Results 941-960 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I do not understand part of the Minister's reply. The Minister stated that digital terrestrial retransmission is included in cable. Does this apply for encrypted services? Is that correct?

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I realise I am in breach of the rules but this will save us going through the matter again. Is the Minister saying for definite that the copyright people will be paid in a different way and that they will have sold their rights in some way, shape or form? Let us consider the position of a producer, director or owner of a film which happened to be broadcast in Ireland through a free...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to put one more question. The Minister has answered most of the questions and I understand some of the points he made. Is the Minister's approach to copyright satisfactory in terms of EU directives on cable broadcasting?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I would like to have been there.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I raised previously the need for this House to discuss the Government's response to the Ryan report, which is not due to be published until the last week in July. I believe the House should reconvene to discuss that, if only to show to the victims our concern and where we stand on these issues. A huge amount is taking place under the radar in this regard. Over the last week or so I have...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Yesterday we were given another commitment to have a debate on the economy. I support Senator Hanafin in what he has asked for in the last couple of weeks. It would be very helpful to have a debate here on the views of the different parties to drill down beyond what they are. I have previously said I believe that many people in all parties in both Houses do not quite understand their...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: That is disgraceful.

Seanad: Dairy Industry: Motion (24 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share time with Senators McFadden, Burke and Healy Eames.

Seanad: Dairy Industry: Motion (24 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I disagree with Senator Ellis that the dairy industry is asleep. The industry and its farmers are being squeezed by the retail multiples and others. I found it hard to take IBEC's call this week that an ombudsman is needed to protect supermarkets and the multiple outlets when they are squeezing farmers. I want to bring to the Minister of State's attention that Cadbury's Ireland announced it...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Absolutely.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: The point made by Senator Fitzgerald has been echoed on a number of occasions. Senator MacSharry and I have asked for a discussion on these issues to enable us to focus on them and obtain information. The Leader promised a monthly debate on the economy, then a weekly debate and on one famous day a bi-weekly debate. We have not had any debate on the economy but we must have one. I do not...

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Second Stage (23 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I thank Senator Walsh sincerely for the two minutes and promise Senator Hannigan that I will not eat into his time. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and have a number of queries I wish to raise. While I have raised them with the Minister's office, which is working on them, I wish to put them on the record because I will deal with them on Committee Stage. I welcome the Bill,...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: In recent weeks, I commented in this House about a member of the hierarchy, as I am wont to do. Over the weekend he has taken me to task and has had the audacity to tell me I am wrong in the public newspapers. I have known Bishop John Kirby for the past 30 years and over that time, I always have found him to be an honourable, decent and dependable man. If his record is put up against my...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: My apology also is tainted by the fact that I sense a single transferable vote of long standing moving slowly across towards Senator Mullen in this regard.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: In this regard, I acknowledge I was wrong. There has been much discussion over the weekend on the question of the judges and one should go back to the starting point regarding this issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: This issue was simple and the entire weekend has been a distraction from what really went on. The Government of the day conned the world by not increasing tax through the expedient of calling it a levy.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I objected at the time and spoke in this House on the subject many times. This measure should have been called what it actually was, that is, if it looked like a tax, sounded like a tax and felt like a tax, it was a tax that was payable by everyone. Its description as a levy and the subsequent creation of a difficulty for the Judiciary has caused a problem all round. Someone leaked the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: A half debate took place recently on the ownership of Catholic schools. Many people are of the view that he who is not with us must be against us and believe that those who support State ownership of schools are in some way anti-Catholic, but that is not the case. We need a full debate on this matter so that people's views are put on the record. A classic example in support of such a...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Let people express their views. It is not anti anybody to seek equality and tolerance. These schools were built with State money on land donated to the churches by local farmers or community organisations. This is the people's money. State ownership of schools does not affect Catholic control. Of course there should be parental choice and if parents want Catholic education they should...