Results 3,521-3,540 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The point is that we might be missing some steps.

Seanad: Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witnesses) (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chun Tigh Uachtaraí an Oireachtais. This is the first occasion the Minister of State has attended this House. The Government and all concerned are in a difficult situation. The position regarding our relationship with the Constitution in terms of whether we are its guardians or defenders is not clear. I am certain, however, that we have obligations under...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Just as the teachers had forgotten that Fine Gael did not want to pay them their benchmarking, the party seems to be again determined to stop members of the profession from voting for them. I look forward to a debate on the issue from a different point of view. The Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service was prevented yesterday from having a discussion on decentralisation. I do not...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Apparently, the Government parties do not want to discuss how decentralisation will happen, which is wrong. People know my views on the matter. I have supported the Government's position. While I have spoken in favour of decentralisation, I certainly want it discussed to a greater extent. I want to hear different views, deal with the issues, address problems and establish a timescale.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I ask that this debate take place. I do not know what people fear. No one can legitimately object to the Order of Business today in the sense that the Leader has had to make changes to it for wholly acceptable reasons. However, I must remind the House that there are two urgent Bills before us today which we did not know about last week. They have been brought to our attention in the last 48...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I want to know what is happening. Is there a Cabinet position on the break up of the airports?

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I hope people on the Fianna Fáil benches will support me in this. Let us hear what is happening. Clearly, there is no plan. The business plan has been scrapped. When finally we got to see it, it was shot down by every business person who saw it. Who is driving this process and what is the position of Cabinet members, particularly the Minister for Finance?

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Is it not a free market?

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, I want Senator Leyden to withdraw his comment or to be asked to leave the House. He has made an unwarranted allegation against a person who is not a member of the House and it should be withdrawn immediately.

Seanad: Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witnesses) (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I raised a question to which there is clearly no answer. We must have integrity in our process. The analogy Senator McDowell and I have used is that of court proceedings. I referred to the relevant section of the Bill, which I read carefully last night, because it only refers to criminal proceedings. Can this process be challenged? It is a completely different scenario where a committee...

Seanad: Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witnesses) (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: The three Rs.

Seanad: Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witnesses) (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: However, the House will afterwards.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Is there a Government decision on it?

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: It is important to note that the courts cleared the publication of extracts from school reports. This does not do justice to school authorities. I hope the Minister will urge the publication of complete reports, which deal with school management, school resources, geographical problems, special needs, disadvantage and other issues. The complete report gives a clear view of what staff,...

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (20 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: On the Order of Business yesterday I noted how important it is for Senators to deal with the process of impeachment and for us to have clarification on the Government's thinking on the issue. I noted that the Government must also recognise that Members of this House must have an input. I express my appreciation to the Leader for setting up a meeting with the Attorney General to clarify some...

Seanad: Financial Services Industry: Statements. (19 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State. Listening to these debates, I sometimes wonder if I am living in the same world all the time, or if people change so much. What brings politics most into disrepute is when people shoot from the hip with knee-jerk responses to the issue of the day in a manner completely at odds with all they have been saying on the issue for the previous six years. There was a...

Seanad: Autism Services: Statements (Resumed). (19 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Staff needs should be assessed at both primary and post-primary levels.

Seanad: Autism Services: Statements (Resumed). (19 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: Where did we hear that before, "a lot done, more to do"? Senator Ormonde seems to be describing a different country from the one we are dealing with on the ground. The reality is that autism is not being dealt with in any real way. There is an extraordinary shortage of people at all levels. I agree with Senator Ormonde as regards the shortage of professionals. It is not just at the therapy...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2004)

Joe O'Toole: It commenced last week.