Results 4,541-4,560 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (20 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: With the permission of the House and in order to get in as many speakers as possible, I would like to share my time with Senator Norris. I promise I will sit down as soon as the Chair indicates the two and a half minutes are over. Since it was a few minutes after 5 o'clock when we started, there should be a little tolerance at the other end. I concur with much that has been said. I welcome...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (20 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I bet the Government is not going to stop grants for agriculture.

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: There are issues to look at here. We could all make speeches about the direct contribution and how inefficient it might be as a means of supporting somebody. There are many on this side, including Senator McDowell, who have never been enthusiastic about the first-time buyer's grant. That is a given. However, it is utterly unacceptable that the way to deal with that is to abolish the grant and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I compliment Senator Hayes on reaching across the House and showing a consensual approach to discussion. It is very important to show that we can address these matters in a non-party and undivided manner in this House, which has always been open to such an approach. It gives me great pleasure to second that motion, if Senator Hayes does not mind.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: It shows that we can share viewpoints and share concerns. We are not cornering all the wisdom in the market over here.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: We recognise that it exists on both sides of the House and we defer on this occasion to the excellent point raised by the Progressive Democrats in terms of the number of 5 metre high trucks that are leaving the port every day which will not be able to get into the tunnel. It will take an item off the Order Paper by allowing two items to be dealt with together, which is a useful way to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: We are progressive.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: There is also a Minister of State at the Department of Finance.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: If the Senator agrees, he can speak on the issue immediately.

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share my time with Senator Brian Hayes.

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I appreciate the fact the Minister has stayed here for the debate to listen to what we have to say. It is difficult to address this issue without giving a couple of emotive anecdotes which seem to be de rigueur in any discussion on transport. I will try to avoid doing that, although I am sure I could add to them.

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: That rail link should take approximately two and a half hours at an 80 mile an hour average speed. That is what happens in other countries. Because that does not happen here – I could give 25 more examples – that student must live in Dublin. There are immediate effects, such as the cost, the pressure on accommodation in Dublin, congestion in Dublin and the fact that people are taken away...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I echo the words of Senator Brian Hayes. When the Estimates are published tomorrow there will be a public outcry. We should meet at 4 p.m. tomorrow to allow Members to express their views on the Estimates, which will have been published by that time. There is a high level of expectation in areas such as health and education and there is particularly high expectation of the schools building...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: There is no dawn chorus at this time of year, just in case anybody was thinking of getting up tomorrow morning.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: She should never have left that Ministry, if she was doing such a good job of it given that Luas has been delayed by a year on account of her leaving. I give my full support to the request from Senator Hayes for a debate, not just on work permits, but also on immigration policy. I addressed the conference organised by the Equality Authority yesterday and in recent times have raised the issue...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I want to raise two issues. The first is that in the course of the last week the new penalty points system for motoring offences was introduced. The House should ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to express his outrage at the further exploitation of drivers with the announcement of one insurance company, Axa, that it will increase the cost of insurance on the basis of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Should I be optimistic that we will have our debate? That west Limerick glint in the Cathaoirleach's eye does not give me confidence.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: The putting of thousands of tons of freight on overcrowded Irish roads should be resisted by all parties and by people all over the country. I ask the Cathaoirleach to take a brave stand on the issue so that the people in the House can express their views before the CIE board comes to a decision. I look forward to making that case in an hour and hope the Cathaoirleach will allow a full...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Seniority but not senility.