Results 1,241-1,260 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (27 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I reflect what has been said by the previous speakers. It is important we are having this debate and that Members put what they have to say on the record. I agree with much of what Senator Marc MacSharry said. However, in fairness to Fine Gael, I must say two things. It is not fair to say Fine Gael forecast 4% growth this year. It was very clear in its election manifesto that on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: We never gave it the power to do it.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: There was a great deal of debate over the weekend about the outcome of the Roscommon incest case and related matters. I did not listen much to it because I can no longer stomach the craw thumping, puke inducing hypocrisy of commentators shedding crocodile tears for children who suffer abuse and neglect while blaming the HSE and everybody else along the way. It is 22 years since I was first...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: As a member of the board of the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority within whose remit this issue falls, I have many views on the issue of auditing standards, on which I will not speak at this time. However, company law is an issue at which we need to look carefully. I want the Minister to indicate clearly his views as to whether a person needs to be in breach of written...

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: My view of the world is that common law is clear about the responsibilities of company directors, a matter about which we had long debates in 2003. It seems any director of a company who acts against the best interests of that company, and the common good in as much as it applies to that company, is in breach of common law. It is also clear, as I understand it, that the compliance...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: On the proposal to adjourn the House, there is a long parliamentary tradition of having discussions on the Adjournment. There has never been a time during which such cynicism has been directed at the parliamentary and legislative systems. If we meet and immediately adjourn, and afterwards deal with only one item of business, having just come through one of the most turbulent months in our...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I say to the Leader there is a range of subjects we might discuss during this proposed period of adjournment. They include child abuse, cuts in health and education, difficulties in accident and emergency departments, the need for public sector reform and the need for the Government to raise funds internationally. I set aside the issues we are to discuss later on tonight. We should take...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2009)

Joe O'Toole: I agree completely with the points made by Senator Fitzgerald. There is a sense of déjÀ vu for me and some of my colleagues. I recall that previously there was a special sitting of the House to bail out Goodman. On this occasion the House has been recalled to bail out the banks. I want to be absolutely clear about the reason I oppose the allocation of time. I am not politicking here....

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (19 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Minister for remaining to deal with this issue. The Minister and I have soldiered long and hard on the question of primary school building. This must be a unique Adjournment debate matter on schools in that I am not seeking for any school to be built, extended or replaced. I am trying to deal with the Government's requirement of seeking value for money. After going through...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (19 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I know he understands the points I am making. He stated the school management met with the consultant architect and exchanged correspondence with the contractor regarding the release of the money and the completion of works in the project. That meeting took place on 4 November, and the contractor agreed to complete the works immediately....

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: This is a classic example of one arm of Government not listening to the other. Over the past four months, we have raised the difficulties faced by small businesses in accessing cash. Up to €10 billion is being put in the way of the banks to help access to cash. This recommendation provides a way in which the State could offer an opportunity to small businesses, in particular, to improve...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: On behalf of Independent Senators, I also wish to be associated with the words of the Cathaoirleach and thank him for his good wishes. We would also like to extend our good wishes to all on both sides of the House and thank the Cathaoirleach for his courtesy at all times and the Leader for his co-operation. We have our rows but always manage to sort them out. I also thank the Government...

Seanad: Lisbon Treaty (19 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House. While I recognise his Department is under extraordinary pressure at this time, it is a good time to place on record my views. The Minister will be aware that I approach this issue from a disinterested, non-party viewpoint. The Government is making a serious error in its dealings and relations with the Opposition parties. It is time the Opposition was...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I have no doubt they have been and they are people of the highest quality and with the intellectual power to back that up. That said, there needs to be an oversight body for banking. We have an oversight body for accountancy and other matters. If we had an oversight body for banking, what would it do? There would be basic uniformity of standards which they would have to apply and conform...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I will speak about the economy during the debate on the Finance Bill 2008. It is worthwhile to focus on the second point that was made by Senator Fitzgerald. I argued three months ago that the Financial Regulator was the most appropriate authority to make a statement about the capitalisation of the banks, as no other body had seen the books. That point was not accepted by any commentator...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I could not agree more. This is the third day this week that I have raised this issue. I raised it in the context of full engagement with the State and including political traction. If the Government is putting together a strategy to claw our way out of a recession, it is not enough to include the people and the social partners because there must also be positive political traction to...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: That would not be difficult to organise. I do not care if a Minister is not present. If the Government does not wish that a Minister attends, let us have the document and we will offer our views on it. That would not be a difficult procedure for the Leader to organise. I do not even wish there to be a vote on the issue. The people of Ireland are entitled to hear where their political...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I ask the Leader to consider my request. On another related matter, both Senator O'Donovan and I have raised in the House on a number of occasions the problems of the Irish fishing industry. I have bemoaned the fact that the industry along the west coast has been destroyed. Incredibly it is now the case that France and Spain are seeking to reduce the current Irish fishing quota so that our...