Results 3,501-3,520 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: In this civic society.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The oligarchs were there until 1916.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: He would be appointed the new leader of Fianna Fáil as well, would he not?

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I take this opportunity to place on record my appreciation of the work of two members of the outgoing Government, if I may call it that. We may still have a Government but we do not know who is in charge of it. If we knew who was speaking on behalf of whom, the position could be explained to us. It is very difficult for the ordinary citizen to know who is speaking on behalf of Government. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: It sounds like a Minister bored his wife into submission by forcing her to listen to a speech and then swore he had delivered it somewhere to an election worker. It would be useful if the Government created a sense of stability and reality so that we know where we are. However, I appreciate the extraordinary work done by the Irish Presidency, led by the Taoiseach, over the past number of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: We have had our differences but it is a measure of the man that one can have an argument with him and then move on to do business. That is the nature of good politics. It is about everybody sharing their views and finding a way forward; it is not about everybody agreeing. The Minister for Finance deserves credit. Senator Ross praised him highly and will agree his delivery of a new national...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The freedom of information issue is an example of déjÀ vu. The comments by Senator Brian Hayes reflect comments made by others previously. We knew this would happen. The points he made are absolutely correct. The Government should admit it got it wrong and review the amending legislation to return the pendulum to its previous position.

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: That is what is happening to young people for the past ten years.

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I compliment my colleague, Senator Coghlan, on bringing forward the Bill. It is a tribute to him and a practical example of how politicians can remain in touch with the world around them and put their finger on the pulse of need. While I welcome the Minister of State to the House, I have great difficulty with his concluding remarks. I do not understand why he is worried about waving a big...

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: This is consumer protection, not interfering with the market.

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: That is like saying that 90% of people do not rob so we should not have any laws against robbery.

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator's party leader has said how difficult it is to get figures.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to be associated with the recognition and affirmation of the extraordinary work on James Joyce that Senator Norris has done over the years. He is the leading authority in the world. I am not allowed to say anymore as he is our spokesperson on Joycean affairs.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The Mahon tribunal issued a report yesterday. I ask Members to take an interest in it. We need to look at a very simple issue. Under the terms of reference the tribunal is required to investigate every single allegation. That will take 14 years. The proposal is that where matters are referred to the tribunal, it would initially investigate them and if it came to a conclusion that they did not...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The question is whether this is the start of a bright spell for the Opposition.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Has the date slipped again?

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The discharge of effluent into the bay caused the loss of the flag.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I offer congratulations to the newly elected members of the local authorities and to the newly elected MEPs. It is important that we recognise their potential contribution. I also offer my condolences in respect of the number of single transferable votes that evaporated from my colleagues on the other side and suggest that it might perhaps encourage Members on the Government side to take a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I have been very careful in what I have said. I know the Chair is uncomfortable with it. However, I do not believe I have gone beyond the limit. I ask that this be raised confidentially by the Leader with the Government. Serious mistakes have already been made, not by anybody in this House, and we should examine carefully what the conclusions might be. I think we are making a mess of it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.