Results 2,301-2,320 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I could not agree more with the points made by Senator Brian Hayes. I received two telephone calls in the past 24 hours from constituents wishing to know exactly what is involved in the proposed referendum. There is a general view that a referendum on the rights of children must be a positive development, and most people tend towards being supportive of it. However, Members who ask their...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Exactly. If the debate on No. 2 finishes early, we should not go straight to No. 3. Otherwise, Members may not realise the next debate has begun. Members must be able to organise their day.

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I thank Senator Norris for allowing me to share time with him. Before the Minister leaves the Chamber, he should note the three questions that must be answered, namely, how much, how many and when. To make the new agency work, how much money will it get for its budget, how many people will it be able to appoint and when will it receive its money? I have witnessed this process many times...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Tuairim agus mí ó shin, d'eisigh an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta foilseachán nua le 10 bunriail chun an Ghaoluinn a chur chun cinn. Ba mhaith an rud é dá mbeadh díospóireacht orthu siúd anseo. Tá siad an-réasúnta agus an-phraiticiúil, which is surprising, coming as they do from that Department, agus ba mhaith an rud é dá bpléifí anseo iad. Bheadh seans ag...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I should also declare an interest as a member of the commission. I am delighted to see this legislation——

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I would like if the Senator were allowed to make her point of order.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The commission was established by legislation which we are changing today and part of that was the appointment of members of the commission. The commission comprises four Members of the Dáil and three Members of the Seanad. The Seanad representatives are elected by the Seanad Members, including Senator White.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I cannot do much about it if Senator White is developing amnesia.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: By decision of the House Senators Ulick Burke, Mansergh and I were appointed.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Whether a Member decides to cast her vote is nothing to do with me. Members of the commission were elected by this House. Every Member was given notice of this on the Order of Business. It is on the record of the House. I will take pleasure in sending it to Senator White. The commission does not micro-manage the House, which is very busy. Senator Mansergh referred to the work of the...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: That is not the way in which we should conduct our business. On the dissolution of the Houses the staff continue for a number of weeks. Am I correct in interpreting the Bill as facilitating an orderly changeover? Will people have a number of weeks to tidy up their offices and wind up operations? Correctly, the Bill then suggests that an appropriate charge may be made for use of facilities...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, this has nothing to do with the business of the commission, which has no control over the hours and sittings of the Houses. That is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. It is out of order.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It is not the business of the commission.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator should take it up with the Department of Finance.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, I will not allow that on the record. The commission is not allowed, by virtue of legislation, to deal with hours, salaries or any of the matters mentioned by Senator White.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It is unfair that the commission is being lobbied with this.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Yes.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: You interrupted me four times.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006:Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: This Bill will change the functions of the commission. It is important to state on the record of the House why those functions are the way they are. When the commission was established, I wanted it to have wide-ranging powers to deal with all the issues raised by Senator White. I gave the example of the New Zealand Parliament, where the commission has control not only of the workings of...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006:Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Ba mhaith liom cur lena bhfuil ráite ag na Seanadóirí eile. Tá an-obair agus an-tacaíocht tugtha ag an Aire i gcónaí d'obair an Choimisiúin, agus táimid thar a bheith sásta leis sin. Is rud é nár luaigh mé nuair a bhíos ag caint ná go ndéanann an Coimisiún a chuid oibre in a collegial manner. It does not break down in a party manner or along House lines. Every member of...