Results 6,961-6,980 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche
- Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)
Dick Roche: I did not say anything.
- European Council Meeting: Statements (11 Nov 2009)
Dick Roche: I was struck by the contribution of Deputy Timmins, who has experience in the peacekeeping forces. This is a very good idea. Rather than continually wringing our hands in desperation at the ongoing stasis in the Middle East, we must look for steps forward. Deputy Timmins mentioned Glencree. On Friday of this week, the Glencree peace award will be made. People who have been at war with...
- European Council Meeting: Statements (11 Nov 2009)
Dick Roche: Deputies Creighton, Timmins and Costello touched on this in their contributions. The EU recognises that a cautious approach must be taken, particularly to support and stimulus packages and most particularly to their phasing out. I am sure the Deputy is aware that there is significant discussion on this issue in the United States. While the stimulus package started very early there and...
- European Council Meeting: Statements (11 Nov 2009)
Dick Roche: The key issue as far as Copenhagen is concerned is that, first and foremost, Europe is prepared to lead. Ireland very strongly supports that line. To go back to the point made by Deputies Timmins and Creighton, the solution which will come from Copenhagen will have to be balanced. Europe cannot carry the full burden. The other nations in the developed world, in particular the United...
- European Council Meeting: Statements (11 Nov 2009)
Dick Roche: I noted very carefully Deputy Creighton's original contribution. I agree with the general tenor of her point. We face two types of problems. There is a cyclical element in our current economic problems and there are the structural problems in our economy, in particular in our public finances, which must be addressed. I hope the steadfastness Deputy Creighton has demonstrated and...
- European Council Meeting: Statements (11 Nov 2009)
Dick Roche: I am illustrating the point the Deputy made. We must be very careful because the propensity to say, "We will do that too", must be broken. We must resolve our problems on our own, in particular the structural problems in our public finances. There is no point stretching that over a long period because if we do not take action, we will end up in the situation in which we found ourselves in...
- European Council Meeting: Statements (11 Nov 2009)
Dick Roche: As a result of our referendum one thing is certain and that is we are not going to see the establishment of a eurosceptic north-eastern European region. Deputy Costello asked about commemorative events next month. To my knowledge there are no special ceremonies proposed. A December European Council meeting will be held as usual and as the Taoiseach mentioned, there will be a special...
- European Council Meeting: Statements (11 Nov 2009)
Dick Roche: I agree that both Houses of the Oireachtas have a new mandate to involve themselves in European affairs. The Houses should come forward with solutions. I do not agree that the solutions should necessarily require the expenditure or further resources as the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission has excellent staff who are capable of carrying the extra burden.
- European Council Meeting: Statements (11 Nov 2009)
Dick Roche: The Acting Chairman is kindness personified. Following on the Taoiseach's statement, a number of issues were touched on by Deputy Costello. Where Afghanistan and Pakistan are concerned, there has been a number of significant developments since the European Council, including the conclusion of the presidential election process. We are all aware of that. Now that the process has been...
- Leaders' Questions (9 Dec 2009)
Dick Roche: We would be bankrupt.
- Leaders' Questions (9 Dec 2009)
Dick Roche: There is the soundbite.
- Leaders' Questions (9 Dec 2009)
Dick Roche: What about a figure of â¬2.3 billion?
- Leaders' Questions (9 Dec 2009)
Dick Roche: Clowns.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Dec 2009)
Dick Roche: I do not disagree with the sentiments expressed by Deputy Tom Hayes about the quality of our public service. However, I disagree with him on some other parts of his analysis. I have spent all of my adult life either working in public administration, lecturing on it or dealing with civil servants. There are high standards in our public service. That is why most of the recent debate has...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Dec 2009)
Dick Roche: Labour, however, opposes such a move with its solution of raising â¬2.3 billion in additional taxes. That, as all members know, is not sustainable. Fine Gael claims one cannot tax one's way out of recession, a point with which few would disagree. Clearly, the two Opposition parties are poles apart on strategy, however. The Labour Party's position is quite extraordinary. Its public...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Dec 2009)
Dick Roche: Yes, that is what the Deputy is calling a windfall tax. If the Deputy thinks about the Kyoto agreement-----
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Dec 2009)
Dick Roche: No, that is not quite the point. However, I will not get into dialogue on it with the Deputy. I simply make the point that it is another problem in his calculation. The Deputy has figured into his calculation a cost of â¬20 per tonne. The tonnage price has varied dramatically since 2006, when it was â¬22. It then reduced to â¬7 per tonne in 2007. Today carbon costs approximately...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Dec 2009)
Dick Roche: Yes, I accept that. I am certainly not suggesting for one moment that Fine Gael is suggesting anything other than that.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Dec 2009)
Dick Roche: None of us in this House wants to cut public service numbers. That is not the way forward, leaving us with only one option, namely, to start operating on pay rates. The biggest single element in the cost of public services is payroll costs. It is deeply regrettable that we face such harsh realities. Sadly, that is where we are.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Dec 2009)
Dick Roche: I have listened with dismay to the polarisation of the debate in the past few weeks. That polarisation is something I utterly deplore. It is counterproductive. We, as a society, must hang together or we will most definitely hang apart. To demonise public administrators or public servants, as has happened in the debate in the recent past is simply counter to the public good.