Results 2,721-2,740 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Operational issues in relation to the Dublin Port Tunnel, including training of relevant personnel, are matters for the National Roads Authority, under the aegis of the Minister for Transport, and for Dublin City Council. No funding has been provided through my Department for the purposes referred to in the Question.

Written Answers — Wildlife Study: Wildlife Study (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: A network of National Parks and Wildlife Service Conservation Rangers operating in coastal areas participates in a scheme to identify and respond to strandings of live and dead whales and dolphins. The scheme is co-ordinated by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, which is funded by my Department, the Marine Institute, the Heritage Council and the Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Carbon credits will be used by the government for the sole purpose of achieving compliance with Ireland's commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to limit its greenhouse gas emissions to 13% above 1990 levels. Under the EU burden sharing arrangements Ireland will have the benefit of approximately 63 million allowances per annum each of which must be surrendered by the State in lieu of one tonne...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I conveyed this information to the Deputy by letter of 18 July 2006.

Written Answers — Special Protection Areas: Special Protection Areas (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Under the EU Birds Directive, Ireland, like other Member States, is required to maintain the population of bird species, and to designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for species which are identified in Annex 1 of the Directive, including the Hen Harrier. In 2002, based on the then available information, a range of possible SPA catchments were identified for Hen Harriers in the State....

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Section 33 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that regulations regarding applications for permission may be made requiring, inter alia, that planning authorities must notify prescribed bodies of the receipt of certain classes of development. Article 28 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 includes An Taisce in the list of bodies prescribed for this purpose. An...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 227 of 4 October 2006.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I thank all Deputies who made contributions which were wide-ranging and interesting. I single out for particular thanks Deputies O'Dowd and Gay Mitchell. I wish to take up the last point made by Deputy Mitchell which was a very good one. It does appear to me that there is a degree of savagery in the way we do public business and this does us very little credit. The point he made about...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Absolutely. I agree with the Deputy. We have this nonsensical figure. It is the case that if 100,000 people are on the register and 50,000 people vote, ipso facto, the turnout is only 50%. If the register is only 80% correct, it is five eighths of people who voted so the calculation of the turnout would be rather different. The more important point is the efficacy of the register and...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: That is not true.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: That comment is interesting and I take it that the Deputy is correct, but I notified every county manager and county registrar early this year that they should and could recruit the census staff for this purpose. The manager and registrar were not confined to those staff if they were unavailable. I will not accept any local authority arguing conveniently that it did not have enough resources.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The Deputy is right. We have a responsibility and it is not a politically contentious issue. The political classes will have a right and responsibility to check the register when it is published because there will be deletions. The register is awash with inaccurate information and must be corrected. Both of the Deputies present have been positive and constructive, but it is not right for...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: In an interesting contribution, Deputy Fiona O'Malley made the point that the purpose of elections is to elect, not amuse, but she undermined her contribution by suggesting that we should look for a dramatic electoral system. I like high opera, but the purpose of elections is to elect, not amuse. This relates to the matter of electronic voting, which was raised by a number of Deputies as a...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I do not say that in a way that is pompous, smug or anything else of which I am accused. It is the reality that such actions must be taken. We all have a responsibility to play our roles in that regard. Rather than Deputies who are not present contemplating difficulties——

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: No. There is a tick box on the voter registration form——

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: ——if one wants to ensure the information is not used for other means.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: In the past week or two, documentation handed to a tribunal by the Taoiseach has apparently gone. We do not know the leak's source, but neither the Government nor anyone here blames the tribunal. However, the documentation left the source in which it was deposited and appeared in a newspaper office. This is a serious matter.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: A box can be ticked to prevent that happening. Specific guidance has gone out. Deputy Gilmore and another speaker touched on the issue of the constituency revision. Any party that has been in government in the past 20 years knows the position. The Attorney General advised the Government that constituencies can only be revised on the basis of final census figures. This is not new advice as...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I agree with Deputy O'Dowd in that regard. I have said that several times and I want to say it here in his presence. I am grateful that it has always been the approach he has adopted in this area. I have also acknowledged Deputy Gay Mitchell's previous interest in this and the fact that we are making a modest, but welcome, change and we are doing so with consensus. In the longer term, we...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Referral to Select Committee (5 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Environment and Local Government, in accordance with Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.