Results 7,101-7,120 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Job Creation (27 Apr 2010)

Dick Roche: I am very pleased to reply to this debate because I understand the sincerity with which Deputy McGrath addresses this issue. I also know something of the crisis in this area because, as Deputy McGrath will recall, I took some personal criticism when I designated Ballymun as the place to receive 500 jobs from IKEA some years ago. As usual, the prophets of doom suggested the country would...

European Union Work Plan. (27 Apr 2010)

Dick Roche: I thank the Deputy raising this matter. We had an opportunity to discuss it very briefly during the meeting last week of the Joint Committee on European Affairs. I agree with the Deputy that targets are important but they have to be precise and not waffle; they have to be very specific. The spring European Council reached agreement on the main elements of the new European strategy for jobs...

Coastal Protection. (27 Apr 2010)

Dick Roche: That was a spirited performance as ever from the Deputy. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I were raised within sight, sound and smell of the Safe in Wexford. We are fully familiar with the problem of sea lettuce. The Deputy waxed eloquently about how it looks when the tide is coming in in the early morning but anybody who has been in the vicinity of a large amount of sea lettuce when the tide...

Coastal Protection. (27 Apr 2010)

Dick Roche: It is not in my office. However, I accept the undertaking is important to Deputy Sheehan and his constituents. It is important to remember that the priority must be the safeguarding of the beaches and those who use them in the summer. These beaches, including Inchydoney blue flag beach, are key to west Cork tourism and must be protected. I understand that water conditions may soon again...

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: I was very interested in the last two contributions, as they showed the rich diversity of views that exist within Fine Gael. When the financial position of Greece deteriorated, the governments of the EU decided that determined and co-ordinated action was required. We are now seeing legislation introduced to this House to reflect part of that. The Heads of Government of the eurozone endorsed...

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: -----the idea that we could renege on bonds that were the subject of a guarantee and to which the Deputy's party agreed is fundamentally wrong.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: Ireland is a small open economy depending on trade and inward investment.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: I listened to the Deputy put a series of statements on the record that are simply false. I did not interrupt the Deputy once and I would be grateful if he could display the same courtesy. I will make my points and he can make his points. That is how we work in this House. The lessons from Greece are for us all. Failing to deal with the crisis in Greece in a timely way has made the...

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: The point I was making when the debate adjourned concerned whether the eurozone is essential for Ireland. There are not many Members who would question it, but it is a reality that safeguarding the financial stability of the eurozone is particularly important to the country for a number of reasons. Businesses need financial stability to trade. We are an open economy and we depend on trade...

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: -----we would be in serious "you know what" at the moment. Every credit-----

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: The second point was that easy credit led to unproductive investment and excessive consumption, something with which nobody in the House would disagree. The third point was that public debt exploded throughout the 1980s, but in particular in Greece in the period after 2008. It was a feature across the eurozone. That was due in part to the worldwide crisis.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: It is an issue which has to be addressed. I listened to contributions from the other side of the House, with respect, and people talked, in particular on this side of the House, about putting off the evil day when we dealt our expenditure issues. An illustrious person came from the broadcasting world into this House but exited after a fairly short period who disagreed with Deputy Bruton's...

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: The fourth point was that the euro area lost competitiveness; about that there is no doubt. The entire euro area has lost competitiveness and if one loses competitiveness, one loses jobs. This is one of the issues-----

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: This is one of the issues which we have to address. As I said earlier, I did not interrupt the Deputy although I fundamentally disagreed with quite a number of his points.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: I will address my comments entirely to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I take my fair share of the blame in this. The final point in the Commission paper, which is a fine paper and well worth reading, is that in order to keep long-term interests rates and boost growth and jobs, the euro needs to consolidate. That is a view which many people have expressed over the period since the euro came...

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: -----of putting in place various policies. One of the things which was achieved during that coalition was the 1996 European Council which was agreed in Dublin. Its criteria, which have been largely ignored, were set down. There has been an attempt in the House today to suggest that somehow there has been an attempt by the media and ourselves to rewrite what was said here last week. What...

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: -----was well picked up by Sinn Féin.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: What he said was well picked up by the media and Sinn Féin at the time, neither of whom needed any prompting from us. His reaction to this was disappointing, to point it mildly. He did not show leadership. He sought to misinterpret the Commission proposals in order to embarrass the Government. However, the only people he will embarrass if he keeps this up are those in his party which has...

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: His intervention once again represents a degree of cluelessness which ill becomes the leader of a party.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: Just how out of touch-----