Results 2,221-2,240 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Nuclear Safety. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: ——that I will continue to devote my energies to this issue. If the Deputy believes he has ideas as to how No. 10 Downing Street could be assailed, I would be pleased to consult him.

Nuclear Safety. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The House corncrake is at it again.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The national climate change strategy sets out Ireland's approach to meeting its target for the purpose of the Kyoto Protocol, which is to limit the growth in greenhouse gas emissions to 13% above 1990 levels in the 2008 to 2012 commitment period. It was projected that, in the absence of any measures to address the problem, Ireland's emissions in that period could be some 37% above 1990...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: As for the figure of €55.5 million, it was calculated on the basis of €15 per unit for the period from 2008 to 2012.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: While I know that the Deputy is comfortable with worst case scenarios, that is——

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: It is on the basis of a figure of €15 per carbon unit in the period specified. As I stated in the final sentence of my reply, the ultimate cost to the Exchequer will depend on the final purchasing requirement and the price of carbon credits during the time when they are calculated. As for the Deputy's query whether it would be annualised, the answer is "No". As the Deputy is aware, the...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: That is the most extraordinary distortion of the reality. As Deputy Gilmore well knows, under the Kyoto Protocol there are many different ways in which a state party to the protocol can reach its targets.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Including buying, that is correct.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: When the Government buys anything, it does so using taxpayers' money. If the Deputy had the forbearance to let me finish my sentence, I would inform him that there is a logic to the process, as he knows. One can either go the most economically costly way or, alternatively, buy green credits, from a developing country for example. This process in envisaged and central to the protocol. The...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The repetition that this country is failing to meet its targets is patent nonsense given that we are talking about a period from 2008. Time and again, I have outlined to the Deputy, who does not like to hear facts, the reductions from 31% in 2001 and 29% in 2002 to 25% in 2003, the last year for which figures are available. I also said very frankly to him that, as economic——

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: The Deputy is now showing that he has a very flawed grasp of basic numeric accuracy. With all due respect to him——

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: ——25% is not higher than 29% or 31%.

Nuclear Plants. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 15 and 107 together. I met the Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry, Mr. Alan Johnson, in London on 19 October. The primary focus of our meeting was a discussion on the incident at the THORP plant in Sellafield last April. I took the opportunity to widen the discussion and set out Ireland's views on other nuclear issues, including the...

Nuclear Plants. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I share Deputy Stagg's view exactly on privatisation in this industry. Given the litany of extraordinary behaviour, particularly in BNFL, over the years, we share a common concern on this issue. With regard to whether THORP will start up again, and it still has not yet re-started, my primary concern was that there would not be an extension beyond 2010 of either the contracts or THORP. I...

Nuclear Plants. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I have not been informed of what stage the review has reached. At that time the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority was in its relatively early days. The issue I focused on was the closure date. I did not want any excuse to arise from the protracted period of its closure to be used to extend it beyond 2010.

Nuclear Plants. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I agree we will have to make it clear. It is important that this debate in the House is heard. There is unanimity in the House that this is playing with fire. We are aware of the dangers of nuclear power and this nation is committed to remaining non-nuclear. I will continue to make that point in our contacts. We will also use the stakeholder process to put down our marker. The Deputy asked if...

Nuclear Plants. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: They are closing THORP down by 2010. That is precisely the point we were making about the date for the closure. Our big concern about THORP was to ensure that it would be closed down by 2010. We will continue to press that issue.

Nuclear Plants. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: I had not thought of the strategy of attending the meeting. It is a good point and I will bear it in mind when we get closer to it. Prime Minister Blair's speech was at lunchtime today. I do not disagree with the Deputy. There is a determination in some parts of the British Government to push ahead with this. However, I get the feeling that there is not the same determination in other parts...

Nuclear Plants. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: It is strange how people have changed on this issue in that country. There does not appear to be the unanimity there might be on it. One does not know what would happen if there was a change in management. Let us hope for the best but prepare for the worst. In fact, I will take up the Deputy's suggestion and examine the option of attending the stakeholder consultation process.

Election Management System. (29 Nov 2005)

Dick Roche: Governments in different jurisdictions, including the UK, will adopt varying approaches to electoral issues according to their own circumstances and priorities at any given time. For example, the UK operates a first past the post electoral system and it is not advocated in this House that the UK should be an exemplar for us in this regard. The Government decision in February 2000 to move to...