Results 6,641-6,660 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Apr 2008)

Dick Roche: I thank Deputies for their contributions. I have one final point to make about Deputy Ó Snodaigh's statements. It was a pity he took such a long time to make his contribution. The reality is that our neutrality is not threatened. However, I ask the Deputy to reconsider in particular what he said about Chad. It is astonishing that any Member of the House would walk in here and urge a...

Statement for Information of Voters: Motion (29 Apr 2008)

Dick Roche: Tairgim: "GO ndéanfar an ráiteas atá leagtha amach sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Rún seo a fhorordú mar eolas do vótálaithe de bhun alt 23 d'Acht an Reifrinn 1994 (Uimh. 12 de 1994), i ndáil leis an togra chun Airteagal 29 den Bhunreacht a leasú, atá ar áireamh sa Bhille um an Ochtú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht 2008, agus is ábhar do reifreann bunreachta. An Sceideal 1. Is...

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

Dick Roche: I thank Senators for delaying the start of business today. I am not quite certain what the confusion was. However, as I was in the Czech Senate three short hours ago, I am very pleased to be here now. I am very grateful to Members and I hope it did not inconvenience any Member of this House. I am pleased to introduce into the Seanad, on behalf of the Government, the Twenty-eighth Amendment...

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

Dick Roche: He may be well said. I do not believe it is right to support the impoverishment of rural families nor the downgrading of agricultural and rural life. I do not believe, in terms of infrastructural development, we should rob Peter to pay Paul. I believe there are more appropriate ways of approaching this matter. I made the quotations because this gentleman, who proposes that he is somehow a...

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

Dick Roche: It is actually an interpretation of law.

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

Dick Roche: On a point of fact, employment is mentioned. The persons who wrote that particular tract the Senator is now quoting were factually inaccurate.

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

Dick Roche: I would just make the point that in a response which The Irish Times very decently carried I pointed out the number of times she had been inaccurate in the article. I will deal with it in my response.

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

Dick Roche: I have been recycled.

Human Rights Issues. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: The Minister met the Chinese ambassador on 16 April regarding the situation in Tibet. During the meeting, which took place in a sensitive atmosphere, the Minister set out the Government's policy on the situation in Tibet, as well as on our relations with China as a whole. The Minister also raised the effects on Irish business people and tourists of the introduction of new Chinese visa...

Human Rights Issues. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I cannot give an opinion on what happened following the statement made by the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I will communicate separately with the Deputy on that issue. The issue in Tibet is very complex and sometimes we form stereotypical views on it in the West, which is not helpful. I was in China for St. Patrick's Day and the dearth of information there made...

Human Rights Issues. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: A final decision has not been taken on the issue of the opening ceremony. Discussion on this issue in Europe is ongoing, and different views have been taken. I am pleased that the Deputy focused on this aspect rather than an argument for boycotting the games. I agree with him that the contacts with China should include issues such as the admission to Tibet of the international media and...

Human Rights Issues. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: The Government is deeply worried about the ongoing situation in Zimbabwe. We believe that the democratic rights of the Zimbabwean people have been violated by the unacceptable failure to release presidential election results over a month after votes were cast. We condemn utterly the appalling violence and intimidation against opposition supporters and civil society activists in Zimbabwe,...

Human Rights Issues. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I have no difficulty in agreeing with the Deputy on that latter point. Human rights abuses are a matter for us all. Human rights are not indivisible but are universal and we should have a care for them. Those of us who have any influence should use it for the vindication of human rights because to trespass on human rights in one part of this planet is to trespass on human rights...

Human Rights Issues. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: Absolutely. If there was any light in what is a tragedy, it was the extraordinary action taken by South African workers to prevent a boat which should never have taken to the seas to arm this regime. There is a practical issue in respect of international observers and observation missions in the case of elections because it very much depends on the agreement of the host country. Frankly,...

World Trade Negotiations. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: We would all accept that a fair and balanced outcome from the WTO talks would be universally beneficial. In recent times there has been intensive activity at ministerial and official level aimed at ensuring that Ireland's concerns are brought to the attention of all the key figures in the negotiations. WTO negotiations are regularly discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations...

World Trade Negotiations. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I am grateful to the Deputy for that supplementary because it is critical that the truth be told in the debate in the run-up to the referendum. The Deputy can take it that the WTO talks and the Lisbon referendum are not in any way connected. He can also take it that, irrespective of where we are at in our internal referendum, under European law, if and when a decision is made at the WTO...

World Trade Negotiations. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: Absolutely, I give a clear affirmative on that. This matter would have to come back to the Council, where it would have to be unanimously agreed.

EU Treaties. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: Article 1.56 of the reform treaty inserts a new Article 48 into the Treaty on European Union. This article has been the subject of some of the most extraordinary distortions during the public debate on the reform treaty. Any suggestion that the treaty prevents any future referendum on EU issues is a complete misrepresentation. In fact, a Danish MEP who visited the Forum on Europe and who...

EU Treaties. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that my understanding of the issue, as well as the Government's legal advice and the advice from almost all sources, is precisely the same as hers. The suggestion that this is a self-amending treaty and that if the treaty is to be changed in any significant way in the future, the Irish people could simply be ignored is not true. It is not based on any...

International Crises. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 11, 12, 43, 49, 50 and 98 together. I have already outlined in my earlier answer the Government's stance on Zimbabwe. I reiterate our grave concern about this issue and desire to support all efforts at achieving an outcome to the electoral process which fully accords with democratic principles. Regarding the specific issue of election monitoring, Ireland...