Results 2,361-2,380 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: We dealt with an issue yesterday and the comments on it by the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley. Let us see what the budget does in that regard. We could still have a debate and focus on that issue after hearing what the Minister has to say about how he will spend his money. Other groups also have an interest as their budgets have been hit...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I fully support the call for a debate on this issue. I was talking to a number of colleagues about it before lunch and I found the programme very troubling. The Minister of State's comments were beyond belief, in that he is trying to shove the blame onto consultants. I am as critical of consultants as any of us, but I do not believe anyone has until now subscribed to the view that they...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (30 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, to the House. Like other Members, I am pleased to see the legislation. We have known for some time that it would come. I am not as certain as my colleague, Senator Quinn, on this question, which I have debated many times. If someone is being punished by society, should that include depriving him or her of the right to vote? We deprive them...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I dread to make any reference to the distinguished son of Kerry who has been elevated to the leadership of the Fine Gael benches today and who is making such succinct and able contributions on behalf of Kerry, as always. I am a former pupil of the Irish Christian Brothers, a group of people I hold in high regard but who have made some serious and significant mistakes. It saddens me, as it...

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the opportunity to comment on the Leas Cross report. This matter was referred to on a number of previous occasions and the Minister of State, whom I welcome, has dealt with it in public several times. One of the matters that saddens me about debates of this nature relates to the issue raised by Senator Feeney regarding the scoring of political points. The Senator is absolutely...

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The report has been published without legal difficulty. This creates a lack of trust and confidence.

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Which is the advice it gave to the Minister of State but it was wrong. Senator Ryan is correct that a systems failure should be attributable to a person. If I were in the Minister of State's position and I were given advice to relate to a committee of my peers which was subsequently contradicted when the report was substantially leaked, I would trace who released the information because...

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: These guys are too smart. Many Members were concerned about how the issue of the legal advice would be dealt addressed. Patients are happy and content in most nursing homes. Recently, I visited a number of nursing homes for a number of reasons. I received a great lift when I sat beside a 90 year old woman from west Clare in the reception area of a nursing home in the midlands. I asked her...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: That is the point.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I call for a debate on the under-representation of Kerry people.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The point raised by Senator Brian Hayes on mandatory sentencing is important because it goes to the core of the separation of powers principle. I voted for the legislation and two similar Bills when they were before the House, but each time I raised with the relevant Ministers whether mandatory sentences were unconstitutional owing to the separation of powers. The Judiciary is supposed to...

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It is only €39,000 for the Saab 9-5.

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, to the House. If he does not mind, I will use the opportunity to speak more on the general issue of energy, to which he referred several times, rather than on the specific legislation. However, I would like to raise one point that he made. I was listening to him with half an ear, trying to do two things at once, but I believe he spoke of...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: This relates to Gaeltacht areas. My two friends obviously do not know what is going on in the Irish language.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Le déanaí anseo, bhí an-chonspóid agus argóint againn mar gheall ar logainm ar leith i gCorca Dhuibhne, agus ba é an moladh a bhí agamsa ag an uair sin ná gur chóir go mbeadh logainmneacha dátheangach tríd an tír. Inniu tá agóid lasmuigh d'oifigí an Aire Iompair, an Teachta Cullen, agus an Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, an Teachta Ó Cuív, i nGaillimh. Is é...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It is appalling that work on the M50 is not carried out at weekends. However, I passed by one night recently at 3 a.m. and people were working on the motorway but they were not there four hours earlier. I came to the conclusion they must start work after the pubs close. Generally speaking, they are not working there at weekends. This House has discussed on a number of occasions the problems...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Children with dyslexia and their families have enough to cope with without wondering how their leaving certificate will be perceived. They do not want to be worrying about going to court to defend their rights. This House had a major debate on education. Senators from all sides of the House argued that the education system should be rights-based. We all fought for it, but the Government...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I thank Senator Quinn for tabling this motion. I agree with him about the importance of dealing with inflation. In 2001 and2002, there were worries that inflation was about to take off again. In the partnership talks, all sides raised the importance of the issue, so much so that we established a group to deal with inflation. Whether we were successful or lucky, it dropped for a period...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The reality is our train ticket prices are far cheaper than those in the UK or France, just to take our two closest neighbours as an example. I travel by train in those two countries and I always bring the ticket stubs with me.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I recently travelled by train from Bristol to Falmouth, and the cost was far more expensive than any cost of train travel in Ireland. It is similar in France. It is interesting that Senator Quinn considered taxis, as people in Ireland always tell us how expensive taxis are. I was delighted to see taxi fares being increased, as Irish taxis are far cheaper than those in London or Paris,...