Results 6,861-6,880 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: -----we would then have a real formula for absolute disaster.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: The reality of this is that Deputy Kenny does not have a coherent alternative. As Gay Mitchell, MEP, said last weekend on radio-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: -----there is much work to be done to bring the Labour and Fine Gael parties even remotely into coherence.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: I now want to refer to the debate yesterday during which a number of Deputies referred to the Lisbon treaty. This is a serious matter which I personally believe should be taken out of the maw of party politics.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: Here, we have it again.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: If ever there were an issue which should be ringfenced and taken away from narrow political party considerations-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: -----this is it.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: Last year, we had sniping on the campaign. I suggest to Deputies Shatter and Varadkar, both of whom participated in this last year, that they support the "Yes" vote and agree to work on our supporters.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: Our first priority should be to show leadership to our supporters.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: We will have our supporters out. The question that arises is whether the Opposition will get its supporters out.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: If and when a referendum takes place this year on the treaty, it will be of critical importance to this country.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: It will be of critical importance to this country. It would be in the national interest if all those people who purport to support ratification of the treaty by this country made the decision to ringfence the debate on Lisbon and put it outside party political considerations.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: I specifically ask Deputy Kenny to ensure that is done.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: Analyses of speeches made by the Fine Gael Party - Members can see them on their own websites - between December and March last suggests a great deal of negativity.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: I suggest that we all participated in that. I suggest to Deputy Kenny - I hope his answer will be in the affirmative - that we take the Lisbon treaty out of party political debate.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: I believe we should do that.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: Deputy Kenny knows as well I do-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: Whatever finger the Deputy may point, he knows as well as I that-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: I have told Deputy Kenny and his spokesperson that I will meet them at any time to discuss any issue.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Dick Roche: With regard to the comments made here yesterday-----