Results 2,721-2,740 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: They are mere words.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I also welcome the Minister of State to the House and I look forward to hearing his views. The most significant problem with planning is that nobody understands it. I have been listening here for the past 19 years to people from different local authorities around the country wondering why an application was refused. As long as that remains the case there will be doubt, there will be lack of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I must support the points made by Senator Brian Hayes. The Stardust fire has caught the public imagination again after 25 years. I am not sure whether an inquiry will bring closure but it is a positive idea which I support. It has been put to the Taoiseach several times that he should meet formally with the survivors and their families. He should make it clear that he will do so. The...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I apologise for misleading the House by three years. I accept the correction of 1918.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Several years ago we discussed at some length the problems created by the SARS epidemic in China. We were led to believe, on the best possible evidence, that the whole world would be overrun. Many people expressed grave concerns, there was much media commentary on the issue and then it simply died away. Last year, we were introduced to bird flu. It broke out in Asia, moved through Asia Minor...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Elderly people in particular worry about this and we should clear the air. Normal precautions should be taken and we should get real about it. It is one of these sensationalist scare stories spread by the media because people do not know enough to contradict them. Today Greencore is holding its AGM at which it will announce massive profits and a bright future, and that it does not care that...

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (8 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Before starting, I wish to make a point of order. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges recently considered situations such as this, where a Minister is allowed to continue over the time limit in a situation where other Members wish to contribute. It was the view of the CPP that the Chair should be entitled to allocate an additional number of minutes to the debate. I am not demanding that...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: On No. 2 on the Order Business, the funding of third level education and the Fottrell report, is it possible to continue that debate beyond today?

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Leader. Members on the Independent benches have a particular interest in the matter.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Last week, Senator Feighan raised the issue of planning and, in particular, the rejection of a proposal for an eco-friendly development on Lough Key. This issue was also raised on a number of occasions by Senator MacSharry. I ask that we return to No. 13, statements on planning and related issues, because every time I meet people who are trying to put together environmentally sensitive...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (8 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The Independent group in the Seanad would like to associate itself with the comments made by the two previous speakers. Ruairí Brugha was a quiet man. He travelled to and from the Oireachtas Library most days of the week until recently. Very few people would have recognised him, except those of us who knew him for many years. He always moved quietly and never involved himself in conversation...

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It is to his credit.

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share my time with the right-wing Senator Ross.

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The most important aspect of social partnership is that it has delivered. I agree with the points made by speakers about how much it has delivered and that questions arise. However, it is worthwhile reminding ourselves, particularly at a time when people criticise society and what we have achieved, of where we were in 1987 before this process began. In 1987, we had a debt to GNP ratio of...

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: It is also a process about forcing people to sign in blood on the bottom line and to stick with the agreement. Every time I hear politicians talking about not being involved in the social partnership discussions I reflect on how lucky they are. The day one engages is the day one has to stick with what is agreed and that would not suit too many politicians who would have signed up to defend...

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: The House will notice Senator Ross has said nothing about social partnership so far.

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, as well as a point of honour, I gave the Senator exactly eight minutes. Is that correct?

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Joe O'Toole: He certainly did not.