Results 3,121-3,140 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Mar 2005)

Joe O'Toole: Given what we often discussed and the points made in the House during the debate on Seanad reform, it would be wrong to ignore the Travers report this week. We should debate it tonight after taking the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill or tomorrow morning. We have space to deal with it at either time and I would like to hear the Leader's view on this. Today's business can proceed as planned...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Mar 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I ask the House to welcome the Government's indication yesterday that it intends to support what it calls the "western rail corridor", which is referred to by Senators as the "Sligo-Waterford-Rosslare line". I have raised this issue in the House at least three times a year for the past 15 years. The House would appreciate an opportunity to discuss the matter with the Minister for Transport,...

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements. (2 Mar 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, to the House and look forward to his summing up. Over the years, this has been the most divisive issue discussed in the House. When debating waste management, we must acknowledge that we, as a people, are dirty and do not have a culture of looking after our waste properly. Three years ago, while on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I ask the House to note and acknowledge the extraordinary, comprehensive and visionary description by Dr. Paisley of the situation in the North. The House should note he has ensured we all recognise that doors are not closed and that progress can be made. The discussion with the McCartney family over the past fortnight was a most hopeful, perhaps the most hopeful, optimistic and encouraging...

Seanad: Employment Policy: Motion. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I had great difficulty in deciding whether to vote for the motion or the amendment. If I have to vote for one, I think the motion is slightly better than the amendment. We need to examine a number of issues. The Minister spoke at length about research and development but if he was in his previous job and examined the OECD report on third-level education, he would have seen that in recent...

Seanad: Employment Policy: Motion. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I did not hear it later. It was aimed at people in the business community who get up early. It came on again just before the business news on RTE. That is how far behind the times we are. It is that easy. Somebody needs to be kicked around on that one. That is a seriously important issue that we must examine. I appeal to my Fine Gael colleagues in regard to one issue. We should look carefully...

Seanad: Nursing Home Charges: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share my time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Nursing Home Charges: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I wish the Tánaiste well with her difficult brief. I appreciate that she had the courage to say recently that she would not stand over the statement she made previously to the House. I admire it when politicians admit when they get something wrong and correct the record. That is as it should be; it is no big deal. On a previous occasion I made an appeal that this matter not become a party...

Seanad: Nursing Home Charges: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: That is the issue. The common good must also be there to balance the provision on private property. We have seen what has happened with housing. Developers can afford to buy huge tracts of land and release them in dribs and drabs for development, with the consequence of corrupting the law of supply and demand by reducing supply and increasing prices. That is not in the common good and I...

Seanad: Nursing Home Charges: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: Absolutely.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: As regards how matters are progressing in Northern Ireland, I have raised twice on recent occasions the importance of deepening cross-community involvement below political level. It is worth noting that last night the friendly football match between Linfield and Derry City passed off without any problems on the pitch. The only problems were outside. The officials of both clubs were delighted...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: No republican could ever go out and shoot someone on the basis of belief. The term grew from a consideration, an agreement and a policy that Catholic, Protestant and dissenter would live together. Nowadays, that can be extended into a wider community. We should base republicanism on that view. We need to recognise that republicanism was not on one religious side or the other but it crossed...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: That is the Labour Party finished.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (22 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, to the House. The issue I raise concerns two special schools in Ballina, County Mayo. This is an ongoing issue which I have been slow enough to raise, but there has been no progress on it over the past few years. There are two special schools involved, and because of time constraints I will outline some of the difficulties in just one of...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (22 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I feel worse now than I did at the outset because it appears that it will be 18 months before the project will even obtain approval to proceed to construction. That is an impossible situation. As the Minister of State indicated, comments on the project are being awaited from the technical team. However, it has been with the team for a long period...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister of State has offered me one minute of his time.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: He has offered me time.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Minister of State. I will not go into great detail but there are two matters I wish to have examined. First, part of the cost of child care is due to the relevant regulations. They are top of the range but are more restrictive and demanding than in any other European country. This drives up the cost. Second, has the Minister of State considered the fact that we give tax breaks to...

Seanad: Higher Education Review: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: It has been reduced in proportion to the money given to the institutes.

Seanad: Higher Education Review: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I should look at my script. I have pointed out some of the issues which I thought the report dealt with well. I am sure the Leas-Chathaoirleach will agree with one of the issues, and spoke about it last year. The report states there should be no distinction in terms of fees between part-time evening students and full-time students. That is only right and proper. There is a sense of inequity...