Results 1-20 of 2,212 for this speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (20 Apr 2011)

Joe O'Toole: ...difficult times. Last week, there was a classic example of which economic expert should we believe. Various international and domestic experts were asked to give their prediction for Ireland's – this small island on the western suburbs of Europe - economic growth for next year. The EU-IMF-ECB troika reduced its predicted growth rate from 0.9% to 0.4% while the Irish authorities reduced...

Seanad: European Directives: Motion (20 Apr 2011)

Joe O'Toole: ...near Michael O'Leary because I can see him adding €2 to every ticket. I welcome the proposal. Coming from a citizen's rights background, it has taken me some time to come around to support this type of measure. I always believed intuitively that we need to go in this direction, even if I have difficulties coming to terms with it intellectually. I accept that in today's world, we have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2011)

Joe O'Toole: I fully support the points made by Senator Cassidy. I do not know whether this is the time to go into all of it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2011)

Joe O'Toole: ...the Leader of the House as I spoke to him on a number of occasions over the weekend with regard to including the extra debate today on the economic situation. I appreciate its inclusion and on this basis I will support the Order of Business today. The Nyberg report was presented to us yesterday, but we will not have the opportunity to discuss it in the House. Will the Leader give some...

Seanad: EU Regulation on Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters: Motion (24 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: On a point of order, I do not want the sitting to be suspended. This should be dealt with under the rules of the House.

Seanad: EU Regulation on Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters: Motion (24 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: ...will applaud her appointment and elevation. She did trojan work as Leader of the Opposition in the House for the past four or five years. I wish her well. We have the utmost confidence in her. This is the type of change in Europe we need to welcome. It is a tidying up and reduction of bureaucracy. It is a recognition by various countries of each other's court systems. It undermines...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: ...of where we are in the European Union. By the end of the general election campaign everyone in the country was certain that we would have a reduced interest rate because we had been told this by every party. However, the first trip by the new Taoiseach to Brussels undermined that idea. He was told there was no such commitment to reducing the interest rate. There was then the question...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: ...it should be stated and reported on - is that the actual rate of corporation tax in France is far closer to 7% or 8%. In real terms, therefore, the corporation tax rate is lower in France than in this country. President Sarkozy is simply playing a game; he is third in the opinion polls behind Ms Le Pen. That really is the issue. We need to be absolutely clear that the issues being dealt...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: ...to dignity, bodily integrity, privacy and autonomy Those are the sections of the piece of legislation that deal with the points that I believe Senator Prendergast also wishes to deal with but this is not in the legislation before us. There is no requirement to consult with any of those people. I want such a requirement and I am supporting the legislation from the Green Party on the basis...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (23 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: ...decisions are being taken without sufficient thought. It is a small point which will never affect me and I make it for that reason. The people who are advising the Government need to think about this issue. I thank the Minister for his attention during the course of this debate. I wish the programme for Government well. This was an important debate in terms of allowing us to raise...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: ...wish her well in her new position. I know she will work to the best of her ability. I have full confidence that she will give her best judgment as she goes along. I am pleased to be discussing this Bill. It is important that state exactly what we are talking about. Senator Boyle's proposal, with which I agree, is to eliminate section 58 of the Mental Health Act 2001. I would like to...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: .... As there are some conflicting amendments, I want to be absolutely clear. We have moved well beyond psycho-surgery, lobotomy and so on. There are many who are concerned about such procedures and this has a negative impact on the perception of mental health issues. We, therefore, need to be seen to take a clear and supportive line. I will be saying later on other sections of the Bill...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: I have read much of the literature on ECT and I have seen the arguments for and against it. I do not make a value judgment on ECT. I support this matter for another reason, which concerns rights and how we make decisions. The item of legislation we are proposing to remove protects doctors and ignores patients.

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: ...Harris. ECT has worked for some people and not for others. In the same way as a tooth extraction or chemotherapy, people make decisions on all areas and that is the issue that concerns me. This is the classic example of protecting the profession and ignoring the receptor. I am a professional in a different profession. We should not allow this to become a debate for or against ECT....

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: This is true. Allow me to restate.

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: While this is an imperfect argument that we are putting forward, I could come up with the perfect result. I will explain it shortly. We must deal with the issue raised by Senator Harris when we reach a situation that the best thing for a person is a particular treatment and the person does not want it. That happens every week in hospitals. A doctor might ask a patient to take a course of...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (23 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: I move: That Seanad Éireann notes the programme for Government recently agreed by the Government parties. I welcome the Minister and appreciate that he has made himself available to participate in this important debate. I would like to share my time with Senator Harris.

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (23 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: It is easy to take a cynical view of programmes for Government. This is a very positive programme for Government and the real issue is whether it will be delivered upon. As it contains too much to address in a five-minute slot, I wish to deal with a number of issues which I ask the Minister to take back and consider closely. Shared decision making, dealing with quangos and cloud computing...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (23 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: I am also attracted to the NewERA document. The Minister will be met with cynicism on this issue, which he will have to ride out. The document refers to important issues, some of which the previous Government was also considering, including a smart grid combining EirGrid and the gas network, which could be extraordinarily powerful. EirGrid is the single most important and crucial link in...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2011)

Joe O'Toole: ...points offered in congratulating our colleagues elected to the other House. People often speak about Senators being elected to the Dáil. The vast majority of the people elected to the Dáil from this House are people who would have worked diligently as Senators in here and in their constituency. I do not have a problem with Senators being elected to the Dáil but when in the Seanad,...