Results 981-1,000 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: Or the Taoiseach.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: I also wish to be associated with the words of congratulation to former Senator Alan Kelly on his election. I wish him well in his time in Europe. It is a very difficult job to represent the most important part of Ireland. I look forward to his work and encourage him to sell the European message as loudly and articulately as possible, as I have no doubt he will, especially over the next...
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: It is not good enough. This House is constitutionally far too important to be demeaned and diminished by having its seats used as a barter and a trade to buy political security. This should be looked at very closely.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: My offer to the Green Party is that among us we will certainly find it possible to put forward an alternative candidate, for whom its party members might like to vote along the way. The seat should be left open in that regard. One of those seats was not a Government seat and that should be respected, as would be done on a local authority, to ensure the seat ultimately goes to a...
- Seanad: Elections of June 2009: Statements (11 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: I am happy to give an independent view on the inter-party rivalry that has been evident for the past hour or two. Fine Gael and the Labour Party, given their position, are perfectly entitled and correct to call for an election. Equally, the Government is correct to say there should be none. I have been here long enough to see changes. I am sorry some of my friends in Fine Gael have not...
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: On the Ryan report, I complimented the Leader previously on arranging the debate, as did Senator Fitzgerald. It was the first debate to take place in the Houses. It was immediate and was important for that reason. It was also important to survivors who mentioned it to me on many occasions. The Leader also made the point, which was raised by Senator Alex White yesterday, that it is an...
- Seanad: Human Trafficking: Motion (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: I congratulate Senator Mullen on the work he has done on this motion. It is crucially important and reflects where we are as a society, even if it makes many people feel uneasy. This is an issue I have raised over the past 15 years and it is time we were honest and open about how we deal with it. There are arguments about this issue but society is afraid to act. There is no logical reason,...
- Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit ar an chéad uair dom a bheith ag déileáil léi sa Teach seo - go n-éirà léi sa job nua. I welcome the Bill wholeheartedly. During the years many of us as public representatives have come across examples of the strains and pressures exerted on families when their elderly loved ones are no longer able to look after themselves. It was easier in the old...
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: I accept the Leader's offer to have a debate on this.
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, what time has been set aside for the debate on No. 1?
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: I wish to raise a point of order. Earlier I asked the Leader how much time would be allocated in respect of No. 1 and he indicated that the latter is not being taken. I do not believe that is what he meant to say and I wish to get the record straight. I wish to make a contribution in respect of No. 1. I understand that No. 1 is a proposal to withdraw a previous motion. In other words, we...
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: Yes, but that means No. 1 must be taken.
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: The House is taking No. 1 today because it rescinds the previous order.
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: We are taking No. 1 today. That is what I am trying to establish.
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: I cannot agree to No. 1 being taken without debate. On each occasion on which I am obliged to produce my passport, when arriving in Brussels or some other city, I wonder how long it will be before Ireland joins Europe. Britain and Ireland are part-time members of the European Union because they refuse to sign up to the Schengen Agreement. It is unacceptable that they so refuse and the...
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: We should not be obliged to queue with non-European citizens. Ireland should opt in to the Schengen acquis. In such circumstances, I am seeking to make a contribution on No. 1. The Houses have never debated this matter in spite of the fact that I have raised it on a number of occasions during the past 15 years. We have not opted in because the British have a liking for stationing fellows...
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: I am moving an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that No. 1 should be taken with debate. I appreciate the support I received yesterday when I raised the matter of Foinse. Ceapaim go bhfuil sé scannalach nach bhfuil tacaÃocht ag teacht ón Rialtas chun acmhainnà a chur ar fáil do Foinse. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach do shaol intleachtúil na tÃre, go mórmhór ó...
- Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2009)
Joe O'Toole: For a motion on Friday.