Results 3,201-3,220 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: They have a big choice.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I move amendment No. 7: In page 6, before section 3, to insert the following new section: "7.—Section 7 (1) of the Principal Act is amended by the addition of the following paragraph after paragraph (b): (c) A qualifying employee may apply to their employer for more favourable arrangements. An application under this section must— (i) state that it is such an application, (ii) specify the...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I understand the points the Minister of State has made and can see from where they are coming. I also recognise the improvements in the Bill in regard to the flexibility on the six and 14 weeks. However, the issue is about flexibility. A couple who have just had a baby face costs for cots and prams as well as childminding and crèche facilities, all of which must still be paid during a period...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: That is a fair point. Let us put that into the Bill.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I understand amendments can be ruled out of order if they involve a charge on the State.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: My proposal does not necessarily incur a cost to the State. It could be a cost to the private sector. I do not want to challenge the Chair but I would like an explanation.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I have not questioned the Chair's ruling yet. I asked for an explanation. The amendment would be out of order if it involved a cost to the Exchequer but not all of these amendments do so.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State's comments in favour of social partnership and I congratulate him on getting the timing exactly right. However, I wish to highlight one matter. Whereas the agreed positions of social partners should always be implemented, there are many precedents where agreement was not reached and the Government took action. On some occasions that action favoured the unions,...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: IBEC is listened to at times when we wish that would not be the case. I am glad to note that those things agreed by the social partners will be implemented by the Minister of State. He will realise that a later amendment tabled in my name deals with precisely that matter in respect of the same sex issue. I presume I can now infer that said amendment will be accepted by the Minister of State...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: We will wait and see what happens. On the section, we discussed this matter when the initial legislation was introduced. The main issue is where Ireland, as a country, is going in terms of what to do with its wealth. Will the Minister of State indicate whether the socialist Taoiseach has considered this legislation? What is at issue here is a time during which parents — single or married...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: He was listening to the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I am protecting the Senator from the worst excesses.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: We could have people queueing up in large numbers.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: On the Northern issue, in recent times I raised the importance of developing the east-west aspect of the Good Friday Agreement. I have said in a number of places on numerous occasions that I feel we can create progress and a new political impetus from community, professional and economic involvement across the two islands. I felt there was nothing happening in this regard. However, I stand...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: This sounds like a Fine Gael selection committee.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I do not take the views of Kevin Myers in The Irish Times to be important. However, many others do. His judgment has been flawed so many times that thinking people cannot take him seriously. Unfortunately, his views are communicated to a much wider group than those who would analyse them. His fascistic rantings in today's column crossed over the line of incitement to hatred. He chose to have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: During the debate last night I stated I felt grossly uncomfortable with the motion, even though I agreed with everything in it, and argued that we should look forward. We should not over-react to yesterday's statement. Sinn Féin has found itself in a cul-de-sac and like any cornered animal it is looking for a way out and trying to win back ground lost since the previous juncture. The...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Motion. (2 Feb 2005)

Joe O'Toole: I thank Senator Dardis for proposing this challenging motion. I do not like what is in it, but I have to say I agree with all of it. I do not oppose it in any sense. I am uneasy about it and uncomfortable with it because it marks a point in time that we have been through before. Over the past 30 years, I have often found myself in an unusual position. I was the only one of my circle of...