Results 6,681-6,700 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I thank Senator Doherty and do not doubt his sincerity on this issue. This is much the same proposal that was addressed by Deputy Ó Snodaigh in the Dáil. As was explained already, the reform treaty does not affect Ireland's tradition of military neutrality and several safeguards for our position are in the treaty. Unanimity continues to be the rule in security and defence matters and we...

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: There is great wisdom in the point made by Senator Alex White. The current arrangement is specific and unambiguous. The State cannot join a common European defence. The only way this can be changed is by the will of the people as expressed in a referendum. To insert an additional phrase, which could be overegging it, could raise legal questions. There will always be legal arguments as to...

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I regret that I must be brief, as I must answer parliamentary questions. I understand Senator Doherty's point on Border counties and will give him an assurance — the issue under discussion is not related to the Schengen Agreement. Rather, it relates to justice and home affairs. Our current position on the agreement is regrettable and relates to the British attitude to it. The last thing...

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I am grateful to both Senators for their understanding. While I accept the points raised by Senator Cummins, I am strongly committed to enhancing the role of the House in scrutinising Government decisions in the sensitive area to which the subsection refers and I cannot, therefore, accept his amendment. I am aware he does not intend to remove powers from the House but it would have that...

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages. (7 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I thank Senators from all sides who participated in this debate. Picking up the points made by Senators Kelly and Bradford, there is nothing before the people over the next four weeks which is more important than this issue. We will make a decision not only for ourselves but for 500 million other people. We will make a decision which will not result in the world coming to an end on 12 June...

Democratic Process in Zimbabwe: Motion (15 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I welcome the strong consensus which clearly exists in the House on the situation in Zimbabwe. I reiterate once again our utter condemnation of attempts by authorities to interfere in the electoral process in Zimbabwe, including, in particular, the vicious and sometimes sadistic assaults which have been perpetrated against opposition supporters. The second round of voting must happen...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I came initially to this debate simply to sit in and take the ministerial place but it is a critical debate. I will take up the last point made by Deputy Mitchell because she made a very interesting and rich contribution. I do not say this in a patronising sense because I listened to her contribution with great interest. As the Deputy noted, we are always divided in two directions in this...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: No, it was not Wicklow County Council, unfortunately. I will speak about Wicklow in a moment. The Deputy is close enough. As the Deputy knows, I struck down the development plan of one local authority because it provided for more plonking of huge developments into areas which did not have the infrastructure to handle them. I also put in train the steps which my successor brought to...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: ——producing plans——

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I would be very careful if I were the Deputy. The parties on this side of the House did not have a majority on either of the two councils I am thinking of.

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I am being diplomatic.

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I should not respond to such comments. I accept the chastisement. We all accept that there has been woeful sub-optimisation in physical and transport planning. The proposal to establish a Dublin transport authority to take the lead role in bringing the two sides of planning together represents a major step forward. I am pleased that the authority will have the power to regulate transport...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: We do not need bus lanes 24 hours a day. By contrast, bus lane restrictions in the Dublin City Council area are confined to times of busy transportation levels. I do not understand the logic that informs such different approaches. These problems are not confined to bus lanes, incidentally. As one drives from one local authority area to another, one can observe the recent phenomenon of a...

Seanad: Charter of Fundamental Rights: Statements (4 Jun 2008)

Dick Roche: I welcome this opportunity to discuss the charter which I believe will be one of the most important elements introduced into European law if we vote "Yes" next week. I intend to explain the background of the charter which is often overlooked. I will also take this opportunity to respond to a number of extremely erroneous and false claims set before the public. The Lisbon treaty will confer...

Seanad: Charter of Fundamental Rights: Statements (4 Jun 2008)

Dick Roche: I thank all Senators who contributed. There is possibly only one thing on which I agree with Senator Doherty and that is that in a democratic society everybody has the right to express his or her opinion. That is one of the fundamental rights we all enjoy as part of our democracy, and I agree very firmly with him on that. I also agree that whether people are Fianna Fáilers, Fine Gaelers,...

Seanad: Lisbon Reform Treaty Report: Statements (5 Jun 2008)

Dick Roche: The enhanced role of national parliaments is one of the most important features of the Lisbon reform treaty. It is one area that has not been raised in the debate on the forthcoming referendum. One feature of the debate is the tendency to raise matters that are not in the treaty as opposed to those that are. If the Irish people vote "Yes" next week and the treaty is ratified, the EU will...

Seanad: Lisbon Reform Treaty Report: Statements (5 Jun 2008)

Dick Roche: I thank all Senators who have made a contribution, both for and against. I want to give Senator Bacik one further coherent argument in favour of the treaty, and I agree with her 100%. One of the tragedies of the debate so far is that we have been debating what is not in the treaty as opposed to what is. In a sense that is inevitable, however. I got to know Danny Cohn-Bendit well during the...

Dáil Sittings: Motion (17 Jun 2008)

Dick Roche: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: notes that the Government through its ongoing management will continue to address the important economic and social issues facing the country over the coming months; welcomes the Government's firm commitment to position the economy for sustainable development over the years ahead, while adapting...

Dáil Sittings: Motion (17 Jun 2008)

Dick Roche: I am sharing time with Deputy Cuffe. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I will try to focus on the issues. If the current problems, particularly on the economic side, facing this country could be resolved simply by Deputies staying at their desks over the summer period, I, for one, would break ranks and support the motion. I especially welcome the opportunity to put on...

Dáil Sittings: Motion (17 Jun 2008)

Dick Roche: ——is how rich it is to hear Sinn Féin at this stage recognising the damage it may well have done. I am sure Deputy Gilmore, like me, recognises that Deputy Ó Caoláin tried to do his level best——