Results 581-600 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Toole: With due respect, the Leader's comments are incorrect. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges has decided that on weeks when the House does not sit on a Tuesday, Private Members' business will begin at 5.30 p.m. The reason is that if it were to start earlier, with the long Order of Business, the Labour Party, Sinn Féin and other Members would not get to contribute to the debate. On...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The Broadcasting Act was passed last year and one aspect of it concerns paying for the regulation of local and national radio through a levy imposed by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. That is not unusual — it is regular and correct that those being regulated should pay for regulation. However, following the most challenging year in the history of broadcasting, with a reduction in...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Is this not what the Senator objected to?

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Toole: We must be very careful on the issue of educational qualifications at second and third level. One of the great problems in the last ten years was we confused education with qualifications. It is very easy to talk about those issues that are easily quantifiable but, given the state of the country, how do we ensure the education system will allow us to develop the next generation for every...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I was disappointed that the Leader did not find time yesterday or today for a debate on banking.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: He gave us a very solemn promise on Tuesday-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: From the response we got from the Leader we understood there would be a debate within the next couple of days.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I still think it is crucial. The Leader himself has been clear on the importance of this debate. I agree with him in regard to the issues we have to consider, including the third banking force, our relationship with Europe, the timetable for NAMA and the Government's best projections for the economy for the rest of this year. I would like to debate the figures in the budget, which appear...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate and congratulate Fine Gael for tabling it. I also welcome the Minister. We have soldiered for many years in various fora, both for and against each other. I stress to my colleagues on the Government side, particularly the new Green Party Members, that while the Government is always presented as speaking with one voice, it does not mean...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: It is about strategy and getting a result. That is what should be done. Much has been said about SENOs that I would like to go into. They are not the ones who do the assessments and there are problems arising from the involvement of SENOs in many cases. I spoke on every section of the Education for People with Special Educational Needs Act and dealt with every part of it. When it was...

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share time with Senator Mullen.

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on the important work he has done. I have some reservations with regard not to what is contained in the joint committee's report but rather in respect of what is missing from it. I wish, therefore, to make two significant points - I know the Minister of State will take them on board - and ask two questions. It is stated in the report that...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I support Senator Fitzgerald in congratulating the Minister for Health and Children on establishing a review of the carrying out of symphysiotomies. The television programme on this matter was the most nauseating I have watched for a long period. What happened to the women concerned was appalling. I would like to know what were the values held by and instincts of those who carried out...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I extend congratulations from these benches to Senator Dearey. It is important that people put their names forward for public representation at a time when politics is not really the dish of the week for most. I thank Senator Dearey for so doing. I welcome him and wish him well. His appointment raises an issue about methods of election and nomination but it seems to have been ignored by...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: County Louth is very well represented in the Seanad. We look forward to all the delegates from the county telling us how we should do business and make an input. I congratulate the Senator and wish him well. The issue raised by Senator Fitzgerald about the banks is a very important one. I support, in general, the Government's banking policy, although it is not handling the issue well and...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Toole: We do not need legislation to allow credit to be extended. The ability to do that is in place at the moment. It would be much more honest if people were told exactly what the situation is and when, where and how credit will be extended.