Results 1,861-1,880 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I note that the first matter on the Order of Business, a motion on the alteration of Limerick city's boundary, is to be taken without debate. Although I do not have a difficulty with that, I have not had an opportunity to read or discuss the motion. We never have difficulties taking referral to committee motions without debate because that is the appropriate way to deal with such motions...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: If the Minister of State did nothing during his time in office other than accept or rewrite this amendment to make it clear that those who use prostitutes are breaking the law and should be prosecuted, it would be a fine memorial to him. There can be no argument against the points raised by Senators McDonald and Mullen. I am familiar with a number of quite logical arguments regarding the...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister of State did not mention using a prostitute.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I apologise.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Not if the act happens in a brothel.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: A brothel is not a public place.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I have the 1993 Act in front of me. I read it three times while the Minister of State was speaking. It is not a very long Act. It does not cover the situation dealt with in Senator Mullen's amendment except in perhaps 10% of cases. I do not see any reference to the user of prostitutes in a way that covers this as Senator Mullen's amendment does. The Act refers to the organisation of...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Maybe I am misunderstanding the point because the Act does not define the words "solicits or importunes" although it does explain their use. Is the Minister of State suggesting that the client is the person who is soliciting or importuning because I thought that was either the pimp or the prostitute? I am not an expert in this area.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I do not think so.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: How does a client solicit? Someone who solicits is selling his or her services. The client is a buyer.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I still have not heard the answer to the question I raised. What percentage of trafficked people would the Minister of State guesstimate are not trafficked for the purposes of prostitution? That is a crucial issue. That is the relevant aspect of the issue and that figure would answer Senator Mary White's point as to why the issue of prostitution is central to this issue. The words I used...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister of State's reply is reasonable but I have two questions. He stated if the word "trafficked" is omitted, the offence is covered under the offences against the person legislation. Does Senator Mullen's amendment not propose a heavier sentence on conviction? The phrase "takes, detains or restricts a trafficked person" would not add significantly to the work of the prosecution in...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Will the Leader consider arranging a debate on the annual report of the National Competitiveness Council, particularly as the House has discussed the council's previous reports? I requested on a prior occasion that we debate the report because it brings to light certain issues. At this time of the year, when people are involved in negotiations relating to national wage agreements, there is...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Tomorrow's debate on education for persons with special educational needs should raise a number of interesting issues. In the lead-up to this, however, we should recognise the story in last night's news of an empty school facility for autistic children and an autistic child who cannot get in. The school in question has stated that the facility cannot open owing to a lack of therapists but...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: Vulnerable tourists, naive native holidaymakers and innocent Kerry people have been defrauded. I ask that the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism come to the House and tell Senators the truth about the Blarney Stone.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I move: That Nos. 14 and 15 be taken before No. 1 today.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2008: First Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2008.

Seanad: Mental Capacity and Guardianship Bill 2008: First Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Toole: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled Mental Capacity and Guardianship Bill 2008.