Results 5,921-5,940 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: It is difficult to know where to start. Both Deputies Cuffe and Morgan suggested the real culprit is industry. Let us look at the facts. A total of 16% of emissions in 2004 came from industry. It would be outrageous to impose 100% of the burden on a sector that produces 16% of emissions.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: The Deputies should bear with me.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: A total of 10% of emissions comes from the residential sector, 25% comes from the energy sector, 29% comes from agriculture, 18% from transport and 3% from waste. Deputy Cuffe made the point that the position supports the dinosaurs. That is colourful language. Deputy Morgan suggested the purchase of carbon credits is the totality of the response. With respect, both Deputies are wrong. The...

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: In the Irish case, what that cut amounts to is that these 109 enterprises and bodies within the emissions trading scheme must cut their emissions by 3 million tonnes. It is not a subsidy and it is perverse to suggest it is.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: As Deputy Gilmore said, we had a lengthy discussion on this. The net effect of the amendment would be that each and every time the NTMA, the body registered to buy carbon credits, wished to make a purchase, we would have to put a formal motion before the Dáil. That is wildly impractical for a variety of reasons. We have already had two debates on the purchase of €20 million of targets....

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: It is not relevant to the amendment, but it is a fair question. The purchasing policy to be applied will be set out as a Government policy statement and be subject to debate in the House. This is not the appropriate occasion to deal with that. The amendment Deputy Gilmore has moved seeks to delete lines in section 7(2). He made the salient point in committee that it was novel and that he...

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Whatever. As an advocate of free speech in all matters, I take my hat off to him. However, we will leave political barbs aside. It is not a novelty, although we all thought it was on Committee Stage. I had consultations with my Department and asked where this had come from and whether it was new. I also had discussions with the Department of Finance because I felt the argument was...

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: The Deputy certainly did so.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: It will go into my lecture notes.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: If we listen as well as talk, we all learn a little. I was more than impressed when the Department of Finance came back quickly with the precedents. Apparently, that Department carefully monitors and scrutinises every word I utter.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Deputy Morgan might think of a better metaphor.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Yes they did but it was a rowing boat that ran into difficulties in Lough Swilly.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: The last person the Deputy should have said that to is the admiral.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: The Deputy is about to run to the Ardchomhairle.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: The Deputy will be censored again.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: We have been long on metaphor tonight. Deputies have lost sight of the fact that up to 80% of our commitments are geared towards making specific measures. It is not true that purchasing credits is the only aspect of Government policy in this regard.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: It is three quarters by measures with the other quarter permitted under the proposals. Ireland is not alone in this regard and our approach is consistent with that being adopted by the majority of the EU 15 member states for which programmes are in place. Ten of these countries have committed themselves to purchase a combined amount of 550 million carbon units and have allocated budgetary...

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: The EU Heads of Government set a mandatory, self-imposed target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 and adopted a negotiating position to require developed states to establish a 30% reduction target. Are we a leader or a follower? We were involved in that process and it is disingenuous of Deputy Cuffe to suggest otherwise as he is aware that Ireland was one of the first...

Written Answers — Fire Service: Fire Service (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Revisions to the Group Personal Accident Policy which covers retained fire fighters were agreed in discussions between the Local Government Management Services Board and SIPTU in June 2005. Any changes to insurance cover for retained fire fighters would be a matter for discussion with the Board. More generally, over the last two years, significant attention has been paid to safety, health and...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Proposals valued at €2.4m were submitted to my Department by Kildare County Council in the context of the Council's application for block grant funding under the 2007 Rural Water Programme. The proposals did not include the Ballyna Group Water Scheme. The Ballyna Regional Water Supply Scheme was ranked as fifth priority in the list of 19 water and sewerage schemes valued at €81.9m that...