Results 3,961-3,980 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Jumped up Trotskyites is not a fair description of many people. While I pay my bin charges, I also support the right to protest. We need to reach a balance in this regard. (Interruptions).

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: There was not balance. As parliamentarians we need to be aware that people are entitled to protest.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: If the publicans say they will not apply the law, they must listen and deal with the effects of their actions afterwards. The same applies to the bin protesters. It is hugely important to reach a balance in dealing with the issue. We must allow people the right to protest, but people cannot be stopped from doing their work. It is not acceptable to stop ordinary people doing their work. There...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Is the Chamber big enough for both speakers?

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I think the Senator is mixing him up with the Leader.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: We keep saying it.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I would like to share the last few minutes of my time with Senator Norris, with the permission of the House.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Is Senator Morrissey going to support the motion? It will be very interesting to see how the Government side votes on this matter tonight because there seem to be different views on it.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: There is always a double-think on the question of traffic. As a starting point there should be one person in charge of transport. There are too many bodies. If I had a choice in the morning I would nominate the one person who has achieved everything he has set out to do, the much reviled Mr. Keegan. He has always delivered exactly what he said he would, he has taken on those who criticised...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I congratulate Fine Gael on its major victory last night in getting access to material which was publicly and freely available anyway.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: That should be acknowledged. I have raised the issue of rail transport in recent days. The Shannon Airport group has produced a new survey on the viability of what I refer to as the Sligo-Galway-Limerick line and what the group calls the Ennis-Limerick line. The Seanad discussed this issue previously in the context of the viability of the airport because both subjects are inter-linked. If...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Sorry, Mr. Kelly.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Keep the money coming and Fine Gael can claim all the victories it wants.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I support the proposal for a debate on transport. I raised the matter yesterday and I would like to gently remind the Leader that she did not say whether she is happy to have such a debate with the Minister for Transport. Regardless of the points that were made, which were not tongue in cheek, it is a serious issue. I would like to mention the plight of the families in north Mayo that were...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I would like the Minister to come to the House to explain what he will do for the families in north Mayo. I have raised issues pertaining to rural Ireland time and time again. Senator MacSharry raised the issue of An Taisce on the Order of Business yesterday and Senator McDowell responded by asking what An Taisce is about. We need to examine this issue. Nobody favours the sale of sites for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Some people in An Taisce are completely deluded and misinformed, however. This matter needs to be examined and dealt with in a balanced way. Similarly, I mentioned the rail line between Sligo and Rosslare yesterday. I did not know at the time of the accident near Cahir. Despite the half-assurances provided by the Minister in the other House yesterday evening, I am terrified that the accident...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I would like an absolute assurance that there is no danger of the closure of the line. I am sure that public representatives from the constituencies in question will ensure that the matter is examined. I would like a debate on the Government's policy in respect of the development of rural Ireland. The Minister's positive statement on decentralisation stated that towns that will benefit from...

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: This motion emanates from the same genre of political imagination that gave us the proposal to compensate Eircom shareholders and taxi drivers.

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: The idea behind the motion will die a death. (Interruptions).

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his protection. Listening to the case in favour of the motion, I wished the proposers and those in the Fine Gael Party who dreamed it up had gone to the trouble of making a few telephone calls because it is based on false information and a complete lack of understanding of the benchmarking process. The consultants who produced the report sat down with every...