Results 2,641-2,660 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: That is true but others did.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: And knowledge and information.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I agree with the points made by Senator Brian Hayes regarding the balance in RTE. From my experience over many years, the whole world appears to have dealt with this, including Ministers from all parties and colours. Ministers have often refused to sit in a studio——

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: ——with people such as myself. I have grown sick and tired of it and I have complete sympathy with the comments made by Senator Brian Hayes. On such occasions, RTE should not back down, and I have argued the case with the body before. Not only should it not back down, but if a Minister does not appear, RTE should not feel the need to be devil's advocate on behalf of somebody who refuses to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I supported the proposals on decentralisation provided they would be done on a voluntary basis. I agree with the point that Senator Brian Hayes made and the point the representatives of the workers have been making over the past week. It will undermine the process of decentralisation if we reach a position where a person's career prospects will grind to a halt by virtue of what is being...

Seanad: Lourdes Hospital Inquiry: Statements. (9 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate, although I am not sure I can add much to what has been said. I have listened to a number of discussions on this issue in recent days and Senator Feeney's contributions were to the point and had an impact, which I will not attempt to match. I would like to consider the issues in a cold light because the women who suffered have been left...

Seanad: Lourdes Hospital Inquiry: Statements. (9 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Absolutely.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: On a number of occasions over the past fortnight Senator Ormonde and I have sought a debate on the Marino Institute of Education. The Leader of the House kindly indicated that she will be prepared to organise it. It is an interesting issue and it is probably just as well we have not yet had the debate because each day brings more disclosures. Over the past week we heard that the consultants...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: In that case, I would request that this be done. This House is good at this kind of consolidation. I would like to have the Bill printed and sent to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. If the Department wishes to propose an alternative, let us see it done. Let us act quickly and be seen to respond when the matter is topical in order to allow people to see we care and know what...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I am very pleased with that. We have one more to go and that will be next week.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I have argued for and against sections of the Offences against the State Act on various occasions since becoming a Member of the House. It is not a biased or prejudiced view, I assess each issue as I see it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Over the past number of weeks, and right back to the inquiry into the Garda in Donegal, the force has been to the forefront of many comments made here and in other places. We saw this again two weeks ago in O'Connell Street. The reality is that when push comes to shove gardaí are the people standing there on our behalf. I would be the first to criticise behaviour which I do not accept, and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: My point is related and similar to that made by Senator Brian Hayes on the eruption or great expansion in the use of cocaine in the better-off areas of Dublin and, consequently, in other parts of the country. We should discuss this problem, and I have asked that we do so on previous occasions. Others share the Senator's views on it. Although we may not be able to circulate our message to all...

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House. I know the Bill has been discussed at length inside and outside the Houses and everywhere else. I accept the changes made in the Dáil are an attempt to move in a particular direction. I put my hands up and state I come from a biased position. I remember in the nights of my youth watching families of fishermen stand along the quay wall in Dingle wondering...

Seanad: Public Order Offences: Statements. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I am pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to the debate and I appreciate the Minister's presence here. I disagree with many of the comments that have been made. I was disillusioned that within one hour of the events that took place last week we were either blaming the Garda or calling for the resignation of the Minister. That demeans politics. I would make one plea — the Minister...

Seanad: Public Order Offences: Statements. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: ——Cardinal John Henry Newman said the first quality of an educated person is tolerance.

Seanad: Public Order Offences: Statements. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Where is this tolerance? We have failed as politicians to inculcate an acceptance of diversity and difference in our community. There is no longer any space for difference. I would like to have an understanding of this deficiency because we could then solve the other problems. We can remove all the stones from O'Connell Street but that will not deter those who wish to riot. To mention another...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I propose to share time equally with Senator Quinn.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus tááthas orm gur thosaigh sé an Bhille seo sa Teach seo. Tá sin déanta go minic aige. Is maith an rud é fosta gur thóg sé deis Gaeilge a úsáid i rith na díospóireachta. Tá sin tábhachtach. Tá an reachtaíocht seo casta, tábhachtach agus cuimsitheach — níl sé léite agam. Rinne mé iarracht féachaint fríd an rud ach bhí sé i bhfad...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: That is not true.