Results 61-80 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: If the Senator agrees, he can speak on the issue immediately.

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I wish to share my time with Senator Brian Hayes.

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I appreciate the fact the Minister has stayed here for the debate to listen to what we have to say. It is difficult to address this issue without giving a couple of emotive anecdotes which seem to be de rigueur in any discussion on transport. I will try to avoid doing that, although I am sure I could add to them.

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: That rail link should take approximately two and a half hours at an 80 mile an hour average speed. That is what happens in other countries. Because that does not happen here – I could give 25 more examples – that student must live in Dublin. There are immediate effects, such as the cost, the pressure on accommodation in Dublin, congestion in Dublin and the fact that people are taken away...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (20 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: With the permission of the House and in order to get in as many speakers as possible, I would like to share my time with Senator Norris. I promise I will sit down as soon as the Chair indicates the two and a half minutes are over. Since it was a few minutes after 5 o'clock when we started, there should be a little tolerance at the other end. I concur with much that has been said. I welcome...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (20 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I bet the Government is not going to stop grants for agriculture.

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: There are issues to look at here. We could all make speeches about the direct contribution and how inefficient it might be as a means of supporting somebody. There are many on this side, including Senator McDowell, who have never been enthusiastic about the first-time buyer's grant. That is a given. However, it is utterly unacceptable that the way to deal with that is to abolish the grant and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: In regard to No. 1 and the Leader's reference that the joint committee must report back no later than 28 November 2002, is that how it is to be dealt with? Perhaps the Chair can give me some guidance on the matter. The device of assigning and referring motions to a joint committee was meant to be an efficient way of doing business. Traditionally, it has been done without debate. The...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: There is another issue the House should consider and on which I ask the Leader to arrange a debate. I am well aware the Government is at the stage of beginning to approve a Bill on the establishment of a police authority of some description in the South. Nonetheless, in the report of the Garda Complaints Board phrases such as members of the force were more loyal to each other than to the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I certainly will.

Seanad: Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (21 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I congratulate the Minister of State and the Department on introducing this Bill. It is appropriate in this debate to look back at the history of the fishing industry. The whole community, including the trade union movement and the political parties, should take responsibility for ignoring the industry and treating it as a low level employer. It is the only area of Irish industry which was...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Decisions to be taken this week will be of huge significance for the Ireland of the future. One of those concerns the discussion on fisheries taking place in Brussels this week. We had a debate on that issue in recent weeks and Members showed much interest and commitment and a lot of issues were raised. I would like the Government to know that matters raised in that debate are still important...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: We can have a discussion without the Minister being present.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: We would have a response for him.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: It could be put to a committee of the Houses.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Nov 2002)

Joe O'Toole: The five of us here.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Dec 2002)

Joe O'Toole: We would all like to be associated with the condolences to the Mitchell family and to the Fine Gael Party and to express our appreciation of the remarks uttered by Senator Brian Hayes.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I strongly support the amendment and I urge the Minister to give it due consideration. I have no doubt about the origin of the provision in section 32 (2) of the Bill. I believe it did not come from the Minister, the Department, the industry or the consumer but, rather, from the parliamentary counsel. Unless the Minister can prove me wrong, that is my firm conviction in the matter. I cannot...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Dec 2002)

Joe O'Toole: It would be remiss of us not to offer – I hope the House joins me – our congratulations to Senator Hanafin on his elevation to the position of chief fund-raiser for the Fianna Fáil Party. It would be useful if we could have a debate in the next couple of weeks on the most appropriate methods used, the general level of average contribution, what impact this has on the state of the economy...