Results 2,561-2,580 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: National Development Plan: Statements. (30 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I am sure it is a point of order.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: On my way to the Chamber I became aware this man had been released. While there has been much discussion in the recent past about the question of statutory rape, in most cases people are talking about consenting teenagers and consenting people over the age limit. The young girl in this case was 12 years of age, she was filled with drink and was raped. Under no circumstances would anybody show...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: On a related matter on the question of abuse of children, the House is aware of the extraordinary statement made by the representative of the Christian Brothers to the redress board during the week, to the effect that victims of clerical sexual child abuse put forward their complaints in the hope of getting money. This House debated those issues on a number of occasions and showed...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: We have a piece of legislation which would give back to muintir na Gaeltachta an cearta sibhialta sin atá ag aon duine eile timpeall na tíre. That is the right to decide and determine the name of their own place and have a referendum on it. In the past week, Kerry County Council has taken a decision, by 21 votes to four, to allow a plebiscite of the entire Dingle area in the autumn. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: This is a case of democracy turned on its head by this Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It has nothing to do with cónaitheoirí na Gaeltachta. That is a decision which is not taken by the people in any area, despite a suggestion made here last week that muintir na Gaeltachta could decide to be in or out of the Gaeltacht. That is decided politically, and it is a matter for Government.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It is not their right. It is a decision of Government to take them out of it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It does not arise. The people of Dingle have never indicated they want to leave the Gaeltacht. They have never given such a view. It is a matter for the relevant Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Is that the position of the Labour Party? The people of Dingle would be very pleased to hear this.

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I support the group of amendments. We encounter this issue regularly in this House. I have spoken to many Ministers on this issue who said they never noticed it until they came into this House. Nobody takes any notice of it in the Dáil. It is most irritating. It is demeaning of public representatives. In effect it says we cannot trust them. On certain occasions it would be inappropriate to...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State's approach and I am happy to go along with it. I appreciate his thoughtful response. My first working involvement in politics was as a member of the road safety committee of Dublin County Council. I was wearing an educational hat. It was my introduction to sitting in a room and working with politicians. I was a young teacher at the time. I was impressed by...

Seanad: Death of Staff Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (23 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: On behalf of those on the Independent benches, I would like to be associated with the previous comments and offer our condolences to Breda's colleagues, her circle of friends and her family. We may not have known Ms Courtney that well but we would exchange a half smile and a friendly nod whenever she passed by. She was courteous at all times. The part that she played and her colleagues...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It is not ten years since the House discussed the future of Telecom Éireann in a debate which revolved around issues such as privatisation, nationalisation and state ownership. We should look back and learn from that debate. I recall Senators using arguments about having to wait for months to get a landline and the need for investment to ensure broadband was available throughout the country,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Members have expressed their views during a number of visits by important dignitaries from the United States. They may be our guests but this does not mean we must agree with everything they do. They should hear our views on their approach and policies. Such a discussion would be useful. I support Senator Brian Hayes's call for a debate on the future plans for Aer Lingus and request a debate...

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements. (17 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Printing on one side of the page is not the problem of Friends of the Earth, it is the problem of the man who printed it who did not choose the option to print it on both sides.

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements. (17 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share time with Senator Henry. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This is a matter of crucial importance to every community. When debating Ireland's energy needs recently, I suggested to the Minister for Finance that if communities in a clearly defined area were prepared to take complete control and responsibility for all their own waste and energy needs, they should be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Yesterday, another incident took place involving a school bus, bringing the total number of such incidents to about six in the past year. Thankfully, nobody was injured in yesterday's accident. The previous accident was also a fire in which, luckily, nobody was injured. This must be taken in hand and if money must be invested, so be it. Anybody regularly driving around this country will have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: In dealing with industrial relations issues it is regularly pointed out to me how slow groups like IBEC have been to say when things go wrong with their members and that they are afraid to single them out for criticism. We do it differently on the other side. I do not have the slightest difficulty whatever in condemning this action. It is inappropriate, unofficial and is in breach of the...

Seanad: Deaths of Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy. (16 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The Independent Members wish to be associated with the words of condolence offered by the previous speakers. None of us served in this House with either of the two former Senators. I knew the former Senator Mannion quite well. He was on very friendly terms with the former Leader of the House, former Senator Maurice Manning. I met him when he visited the House and in Clifden on a number of...

Seanad: Migration Report: Statements. (11 May 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I also welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Killeen, to the House. I also wish to thank him and show appreciation for the work he does in his Department. This issue demands much of our time. This morning's debate has been extremely positive and supportive of the issues, which demonstrates a great understanding on the part of Members. What...