Results 3,281-3,300 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (1 Dec 2004)
Joe O'Toole: It was mentioned.
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (1 Dec 2004)
Joe O'Toole: With the permission of the House the Independent team would like to play a four-four-two formation, with four minutes each for me and Senator Ross and two minutes for Senator Quinn.
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (1 Dec 2004)
Joe O'Toole: Senator Norris will be sweeper for the next round.
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (1 Dec 2004)
Joe O'Toole: To put down my markers on this matter, leaving home this morning I said that if the Minister took the minimum-waged out of the tax net, gave â¬20 to the old-age pensioners and made some gesture in the area of disability, I would welcome the budget. He has certainly achieved two out of three of those targets. In general I welcome the budget. It would be incorrect to do otherwise just for...
- Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)
Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House and applaud his diligence in sitting through the debate. Such debates are useful because there has almost never been a proper, balanced debate on this issue. It is approached at all times from the extremes, making for a polarised debate. Some points need to be recorded and a certain courage needs to be shown in the approach to this issue. The reality is...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2004)
Joe O'Toole: I am not looking for a reportââ
- Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2004)
Joe O'Toole: I just want to know what is going on.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2004)
Joe O'Toole: I agree with the points raised by Senator Brian Hayes. The issue of interference with Members of the Oireachtas when going about their business is covered clearly in the Constitution. I welcome yesterday's clear and unambiguous statement by the Taoiseach that the convictions of yesterday could not be covered by the Good Friday Agreement and that these people will serve their full sentences....
- Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2004)
Joe O'Toole: Absolutely. I am not in any sense departing from that. You will be aware, a Chathaoirligh, that I am referring to something that is an item on the Order of Business.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2004)
Joe O'Toole: This is a crucial matter and the House is entitled to at least get reports of what is going on. We should not be left wondering. I will leave it at that and will not mention it again but I feel there is an issue here concerning how we do our business. I also wish to raise the issue of the report yesterday from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government about building...
- Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)
Joe O'Toole: Such an eventuality was entirely predictable and people have been left disappointed. I am not speaking of Deputies and Senators but of local community activists, local urban councils, tidy towns committees, tourism committees and development groups. They have been assessing sites and considering whether sufficient accommodation is available for the decentralised facilities. I have visited...
- Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)
Joe O'Toole: He is the artful dodger. He has played a blinder, however he did it. I accept that he did not know about decentralisation before last year's Budget Statement. I believe Senator Phelan was mistaken in what he said. However, the Senator was right to underline what had previously been said in the House. It had to be analysed and proven. We must look at the importance of urban-rural balance and...
- Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)
Joe O'Toole: If we are to be governed by elections the project will fall apart.
- Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)
Joe O'Toole: It is bigger than that. I wish decentralisation well. I hope the Government's mishandling of it has come to an end and that the Minister of State will listen this time to some of what Opposition Members have to say. If he does not, Mr. Phil Flynn will tell him the same thing in six months time. Meanwhile, I wish the Minister of State good luck with the media. They cannot lay a hand on him.
- Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)
Joe O'Toole: It would have been established earlier except that the Senator's party delayed it in the House.
- Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)
Joe O'Toole: It was established before this.
- Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)
Joe O'Toole: This is my fourth time to participate in a debate on this issue. These debates included one in this House and three at committee level. Senator Mansergh has no right to criticise Senator John Paul Phelan and others for the low level of debate. I sat through the previous debate in this House and appealed to Members on both sides to take a rational, constructive and philosophical view on our...
- Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)
Joe O'Toole: This is what brought the issue to a new low. If we are lucky enough to get something for our constituencies, it occasions a speech at constituency level. When the issue is discussed in this House, we should at least make an attempt to address it from a national perspective.
- Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)
Joe O'Toole: That is true. I have no criticism of the broad view Senator Mansergh took on the issue. That is the way to proceed, by looking at both the local and national aspects.
- Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)
Joe O'Toole: However, the public is entirely confused about the matter. On the other hand, I am somewhat in agreement with the Government's position. I do not understand Fine Gael's position on this issue. There is only one position on decentralisation and that is to be completely supportive.