Results 2,661-2,680 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The situation in the Marino Institute of Education was raised on a number of occasions during the past year. The House should be aware of the fact that recently a supposedly independent report was commissioned and paid for by the trustees and board of the institute, which amazingly found them to have acted absolutely correctly all the way through, which surprised all of us. The reality is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I also would like a debate on last Saturday's disturbances. I hesitate to ask for it because it would simply consist of asking how many gardaí were there, what was the intelligence beforehand, and whether the Minister should take responsibility. The issue is simple. It is absolutely frightening that a large number of people in this country believe that the march should not have been allowed...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (1 Mar 2006)

Joe O'Toole: On behalf of the Independent Members I wish to be associated with the words of the Leader of the House and of Senator Brian Hayes. There is very little more to be said. I served with Larry McMahon for two terms in this House. I knew him for many years prior to that because he was part of the old County Dublin constituency. Although Councillor McMahon was based in Boharnabreena which is the...

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second and Subsequent Stages. (23 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Fáiltím roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá an reachtaíocht thar a bheith tábhachtach. Gan amhras, níl i gceist anseo ach botún a rinneamar b'fhéidir anuraidh nó dhá bhliain ó shin a cheartú. Níl sé sin ró-thábhachtach. Rud atá an-tábhachtach ná féachaint ar conas atá an feachtas seo ag dul ar aghaidh, agus an tábhacht a bhaineann leis sin. Níl rud ar bith níos tábhachtaí in...

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second and Subsequent Stages. (23 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: There is one simple answer — one sacks a teacher as one sacks anybody else. If teachers do not do their work they can be put out the door following due process. That is the end of that discussion. The Teaching Council will withdraw recognition, where required, in a proper and balanced way. I have not the slightest doubt that the members of the council will do their job professionally,...

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second and Subsequent Stages. (23 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It will bring the work of the Teaching Council to a halt. It has not created a problem to date, but it certainly will in the future. We need to give the council the freedom to show us how well it can do its job. If there are problems with its work, we can rein it in, but we should let it off for the time being. The people involved in the council have enthusiasm, energy, knowledge,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I am listening.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I support Senator Hayes. Fine Gael has had a strong and solid record on this issue for some time. In 1987 and 1988 former Deputy Jim Mitchell and myself were the only two Members of the Oireachtas pushing for representation for emigrants in the Houses.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: This was long before Senator Norris got around to thinking about it. He was looking at the wider world.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: However, I warn Senator Hayes that when I spoke at that time to a number of groups in London, one avid and enthusiastic young journalist took every possible occasion to oppose me. As he is now, 18 or 19 years later, Senator Hayes's constituency colleague and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, I hope his position has changed in the meantime. There is a significant...

Seanad: Comhairle Elections. (22 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht teacht isteach anseo anocht. Bunaíodh an Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta chun comhairle a thabhairt don Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta as well as to the various committees dealing with the curriculum. An jab atá acu ná iniúchadh ar chás speisialta na scoileanna Gaeltachta agus na ngaelscoileanna. Tá an grúpa seo...

Seanad: Comhairle Elections. (22 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Go raibh míle maith agat. Fáiltím go mór roimh an méid atá ráite ag an Aire. Táim an-sásta go bhfuil an toghchán curtha ar athló agus go mbeidh seans ag Comhairle dul ar aghaidh lena cuid oibre ar feadh cúpla mí or however long it takes. Taispeánann sé seo tábhacht an tSeanaid mar seo é an sórt ruda ar féidir leat a dhéanamh sa Seanad nach bhféadfá sa Dáil, because...

Seanad: Third Level Education: Statements (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share time with Senator Brian Hayes, Maurice Hayes and Daly. The points made by Senator MacSharry concerning his region and the job losses in County Meath are closely related to the point made in the most recent budget about developing co-operation between third level institutions. It is crucial for future competitiveness that this sector is able to develop research and development...

Seanad: Third Level Education: Statements (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Third Level Education: Statements (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Come on.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: That was the discussion I asked for. I did not pass judgment on what they did. I said that we should have a discussion on it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I could not agree more with Senator Brian Hayes. My colleague, Senator Norris, last week highlighted the importance of this issue. The House has previously agreed to a debate. I ask that the point put forward by Senator Norris, and the motion that has now gone forward in his name, be accepted by the House. It should be accepted not just with a free vote but without a vote at all. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: If information is being used in a way to incite anti-Semitism or something similar, I agree that people doing so should be put behind bars. We do not have a clear understanding of where we stand in a theoretical basis, and what are the principles governing free speech in matters such as these.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Americans.