Results 281-300 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Will the Leader inform the House where next with this matter? Over the weekend the main Opposition party published a policy document, Reinventing Government. It contains many proposals with which I disagree, but it is an intriguing and innovative document that raises issues that need to be discussed. It contains many positive proposals which I welcome and at which the Government should look...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Senator Fitzgerald has raised an important point, but I do not fully agree with her. Since the Government has decided to proceed with the by-election, it could not be said justifiably that appealing the decision to the Supreme Court is an attempt to stop people from voting. That is just a logical position. However, the Senator's earlier points were absolutely correct. An issue needs to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I am not coming down on one side or the other, but I am worried about crossing that border. Senator Fitzgerald is correct that it is long past the time when the by-election should have taken place. The Government acted with alarming alacrity in response to the decision of the High Court yesterday. On the basis of the importance of the Houses of Parliament regulating their own affairs, it...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I do not know what we can make of the fact that this is the most attractive country for foreign direct investment, but I am delighted about this also. I am also delighted that the value of our exports in the third quarter of the year is the highest it has ever been. These are important points. There are steps that can be taken. Why will the Government not take a decision on the metro north...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I do not mind Senators disagreeing with me on this, but they should listen to what I have to say first. Siemens Ireland which has been based in this country since it gained independence and which built the Ardnacrusha power generating station offered to put in place for free water meters in every home. This would create jobs and a new conduit for the Government. We should take advantage of...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I agree.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: It is actually €300 million.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I thank the House for the time given to the motion and the various speakers who contributed. It has been a very interesting debate, but I am totally discouraged. I have spent 24 years trying to make movement on this issue, but no movement has taken place. I am glad Senator Mullen made his concluding points. My criticism of the system of election is not to be taken as a criticism of the...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The Senator is in Government. Imagine how we feel.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: That is correct.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I move: That Seanad Éireann: - believing that it should operate primarily as a House of influence, reform, scrutiny, reflection, consolidation and persuasion and rather than replicate or undermine the Dáil, should act in parallel to it by giving new breadth to the parliamentary process; - believing that the House should seek to convince by force of argument and logic rather than compel by...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Exactly. That is the argument. The exclusive nature of restricting the vote to graduates of certain universities is indefensible. Outside of that, it becomes very easy. Section 3 could be elected by local authority members while section 4 could be nominees of the Taoiseach. I do not have a difficulty with nominations by the Taoiseach. I am not interested in creating a situation where the...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I agree with my two colleagues about extending our sympathy to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, but it is a little awkward to deal with it for the following reason, and I am not saying this in a political manner. I am sure we all share that viewpoint, but can we take it that in situations such as this, the Leader would speak on our behalf to some extent so that...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Otherwise, it seems as if some Members refer to it and others do not. I would appreciate it. I am aware of the genuine feelings of Members on it but I just want to make that point. The amendment to the Order of Business which has been put forward by the Leader of the Opposition is something that the Leader should take seriously, and not just on the basis of the issue in question. I have...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I have bored the House in recent weeks by referring daily to the Croke Park agreement and the lack of political traction in making it work. I compliment the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, on being the first Minister to give political traction to it. This issue must be closely scrutinised. I have listened to people who have criticised the agreement and suggest it cannot...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Nov 2010)

Joe O'Toole: It is a philosophical one.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Over the weekend there was a certain level of certainty and regardless of whether we like it, the Government has a clear target of a deficit figure 3% of GDP by 2014, with budget cuts of €15 billion being frontloaded. This means people should and will know where they stand in the next few weeks, even though they might not like it. They will know that the upcoming budget will be the worst...