Results 861-880 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (22 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: In acknowledging the presence of Tony Kett's family and friends here, I apologise for my rudeness in not being here for the beginning of these tributes to him. It is one of those things that happens in the life of a public representative, but it reflects what I want to say. No one more than the family understands the impact of public representation on family life and leisure time, which...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I am glad the Government has taken on board the points Senator MacSharry and I have been making here in recent weeks about the importance of getting the social partners around the table in Government Buildings. It is important to recognise what is going on. I know that Members on this and the opposite side of the House will be disappointed by talk of strike action and agitation, etc. but I...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, I have just head someone state the House is not sitting next week.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, this is a question for the Cathaoirleach. This is the first I have heard of such a proposal. Is this the way to do business?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I will resist the opportunity to make any snide comments at my loyal colleagues in front of me in the Fine Gael benches except to regret the contemptuous way in which they were treated by their leader over the weekend.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The Fine Gael leader played right into the Leader's hands and I do not know why he is smiling because the world knows that he has managed to outmanoeuvre the Green Party in its attempts to reform this House time and again. The Green Party must also play its part. All I will say about Fine Gael's proposal - unthinking and without rationale as it was - is that it might hasten some action from...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: He has had the final meeting twice before.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: It sounds as if the Senator includes the universities but nobody else.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, every Independent Senator on these benches for the past 20 years has been in favour of implementing the 1979 referendum result. I understand Senator Regan would not have misled the House deliberately but I would like him to withdraw that comment. It is factually incorrect. We tabled a Bill and also supported a Fine Gael Bill which was presented at the time by Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I note the revised programme for Government and offer my congratulations to the Green Party on attempting to add a human, caring element to the hard face of NAMA.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The provisions on education have given some hope to schools, parents and young professionals because, even if they did not include a lot, they showed somebody cared. The Government can learn a lesson from this. Concerns were expressed that Fianna Fáil might not play ball or that the Green Party would look a gift horse in the mouth rather than make progress. In the event, it was a master...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: We should learn from the experience by moving forward in other ways. A social contract is needed among all groups in society. The Government should give hard leadership by showing what needs to be done and sharing the problems with everyone in society in order to determine what our common objectives should be and agree a way forward. The space outside the gates of Leinster House will...

Seanad: Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy (13 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: On behalf of the Independent benches, I wish to be associated with the words that have been offered by the previous speakers. There will be another day when we can have a more formal tribute to Senator Callanan, but as of now, we should note that he was a man with politics in his bloodstream and Fianna Fáil in the marrow of his bones. He died in office in the way that he would have wanted....

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I agree with much of what the previous speaker said. We should have a debate on the question of Oireachtas expenses. We have asked for such a debate before. When I was a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission more than two years ago, I proposed that every application for expenses by a Member of either House should be published in Iris Oifigiúil or on the Oireachtas website. I...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (7 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: With the permission of the House, I would like to share half of my time with Senator Doherty.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (7 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: In line with much of what has been stated previously, I wish to speak in strong favour of the scheme's retention. We have heard much about the rural landscape. The fine report put together by Senator Doherty earlier this year constituted a classic example of what needs to be done. The proposed cutback is a plan to denude rural Ireland of infrastructure and support and to isolate...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The debate should be on Thursday.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to raise a point of order which is no way a challenge to the Cathaoirleach's ruling on the incident that occurred on the Order of Business yesterday. There is some confusion which I can understand from all points of view. I do not think that Senator Harris's initial contribution contravened the laws of the House. Will the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, CPP, consider this?...