Results 1,461-1,480 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I will finish on this point and, I apologise for being a little disorderly earlier. The first principle of economics is that a country needs a well educated healthy population. It cannot go anywhere without it. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, told us that out of large classes came the Celtic tiger, implying that with further large classes we might again see...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: That is "Battonomics", a new economic textbook from the Minister for Education and Science who should wise up. "Batt man" needs a little bit of talk in his ear from Robin.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Starting now.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator should concentrate on the budget and not give us a history lesson.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: That has not commenced because the Government has ignored it. We are being misled.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator should stick to the facts.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I am quite happy to be interrupted when I get something wrong.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: In addition to a debate on health, we also need a debate with the Minister for Education and Science on education matters. The Leader told the House last week that he would arrange a debate on education. I appreciate that my colleagues in the Labour Party have tabled a Private Members' motion for discussion later which relates to education issues, but we would like a debate during...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: We have not taken a decision, right or wrong, about it and we are the last ones who can start criticising those involved. I admire the decision taken but I do not know enough about it to discuss the rights and wrongs involved. The university was left in a vacuum with no guidance from the Legislature. The governing body consulted its own experts and took a decision on the basis of their...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Impossible regulations. The Senator should not blame the regulator for implementing them.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: What was taken out of it?

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the Leader for giving a commitment to hold a debate on education in the near future. However, he placed his remarks in the context of what was added to capital and current spending in the budget and did not refer to the cutbacks that will occur. That is the denial to which I object and it is for this reason we must have a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Unfortunately, I must press the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: For the past two or three days I have called for a debate on the topic being discussed by the entire country, which brought tens of thousands of people to the gates of Leinster House yesterday, aspects of which were voted on in the Dáil last night and which we refuse to acknowledge exists. What has happened has brought a great deal about these matters to the fore. The Leader knows me long...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: That is a fair point; let us do that.

Seanad: Broadband Infrastructure Bill 2008: Second Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: That is a great escape.

Seanad: Broadband Infrastructure Bill 2008: Second Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear. Absolutely.

Seanad: Broadband Infrastructure Bill 2008: Second Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I thank Senator Ross for asking me to second the Broadband Infrastructure Bill 2008, which is a fine piece of work. In welcoming the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to the House, I ask him to consider the essential aims of the Bill, which are to establish targets and put in place structures to measure those targets. This morning, as I listened to the comments made by the Minister for Education...

Seanad: Broadband Infrastructure Bill 2008: Second Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: That was a joke between Senator Ross and me.

Seanad: Broadband Infrastructure Bill 2008: Second Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Toole: It is the first step.