Results 1,261-1,280 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (17 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The first point made by Senator Norris was one I intended to make, so I will merely reinforce it. In France, for example, every angler has his own white van. Anglers do not have to pay tax on these vehicles and must pay only for the petrol they use. In other words, while petrol is more expensive in France than it is in this State, the motor industry can flourish in the sense that people...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: That is right.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Fitzgerald raised crucial points, including the need to engage on issues, a matter I raised on the Order of Business yesterday. The Seanad has refused to become topical because the Leader has failed to arrange debates on issues such as education when requested to do so. While I concur with the point made about the lack of discussion and engagement with this House, this should not be...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Social partnership is the only forum where Government can engage with all sides — labour, business, the farming community and the community pillar, which includes the unemployed and various voluntary bodies. There is no more vital place in which the Government can engage and demand and secure support. This will only work, however, if engagement also takes place at political level. On two...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The newspaper of record.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Fitzgerald raises a crucial issue. As I stated last week, the Taoiseach travelled around Europe talking about negotiating a deal which had not been discussed in this House or the Other House. That is unacceptable, bad politics and a stupid strategy, as is the fact that banking representatives appeared before the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service this morning without...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: No, I am not. Let me clarify. On page 5, line 11, the Bill reads, "...not including the income from the portion of the person's savings or similar investments whose capital value does not exceed €36,000". Line 19 reads "€72,000". These provisions are clear, but there is no interpretation of "similar investments" or "savings". If a person must liquidate his or her house and puts that...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Yes.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister of State is missing the point. Someone went to the trouble of writing down those phrases. He or she did not just write "interest income". Rather, he or she referred to income from a portion of a person's savings or similar investments. What does this provision cover? One could not consider the sale of a house, as outlined in my example, as savings or a similar investment. I...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I understand.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: It is a sore point.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: That is the message, that they were up for the craic.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The disparaging remarks about members of the public made by the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, at the end of her speech gave a very bad turn to a very good speech. I refer to the idea that Sligo people were coming up here for the craic. I have just spoken to the secretary of the Sligo branch of the retired teachers who was appalled at the suggestion, but nonetheless it was made. I have...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The issue is why we put forward these amendments and the matters with which we want to deal. At that meeting, people asked how they could get involved in the political process and they wanted to do various things such as crowd places and so on. In this regard, I said the thing to do is for people, in a mannerly way, to visit their local politicians in their constituencies to put their points...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: That is the way, if we want to play politics. Some of us are trying to control that kind of politics and to get proper respect for politicians in their constituencies by engaging with the public and listening to their point of view. I spoke to members of that group for a full hour on that point. I cannot state how disappointed I am with the view that has been offered on this.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: As I stated on Second Stage, the problem is that getting information from the HSE always takes time and it is often incorrect. That is the issue here. It is not a case of trying to put extra pressure on it. It is the only way in which we can be sure of knowing what is happening and it is a very reasonable request. There is a way out of it. The Minister of State could give a guarantee,...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: There should never be reference to people in the Visitors Gallery.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: However, the minute the Minister of State did that, the floodgates were opened. It was a breach of convention.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I was unaware of this matter and I commend Senator Fitzgerald on raising it. In one such set of circumstances the Government will recognise that the cost of nursing home charges will definitely be taken into consideration on each occasion. In other circumstances, such as those contemplated by this legislation, it will not. Is there not invidious discrimination in that respect and is it not...