Results 3,461-3,480 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (30 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: If a Department was relocated to Dingle there would be plenty of applications. The points made by Senator McDowell are correct. Decentralisation will only work if it is done on a voluntary basis. It cannot work if it is done in the way proposed.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (30 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Are we to call the Seanad Parlon country?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (30 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (30 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Can we obtain a written explanation regarding this rescindment? I would be happy with that.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (30 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The Deputy Leader is saying that the Bill will not come to this House any time soon.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (30 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: We were not told about it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The thing to remember about benchmarking is that it was such a success that we are now talking about benchmarking mark II. It is a bit like New York: "so good we named it twice". We might do it many more times. The matter I want to raise has nothing to do with drinks sponsorship, although it is related to the issue of sponsorship in general. We had a discussion last night on the dormant...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: That is not the issue. It is not representations but decisions that count.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House. Having listened to his speech, I would have to say that this was not his finest hour. In fairness to Senator Ó Murchú, he is one of the more thoughtful contributors in this House, but his last contribution would hardly rank among his 250 best speeches to the House. It was a classic example that, despite the fact that Senator McHugh went out of his way to...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The issue is how it is done. It is not an issue of setting up a superstructure with a great amount of administration. I will outline a solution to the Minister that is so simple it does not need to be written down. The amount of administration required to spend €250 million will be the same whether it is done by an independent body or the Civil Service. Therefore, those good people in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: There has been much debate recently about the impact of e-mailing and texting on the ability of the next generation to communicate by letter. We should recognise the advances made by Fianna Fáil in proving in the Wexford area that the pen is mightier than the canvass and that it has restored the ancient art of letter writing to its rightful position.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: We will watch with interest to see how that will develop through the party. I will say no more about that because it is not my business. I do not object to No. 2 being taken without debate but on at least four occasions in the past two years I have raised the implications of the Abattoirs Act and the importance of certain aspects of it in terms of traceability of meat. When the joint...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I fully agree the topical issue of the day is the visit of the American President. We need to deal with it in a sensible way, which is not to spend too much time talking about the visit, because he is coming, but to lay out the agenda. Rather than focus this debate on whether we are insulting the American people and the American President, who is the elected President and who is coming here...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: And steel.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Perhaps they can buy them in the supermarket.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: It is the anniversary of the Senator's name and shame campaign.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State. I agree with the comments he and the relevant spokespersons made to the effect that the Bill is much improved. However, I would place it in the same category as the Sermon on the Mount or the principles of Christianity or those of socialism. It will be great if it gets the opportunity and is given the resources to allow it to work.