Results 81-100 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole
- Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: I look forward to hearing from Senator Hanafin on the issue. As regards issues of a positive natureâ
- Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: I want to continue on a positive note. You, a Chathaoirligh, will be aware that you and I strongly supported legislation introduced by Senator Daly and former Senator, Michael O'Kennedy, some years ago. That legislation, the Shannon River Council Bill, was passed with acclamation and applause from all sides of the House. While we marvelled at the generous approach to it, we are of the view...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: It is something to which we have grown accustomed in recent years.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: We hope they get a good parliamentary party meeting going and show a bit of backbone.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: It is typical of backbenchers to be out there lashing themselves to microphones for the sake of Ireland.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: I am assisting the Senator.
- Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: I welcome the Minister of State. It is good to have the opportunity, at this early stage, to comment on the Budget Statement, which is a curate's egg. There are things in it which can be looked at positively, but there are others which will give rise to huge problems in the long term. On the down side is the reduction in public service staff numbers which will mean war in primary and...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: I also want to raise the issue of the three wise men, An Bord Snip or whatever the people who resurrect themselves every decade for one thing or another call themselves. This is part of the continuing process of conditioning all of us for hard times ahead. I point out to Members, particularly on the Government side, that there was an upbeat view of the economy in yesterday's Budget Statement,...
- Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (5 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: I welcome this initiative by the Government. This is my first opportunity to welcome the Minister of State to the House in his current role. As an old compadre, I wish him well. Most Members come from rural backgrounds. I have a dual concern about the national spatial strategy. The strategy is hugely important because of the fact that we must focus on developing areas. Gateways and other...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: I strongly support the first point Senator Brian Hayes made about the Garda. In recent media discussions on Garda corruption, I made a similar point that there were decent members of the force who risked life and limb for us and the instances to which Senator Hayes referred are classic examples of this. All the mail I received afterward was negative and inquired how I could dare to defend the...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, it is a matter for Senators to decide if they want to listen to somebody else. They are quite entitled to find something uninteresting.
- Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: The publication of this Bill is testament to a failure on which I have some sympathy for the Government. I understand the reasons for publishing the Bill, but it would do us all good if the Minister put up his hands and admitted he could not beat the builders who have beaten the Government on this issue. I concede, however, that no one on this side of the House would have had more success...
- Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: Many things are still wrong. Last week, I could no longer watch the nine o'clock news when a representative of the building industry began to articulate his concerns about first-time buyers. We have reached a pretty pass when the building industry can get headlines on the nine o'clock news by voicing concern about house buyers. The Bill demonstrates the influence, power and authority the...
- Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: I will confine myself to asking where the Minister was last week. I was born in a house in the west Kerry town of Dingle. When I was growing up all human life, including people who owned factories and small businesses, tradespeople, unemployed people, people with a farm at the edge of town and elderly people living off the old age pension, could be found nearby. If one went into the pub on a...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: While I do not want a debate on No. 1, I would like the House to be aware that a precedent of taking such motions without debate is not being established. No. 1 has been discussed by a committee and has been returned to the House, which should be at liberty to discuss it if it believes it requires further discussion. We have agreed in the interests of having a smooth operation that, where it...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, it is inappropriate for a Member to refer to the absence of another Member from the House at any time.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: The Leader is out of order. She is giving a lecture.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: The Leader is well out of order in lecturing Members.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2002)
Joe O'Toole: That is outrageous.