Results 401-420 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: In addition, there should be details on the redress proposed by the Senator. I do not want anyone to ask subsequently what did Members expect because I have just outlined what I expect, namely, five issues and five matters to be dealt with. Moreover, this should be placed on the record of the House in a clean, simple and straightforward fashion. This is how Members will move on and as I...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I do not want any Member from the other side of the House to recount tales of the famous lone parent who has four houses in America and so on. People on the ground are struggling and I will ask a question of Members on the other side of the House. At their parliamentary party meetings, someone should ask-----

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: ----- who is advising the Government to rip off lone parents? Who does the sums and picks the easy targets? Who is so ridiculous and stupid as to put this forward as a policy position that is sustainable, measured, capable of being implemented and acceptable to the people? It is an absolute disaster.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Every Kerry issue is a Dublin issue too.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jun 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Leader for responding to the request for a debate on the situation in Gaza and it is appropriate that it take place tomorrow in order that the Minister can contribute on this two days in a row. I concur with everything Senator Fitzgerald said. It is regrettable that Senators were in the public eye all over the weekend for all the wrong reasons again. The Cathaoirleach and I are...

Seanad: Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy (26 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Sudden death stops us in our tracks and we have all taken a hard hit this morning. We on the Independent benches would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to Kieran's wife and family and his Fianna Fáil colleagues and staff. He always came across to us as being a good natured, honest and decent person. He was a person of integrity, on whom we could rely. He was a man...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The final point raised by Senator Fitzgerald should be considered by the House. It goes back to the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 which deals with the matter of responsibilities, as well as other legislation. Very often we pass legislation in the Houses which does not allow Ministers to interfere or become involved in certain matters. The point raised by Senator Fitzgerald is...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The Government took a decision last year on which there was very little discussion, that is, the setting up of a hotline for missing children. Throughout European countries the 116000 number is used. It is a number people can ring immediately if there is any danger of a child being kidnapped, absconding, going missing, running away or whatever internationally. At such times, families are...

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Second Stage (19 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I congratulate Senator Quinn for developing this legislation. I welcome the Minister of State. This issue was touched on many years ago. I refer to the system of buying and selling property in France. The matter is dealt with by a notary public who is, effectively, a lawyer for the common interest. The parties may also engage their own solicitors if required. The job of the notary public,...

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Second Stage (19 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: That is good to hear.

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Second Stage (19 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I am worried now.

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Second Stage (19 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Will the Minister of State consider this point? One of the biggest problems in creating space for women in politics or in various organisations is right-wing and conservative women who, having become successful in their own way, feel they should pull up the ladder behind them. These women often say: "If I did it, they can do it." This is a serious point. I have dealt with this problem in...

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I am a practical person in that regard. It is a question of participation being seen as a means to an end. We need to consider other matters also. One of the problems with Parliament, apart from the fact that it is very much a male club and male-friendly, an environment in which I am very comfortable, is that its schedule is not attractive to women. We need to tell the media that may take...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to return to the point I made yesterday about legislation. Looking at the Order Paper for today, one can see 12 Bills tabled by various Members on this side of the House that are yet to be dealt with: two from Senator Bacik, three from me, two from Senator Quinn and others from Senators Coghlan, Regan, Ryan, Alex White and Cummins. I note that yesterday in the other House there was a...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I previously raised the question of energy. Legislation introduced in the other House by Deputy Varadkar states the Government should make an attempt to reduce the cost of energy, communications, travel and so on by 10% where it has such influence. This is a reasonable point and has become relevant in view of the recent job losses in the pharmaceutical industry. One of the factors that...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: -----in which we would also deal with the Front Line report on the Shell to Sea campaign. There are issues in that regard that need to be discussed. We must consider why the Government has not moved on the issue. If we are to achieve independence in energy production, gas from the Corrib field must be brought ashore. This should be an issue of urgency, although I agree that Shell must...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The matter I wish to raise is one I have brought to the Leader's attention previously. The lack of legislative business both last week and this week and for the foreseeable future is worrying for both Houses. I do not point the finger, however, at the Leader, as I am aware of how hard he works to have legislation introduced in this House. However, I do point it at the Government, as there...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

Joe O'Toole: That is right.