Results 1-20 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach. (12 Sep 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Very appropriate.

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach. (12 Sep 2002)

Joe O'Toole: The Independent Members have considered at length whether or not to propose a Member as Cathaoirleach on this occasion. We are delighted that you, Acting Chairman, have achieved your seniority at last and it gives us great pleasure to see you as the central authority figure speaking praesedere and ex cathedra and assuming the mantle of authority with aplomb. You appear to have settled into...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach. (12 Sep 2002)

Joe O'Toole: On behalf of the Independent Senators, I offer my congratulations to the Cathaoirleach on his election and wish him well in his high office and heavy responsibility. I congratulate him on reaching this pinnacle in his career as a Senator and one who has shown commitment to this House during the years. The Independent Senators will offer him on a daily basis full co-operation and full...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Sep 2002)

Joe O'Toole: We agree regarding the need for a two-day debate on the Bill and with the decision to allow Senators to share time. I ask the Leader to take on board an issue which was raised this morning. There is much else happening in the world and it would be wrong of us to ignore the threat to Ireland from the words of the American President and the British Prime Minister regarding a potential war in...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht, 2002: An Dara Céim. Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (12 Sep 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Under Standing Orders it has been the convention and tradition of the House that speakers for groups of equal status and number are called based on their seniority of service. The cumulative seniority of the Independent group is far in excess of that of the Labour group.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht, 2002: An Dara Céim. Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (12 Sep 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Perhaps I should not have said that, but it is now on the record. I compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, on his elevation and wish him well in his difficult task. The forthcoming referendum is an historic moment with which we will have to deal. The contributions of the Minister of State and Senators Bradford and Mansergh have been a tour de force. I wish to concentrate on one...

Seanad: Retirement of Superintendent of the Houses. (13 Sep 2002)

Joe O'Toole: It gives me great pleasure to add my few words about the Superintendent, Commandant O'Donohoe, at a time when he cannot answer me back immediately. Having spent the last 16 years on a monthly if not a weekly basis in regular energetic engagements with the Superintendent, I can say without fear of contradiction that he is a person who has discharged his duty as a public servant with absolute...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Sep 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I agree very strongly that the House should meet as soon as possible and I hope the Leader will give a response in that regard. In addition to the matters I raised yesterday, the report today of cutbacks in education provides a further reason for a debate. It is appropriate to point out to the Leader, with whom I have discussed at various times over the last 16 years the importance of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Sep 2002)

Joe O'Toole: If the Member of the university group who transferred—

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Sep 2002)

Joe O'Toole: We have not yet decided if one of us should stand for election to the leadership of the Labour Party.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: There may be some confusion about this, but the Leader said the address tomorrow by Mr. Pat Cox will be taken without debate.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I apologise, we will agree on speaking times. I thank the Leader for putting these debates on the Order Paper as requested the last time we met. It is a good indication of how we can look forward to doing business for the remainder of this term. I agree completely with the suggestions of Senator Hayes. With the publication of the Flood report and the extraordinary developments in Northern...

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator would like to reform every panel other than his own. (Interruptions.)

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I would like to share five minutes of my time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: Give him six minutes. I am delighted with the enthusiasm of the Fianna Fáil Front Bench for the reform of the Seanad. When I listen closely, I realise it is the reform of the university constituencies about which they are concerned. I first stood for election in the early 1980s. At that time I proposed that every graduate of a third level college should have a vote in the Seanad elections. I...

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: It is undemocratic because if 900 people in Albania were entitled to elect three quarters of the Members of a House of Parliament there, we would condemn such behaviour as totalitarianism – whether it arose under a dictatorship or a communist regime – and we would be right to do so. If the Senator believes my comments are focused in any way on local authority members he is wrong. Others...

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: It does not get any easier.

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I am happy to share my time with Senator Browne. I am delighted the Fine Gael group tabled this motion. It is a crucially important matter which is worthy of discussion. I could add a few more issues to those raised. There is, for example, the whole problem of the building budget for schools. Regardless of how it may appear on paper, it is causing chaos in schools around the country. The...

Seanad: Address by President of the European Parliament. (10 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I compliment Mr. Cox on an extraordinary tour de force which covered all the issues. I will address some broad principles on behalf of the people I represent, Irish workers. I wish to keep the debate focused. I ask Mr. Cox to address an issue which he omitted to mention, that is, the extraordinarily specious argument about how and when the veto can be used. There is a false view abroad...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Oct 2002)

Joe O'Toole: I congratulate the Government side of the House on accepting and dealing with a Labour Party Bill today. It is a sign of a new approach. We hope the Government will be open to consideration of more Bills from this side of the House, especially from the Independent benches. Perhaps we will begin the process on Private Members' Business today.