Results 1,901-1,920 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister to the House. I listened carefully to her speech. I will not use this legislation to articulate my views on co-location. I have done that previously and I am sure I can do it again. I do not know whether I should support or oppose this Bill, and when in doubt, "Vote No" quickly comes to mind. On the Order of Business this morning I stated that this is the...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: What about farmers and trade unions?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: In all fairness, please do not say this as it is not relevant.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: There was consensus and discussion.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: With respect, we have offered to sit on Friday.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: We offered to sit on Friday.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I remind the Leader that I raised with him last week the difficulties I anticipated with the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill before we saw it. I accept he was not aware of some of these difficulties at the time, but it is important to note this. It is also important to note the Government has done a U-turn on water charges for schools——

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: ——and that is a good thing.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Schools should be advised that rather than holding the bills for the next two years, they should send them straight to the Taoiseach and let him deal with them because he is the only one who knows what is happening at this stage. I congratulate my colleague Senator Jim Walsh, who was the only person to get a clear view of the whole thing and managed to blame the schools for the water...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I do not wish to cast aspersions on Michael Smith as he is an honourable person. That is not the issue. The issue is the process. I want a debate on this. I want everyone to go on the record, including the Leader's colleagues who, I am sure, feel the same as me, although when it comes down to it, they will be covered by the party Whip. There is a process that must be followed, and we...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Integration Policy: Statements (Resumed) (13 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey, to the House. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, for his earlier contribution in which he said: We must work to ensure an intercultural society where the different cultures speak to each other, listen and ultimately enrich each other in the context of a common aspiration to promote the welfare and values of a new Irish...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I was very pleased. That was not my point. I have no problem with the book.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I think the book is superb. The issue was the balance.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: The House will be aware that the Minister for Education and Science recently decided to circulate a copy of a book on the first president of Fianna Fáil to every school in Ireland. I will state an interest. The author of the book, Diarmuid Ferriter, is a friend and supporter of mine. I am happy that this was done for him. That is not the issue I raised. I am an Independent Senator who...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I do not object at all to the circulation of a well-written book, namely, Diarmuid Ferriter's book on de Valera. That is not the issue here. The issue is that it can and is being perceived as showing a lack of balance. This is important. I fought for many years to get more books into schools so I am not going to argue in this House against sending books to schools. If it is going to be...

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am pleased to be able to second the motion and congratulate Senator Ross for again raising this issue. He has pushed the matter time and again, as have I, but we have made very little progress. Where does one start with this? I will start by saying that the Government amendment is quite appalling. The fact that, with a straight face, the...

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Walsh is embarrassed by the amendment. He should tell the truth.

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: What was decided at the meeting? The Minister of State should give us some good news.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2007)

Joe O'Toole: I admire the Senator's optimism about our ability to think outside the box. Senator Bacik was heckled yesterday when she made a reasonably intellectual argument on mandatory drug testing. I, too, would like a debate on this issue to determine whether the Senators who heckled will have a thoughtful contribution to make. I hope the House will express outrage about an issue in which the...