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I propose a minor amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 16 be taken before No. 1. I ask that we have a debate on the issues raised by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. As the Leader will recall, I have already asked twice in the past two months for a debate on the constitutionality of mandatory sentencing. I have pointed out that the only mandatory...

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2006: Statements (13 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Mansergh should relax given that his party and the Labour Party could be in Government together. I did not intend to interrupt him but as the Labour Party Senators are not present, I thought I would help them out. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, who outlined the money being spent on education. I am glad Senator Mansergh is still present...

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2006: Statements (13 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome yesterday's announcement by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources with regard to bio-fuels. Yesterday's "Nine O'Clock News" headlines referred to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council's introduction of new regulations which are more demanding than the national regulations. I spoke on this issue in the House in the last session. In fact, Dún...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The Leader should not rule it out. It is currently only a core principle, but everything could change.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I support the proposal made by Senator Brian Hayes about postal voting, which I have discussed in this House on many occasions over the years. I suggest that we should examine the possibility of electronic voting in that context. The Independent Members of the House are finding it difficult to follow the various movements which are being made in advance of the forthcoming general election....

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Fine Gael has said that if it gets into office, they will sort out the health service within a year. The Green Party has said that if it gets into office, it will sort out global warming. Is this not the right time in the history of the State to propose a national grand coalition of all the parties, which will sort out the country once and for all?

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The Senators on these benches would be very supportive of that kind of development.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: We would do our best to work in such a climate. The Independent Members are not in a position to buy our way into office.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: We cannot offer any inducements to the public. We just do our best.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The issue of education has been raised in the House on a number of occasions recently. Senator Ulick Burke and others have asked for a debate on it. I understood that problems with class sizes in primary and post-primary schools were to be resolved during the lifetime of the Government, but an ongoing war continues to be fought on the issue. It has been reported that new schools have been...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: That is the Department's line.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: That does not take from the point I made. I started by saying I cast no aspersions on the man.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Yes. New Zealand Post Limited owns it.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister for Transport has announced the name of the person to be put in charge of the Dublin transportation authority and the Railway Procurement Agency. Without casting aspersions, that person resigned from a semi-State body on the basis of issues that could have been of embarrassment to it. That the appointment is being made without reference to anyone is extraordinary.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: During the past 20 years, Senator Ross and others on these benches have tabled the idea of an appointments procedure in respect of State boards. The Leader will recall that in the Seanad review, we proposed that the House should vet or meet anyone whose name had been put forward to sit on boards or in the chair of a semi-State body. I do not want to reflect on the person in question, as he...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator should turn around and ask the Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: It was the Senator's side that raised the issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Trinity graduates all.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Just in case the Government side is getting worried, leopards and spots.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister referred to co-operation on an east-west basis and across the entire island. Bearing in mind the Treaty of Rome and EU regulations governing the free movement of labour and services, I contend that the franchise areas operated by Sky Television are anti-European and anti-competitive and should be challenged. I completely agree with the Minister's point, which I have made myself...