Results 6,801-6,820 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Dick Roche: We thought it was George Lee.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Dick Roche: The Deputy's contribution was well put together. I compliment him on it. I will make sure the Minister reads it. It was a calm and appropriate response on the day after that dreadful report was published.

Order of Business (14 May 2009)

Dick Roche: Deputy Ó Snodaigh is the waster.

Order of Business (14 May 2009)

Dick Roche: The Deputy and his party sought to destroy the country.

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2009)

Dick Roche: I thank Senator Norris for raising an issue which in turn raises a number of subsidiary matters. As the Senator is aware, Mr Remzi Kartal, a pro-Kurdish political activist and a former member of the Kurdish Parliament, was arrested in March this year by the Spanish police on foot of an international arrest warrant issued by the Turkish authorities. Mr. Eyyüp Doru was arrested at the same...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2009)

Dick Roche: I shall give Senator Norris-----

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2009)

Dick Roche: I ask Senator Norris to bear with me. No such implication was made nor could such an inference reasonably or rationally be taken. I was simply referring to the reality that the PKK is such an organisation. Certainly, there is no evidence in my file or in the material I have that might be produced to suggest that this gentleman has specific associations-----

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2009)

Dick Roche: With respect to the Senator, if he bears with me he will see there is relevance. One of the key issues in respect of the EU enlargement negotiations with Turkey is to ensure legitimate anti-terrorism and security measures are not used to undermine full respect for human rights and the fundamental freedoms as set out in the European Convention on Human Rights. As Senator Norris well knows,...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2009)

Dick Roche: I thank Senator Norris for that. I will ensure the appropriate embassies as well as the permanent representation to the Council of Europe have copies of the transcripts and are aware of the concerns.

Foreign Adoptions. (28 May 2009)

Dick Roche: The Adoption Bill 2009, which was launched by the Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs earlier this year, will provide uniform standards of child protection for the approximately 400 intercountry adoptions completed each year. When enacted, it will provide the legislative framework to permit Ireland to ratify the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and...

Foreign Adoptions. (28 May 2009)

Dick Roche: I thank Deputy Higgins for the manner in which he dealt with my reply to the question. A number of reports from 2008 are outstanding and the Department of Foreign Affairs is encouraging those involved to ensure that the work relating to these be completed. The Russian Federation has its own rules and within its borders there are regional authorities which may have their own rules and these...

Foreign Adoptions. (28 May 2009)

Dick Roche: This is important and if any case is held up by administrative or bureaucratic processes, every effort must be made to overcome them. The Russians want post-adoption reports, and rightly so, and every effort is being made to include that. When the legislation, which is before the Seanad, is enacted we will have a much better basis on which to act. As Deputy Higgins said, it will provide...

Foreign Adoptions. (28 May 2009)

Dick Roche: I agree with the Deputy and the points are well made. The Department has been working closely with the Office of the Minister for Children and has been encouraging the HSE to do all it can to resolve the outstanding issues. I do not say this in the sense of apportioning blame but there are a small number of cases where there are difficulties in concluding those reports. One must respect...

Emigrant Support Services. (28 May 2009)

Dick Roche: The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to developing our bilateral migration arrangements with the United States, including finding a solution for our undocumented citizens. During their St Patrick's Day meetings in the United States, including with President Obama, the Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs outlined how, in the absence of comprehensive immigration reform,...

Emigrant Support Services. (28 May 2009)

Dick Roche: The question asked about new arrangements in place between Ireland and the United States and I outlined them.

Emigrant Support Services. (28 May 2009)

Dick Roche: The question referred to work visas or any such visas. The statement was comprehensive and dealt specifically with the question asked.

Emigrant Support Services. (28 May 2009)

Dick Roche: I have already volunteered that information.

Emigrant Support Services. (28 May 2009)

Dick Roche: I indicated there were ongoing contacts. If Deputy Deasy wishes to ask a more specific question, I suggest he knows the way to do so.

Emigrant Support Services. (28 May 2009)

Dick Roche: That is not the case and Deputy Higgins knows that the issue of the existing undocumented has been a key priority for a long number of years. It will continue to be and the Government will continue to press forward. Simply being concerned does not resolve it. There are two parties to this, the United States being the other. It is important to work to facilitate greater legal migration...

Emigrant Support Services. (28 May 2009)

Dick Roche: If I said that, I would not be telling the truth. Our key contacts on Capitol Hill have made it absolutely clear that it is not possible to address the undocumented through an E3 visa. We have made the point repeatedly - perhaps there is a problem with the acoustics - and the Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs both raised this issue, including in meetings at the highest level over...