Results 2,921-2,940 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to make another request of the Leader that we discuss the Irish Ferries issue. I raised the matter yesterday and later in the afternoon I heard a remarkable statement from IBEC blaming the trade unions for the proposals from Irish Ferries management. That is a bit like blaming Strongbow for coming ashore in 1169 and causing the 30 years of struggle in Northern Ireland. I have also...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: In spring last year Senator Ross and I put down a motion in the House concerning auctioneers and auctioneering and the need for regulation. It was accepted by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Michael McDowell, who acted on it by setting up a review committee which has now reported. We have not seen the report yet but we are aware he will propose a regulatory system...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (5 Oct 2005)

Joe O'Toole: Those of us in the Independent group wish to be associated with the words of sympathy expressed on the death of Liam Burke. We are somewhat at a loss in that none of us served with him in this House. We met him over the years coming and going in the House and found him to be a warm and generous man. He was a very open man, easy to talk to, always ready to offer a view and to chat. As Senator...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials and thank them for the work they have done in drawing up this Bill. I am aware that the Government engaged in an intense process of consultation with the social partners on the legislation. Unlike my colleague, Senator Coghlan, I understand the reason such legislation takes a long time to produce. Nothing is easy and considerable compromise is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: It is not redundancy at all.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the comments by the Taoiseach yesterday on behalf of the ferry workers. It raises an important point. Over the past seven or eight years, people in this House have discussed Members' involvement — or non-involvement — in the partnership process. This is a good example of why we need a partnership process. It would be useful to invite the Taoiseach or another member of the...

Seanad: Garda Investigations: Motion. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, to the House. I wish to make a short contribution to this important debate, which offers Senators an opportunity to acknowledge again the importance of justice as a cornerstone of our democracy. It is important that the pillars of justice are seen to uphold what the Members of the Oireachtas stand for. We should take this opportunity to...

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I, too, welcome the Minister of State to the House. I remind him that since the redrawing of the boundaries, I am now his constituent and expect to be listened to. I promise him that, as a graduate, I will look after his needs. There is a considerable amount of material associated with this subject. I sense that the Minister of State has been sent in to bat with a fine speech that says...

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I know. I guarantee that if we come back in several more months it will still be working for several more months.

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: It will work for several months after several more months have passed, that is the difficulty. At that stage we will surely be close to an election, at which time there will be room for all sorts of promises. I concur with the points made by Senator Fitzgerald. I would like him to be able to say, "I told you so, we did it," to Senator Ulick Burke in two years time.

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: Yes, but I do not believe Senator Ulick Burke is at all worried that will happen. That is the truth of the matter and we must bear it in mind. I have been considering the work of the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education, which has been mentioned. I have been considering what the Irish Childcare Policy Network has done and have examined the OECD report and the statements of the...

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: That seems very niggardly, if that is the best the Cathaoirleach can offer me. It may be a long minute. The experience of other countries should be studied. The NESF has conducted a survey of the literature available. There is nothing the high-level group can do that has not been done. The proposals made by the different groups should be considered. The proposals from the national quality...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Sep 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I record my appreciation that the Leader has acted on her promise on the last day of the last session to hold a debate on child care and early childhood education. I am pleased to see such a debate on today's Order of Business. I agree with the points Senator Brian Hayes has just made about circumstances in the North of Ireland. The general thinking appears to be that we will have the...

Seanad: Tributes to Head Usher of the Houses of the Oireachtas. (1 Jul 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I would like to associate the Senators on the Independent benches with the words which have been said by my colleagues about the retirement of Mr. Ray Hesse. I wish to express our gratitude to Ray for many years of diligent and polite service in these Houses. We have been impressed on many occasions by the even-handed manner in which he deals with people, regardless of whether they are mere...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (1 Jul 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to be associated with the words of thanks to the Cathaoirleach, to the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Acting Chairmen who have conducted the business of the House. I particularly extend thanks to the Leader and to Eamonn McCormack. It is important to recognise that we end this session with 11 Seanad Bills still sitting on the Dáil Order Paper. There has been quite a revolution in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2005)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Henry recently raised the question of the difficulties for non-EU qualified doctors of gaining recognition, acceptance and entrance to practice in this country. She particularly raised issues with regard to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. There is also the issue of how the Medical Council deals with this issue. It has been represented to me that the process is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2005: First Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Official Languages Act 2003. I seek leave to introduce the Bill on the basis that we were invited to do so and the need to amend the Official Languages Act. It is something the House should have discussed and for that reason the Bill was printed and placed on the Order Paper.

Seanad: Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2005: First Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Seanad: Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2005: First Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joe O'Toole: On Tuesday, 4 October 2005. I am an optimist.