Results 4,201-4,220 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I have not tabled a recommendation on the following point but I would like to hear the Minister's views on it. In the context of the various credits available to people in this section and in the wider way through SSIAs etc. a common issue is that of housing. I would like the Minister's view on my next point – I want only a personal view I do not expect him to give a detailed one at this...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: There is a real issue in regard to housing and I support what Senators McDowell and Higgins and the Minister have said. The market was managed. It drives me mad when I hear about housing being released to young couples looking to put a roof over their heads. Something is happening here. Over 50,000 houses and apartments are being built each year, a figure higher that is than the birth rate....

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: There is not a free market in housing. The problem is that there are controls.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: The problem is that the supply is regulated.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I notice the Order Paper now has a fancy cover. This is a disposable document, something that we throw in the bin at the end of the day. The new cover is lovely and it looks well, but it seems to be a huge waste.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: It may save money in printing costs perhaps, but the cover is made of at least 100 gram paper and that means many more trees have to be cut down. The management of waste is important to Members on both sides of the House. If it is the case that, because the tax laws regarding such matters as VAT are so convoluted, irrational and illogical, we can save on VAT by wasting more paper and killing...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: We must be modern and progressive.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to pick up on the point raised by Senator Coghlan about the costs in various professions. It ties in with an issue I would like to have clarified. I am aware of one individual who was concerned about the costs of medical services and felt that some of them could be delivered more cheaply. He went to the trouble of investing privately in an MRI machine that would be made available at...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Leader for providing a day to conduct this important debate. I also thank the Minister of State for his broad input. It was far too broad for the subject required, but that is in the nature of things. It is the way the Department works and we understand that.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: While I was pleased to hear about East Timor and was glad to note the Minister of State visited the region, that is not what is at issue in this debate. I wish to counter some of the assumptions made about Members on these benches. I am not, nor have I been, a pacifist. I believe in taking appropriate action to deal with matters. I would have preferred if the United Nations had passed a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: We need to examine the ordering of our business in the context of Report Stage of the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003. Given the joint committee's unanimous agreement that the Bill requires further significant amendment and the need to ensure the Bill is passed by both Houses by 18 April, the Government should agree to make and accept amendments today. If it does not, we should...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: Fianna Fáil only left Kildare.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I move amendment No. 2: In page 5, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: "1.–The long title of the Principal Act is amended by substituting "PERSONS". for "MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC". I welcome the Minister for Finance. I made remarks similar to those of Senator McDowell, in relation to the Minister's trip to Cheltenham, on a previous occasion. I have many differences with the...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator did not actually hear what I said, which was that the Government will decide at the end of the day.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: In fairness to the Minister, he did no such thing. He said he will listen to the views and make his decision then.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: That is the way it works.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I did not say that he should accept anyone's view, I said that the final decision rests with the Government.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: No.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: The example offered by the Minister was discussed at some length last week and I do not agree with it. The person whose name is on the application is the one to whom we are relating. I do, however, see the point the Minister raised in the earlier part of the argument. I can see that having a triple interpretation of the word "person" could cause confusion which was not my intention. I do not...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Joe O'Toole: I will not rehearse the points I made earlier. I look forward to the Bill being returned from the Lower House when whatever changes on which the Minister decides have been made. In the course of a long and, at times, difficult debate, during a spat with our good colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, the impression may have been given that the Minister's advisers were lacking...