Results 21-40 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Recognition of Domestic Partnerships: Motion. (16 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I compliment Senator Norris on putting down this issue for debate. It is something we have to address. I join with him in his words of praise for the Leader who has worked hard to put a sensitive amendment to it. I cannot disagree with it but I wish she could have gone a bit further. Some 12 years ago Senator Norris asked me, as the co-ordinator of the Independent Members in the Seanad, to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I take a different view from that of the Cathaoirleach regarding the Order of the Business, but that is not to challenge his ruling which I accept. No Standing Orders exist to restrict the Order of Business to questions on the day's business. I have had to take the trouble over the years to go back over the history of the House to its foundation and I assure Members that I can find instances...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: It is my belief that, if someone says something often enough, it can almost become accepted as law. While I agree with the Cathaoirleach on the need for us to be efficient on the Order of Business, it is the basis on which Members discuss what business should be taken and whereby they can ask for it to be today even if they mean it to be tomorrow. That has always been the way. In fairness to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Does the Senator support it?

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: It was a Leader of the House.

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Are we having a debate on these motions?

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: There are not that many people who want to speak on this but there is an issue here. It is not the subject matter but a technical issue. If it is agreeable I suggest speakers get six minutes.

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I remind Members that this is purely a technical discussion and issues need to be examined. There is a double fault line. I will speak about the positive aspects first. The proposal for substitution originated in this House and it has worked very well. The committees now match up with a Government Department and that has been evolving—

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: —yes, or two Departments. There is a clear line of responsibility and the names of the committees make it far easier for Members to understand which Minister will be dealing with each committee. I now come to the down side. This may not be a popular opinion but for those of us who are responsible for ensuring a quorum at committees it is a bigger problem to get people to attend committee...

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: The voice of sanity.

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator was lucky. Some of us were not allowed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: On behalf of the Independent group, I express appreciation to the Leader for the efficient manner in which the question of committee membership was dealt with in the past week. It has helped enormously. It is important this House should take the lead on this matter. I have discussed it with many people in the other House, all of whom agreed with me on this, demonstrating that we must examine...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (23 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: With the permission of the House, I wish to share my time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (23 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: A time will come when people will be forced to recognise that engagement, argument and persuasion among the parties, at the bilateral and multilateral level, is the only option. This is not happening. It is no longer simply a matter of justifying positions. This island has been troubled for too many centuries and generations by people justifying their positions. Let us forget about the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: If the Cathaoirleach wishes me to say anything on that matter I will be happy to facilitate him. Support for all sporting organisations is of major importance. In past debates on crime and alcohol, Members have always noted that the nub of the issue revolves around how people use their time. Whatever our views on the principal issue of funding the GAA, it should be recognised that this...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: When the issue of clerical child abuse was raised yesterday, we asked the Leader to consider engaging with the Government or the appropriate Minister in order to arrange a debate. Our requests for a such a debate were not rhetorical because this matter must be discussed. As stated yesterday, we are not shooting from the hip on this, we are merely raising the issues as they arise. I would like...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Shameful, shameful.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Personal courage is a majority all on its own.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I want to raise two issues. The first is that in the course of the last week the new penalty points system for motoring offences was introduced. The House should ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to express his outrage at the further exploitation of drivers with the announcement of one insurance company, Axa, that it will increase the cost of insurance on the basis of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Should I be optimistic that we will have our debate? That west Limerick glint in the Cathaoirleach's eye does not give me confidence.