Results 761-780 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share two minutes of my time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: We have learned from the last three speakers that no politics are international. I welcome the Minister who has outlined the objectives of the Bill. While I fully support what is included in it and have no difficulty with it, it raises wider issues. In that regard, I would like to pick up on some of the points raised by Senator Doherty. I have long wanted a debate on neutrality, something...

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The United Nations, like Christianity, has never been allowed to work. It is not currently democratically controlled, but if it was and the Security Council did not call all the shots, it could operate as a world police force which could take decisions on when we needed to intervene. It is the most appropriate body and very close to the way we operate. We could demand a UN position and...

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: That sounds like a secure nomination.

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Those people support next week's strike even though they are not allowed to go out themselves.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I second the amendment proposed to the Order of Business on holding a discussion on the relationship between the State and AIB. People are planning to go out on strike next Tuesday. This is another nail in that coffin because they are saying that the Government is prepared to pay any amount of money to bankers while crucifying public servants once again. The logic is irrelevant because that...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: We know she introduced legislation.

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State. This legislation was born out of the toughest of times and significant public interest in developments in FÁS. It is the Government's response to these developments. Notwithstanding this, I have major difficulties with regard to what is absent from the Bill and some regressive aspects of the legislation. I take as given the points made about the good work...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: One cannot get it in north Dublin.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The point made by Senator Cummins about the appointment referred to was raised previously by my colleague Senator Ross and it is significant. I ask Members to cast their minds back to the point made by me during the debate on the NAMA Bill last week when I said guidelines on credit control and the granting of credit were not worth the paper they were written on because the Minister could not...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: They are unrelated issues. These are like white elephants in the classroom.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: That is not the issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his support. I was shivering over here.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Does the Leader expect Fianna Fáil to be still in Government at that time?

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: There seems to be some confusion about access to live Seanad debates. On the Order of Business yesterday Senator Hanafin raised the importance of live-streaming. Perhaps he used the word incorrectly, but the Seanad is constantly available on live-stream at www.oireachtas.ie. He may have been referring to broadcasting, which is another matter. The debates are also available for listening...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I second the amendment. This is a core part of what the Bill is about, namely, giving a balance in the form of a community add-on facility and a sense of ownership among ordinary people and communities. In the Minister's absence last night I had tabled another amendment to the legislation and to the section where it says that NAMA may "distribute assets in specie to the Minister". I added a...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: We have many agreements. As the Leader would say, it is a good thing for young Senators to understand how the system works.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator might just be wrong on this one, however. The issue is that the Minister was quoted in his absence last night by his ministerial colleague, Deputy O'Dea, who said a number of things. I gave examples such as the fact one might be left with 50 houses in Tulsk or a cinema somewhere else which might be used for social and affordable housing or as a community hall, respectively. The...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister is nodding, and I know it is an attractive proposition, but it does not fulfil all our problems. It is a logical answer which is why the Minister finds it attractive. However, I still had to ask how the Minister was going to fulfil the sop he gave to the Green Party in section 2(b)(viii) of a community aspect to all this. I thought this would be one way to do it. I am waiting...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Why thank you, Minister.