Results 381-400 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Human Rights Issues. (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: The Deputy is correct. Dr. Elbaradei made a number of comments in June and July on the issue. We must be careful because there have been cases of selective, out of context quotations as there always are in these issues. A month earlier he said it was his gut feeling that Iran would like to have the technologies "to enable it to have nuclear weapons if they decided to do so". Addressing...

Human Rights Issues. (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: The Deputy is correct but there is a core issue of failing to co-operate with the IAEA, which is a serious matter. I accept that Deputy Higgins is not an apologist for President Ahmadinejad and his regime. On top of other matters, including human rights violations, it is true that there is not full co-operation with IAEA.

Proposed Legislation. (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: I thank Deputy Gilmore in his absence from the Chamber because he, like myself, shares a passion for where we find ourselves over the next nine days. The outcome of the European Council held in Brussels on 18-19 June was a considerable success for Ireland. We achieved all of our pre-summit goals, including the permanent retention of an EU Commissioner for Ireland and a set of legally...

Proposed Legislation. (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: I could not agree more with the Deputy, particularly in respect of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. This is a singularly uplifting document. It is probably the best document that has been produced since the Treaty of Rome. It is an extraordinary document that sets out the values we, as Europeans, espouse. On the matter of workers, John Monks of the ETUC, who is no ingenue and is not...

Proposed Legislation. (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: I thank the Deputy for the question. We find ourselves in the bizarre situation that wearing a different label, the UK Independence Party, a party not known to be interested in workers or Ireland, has a view that happens to accord with Sinn Féin and Cóir Youth Defence. The guarantees have full international status. First and foremost, they come from a decision of the European Council,...

Human Rights Issues. (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 32 and 46 together. As Deputies will be aware, and as stated previously in the House on many occasions, most recently on 16 September, the Government is deeply concerned about the situation in Burma and plays an active role in international efforts to bring about positive change there. It is worth reminding ourselves that Seanad Éireann was the first...

Human Rights Issues. (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: I thank the Deputies. When this was discussed at a recent General Affairs Council meeting I made the point that there are few issues in Ireland that unites people on all sides of the political divide in the same way as this issue does. There is a real anxiety, a growing impatience and a feeling of impotence about this. We believe this is undoubtedly one of those areas where we can have...

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (8 Jul 2009)

Dick Roche: This is the thing with new telephones.

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (8 Jul 2009)

Dick Roche: I am very pleased by the tone taken by Deputies Billy Timmins and Joe Costello. It is of critical importance to the nation that we operate as a united force on this. There is no doubt that this is an issue of such national importance that the political differences which may sometimes separate us in the House should not separate us on this. We must have a united effort and a single focus...

Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Dick Roche: The Ceann Comhairle has more sense.

Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Dick Roche: The Deputy is wasting time.

Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Dick Roche: The Deputy should send the transcripts of this debate to Mr. Barroso's office saying he made representations on his behalf.

Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Dick Roche: Fine Gael has the power to change that in every council in the country.

Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Dick Roche: Fine Gael has the power to do that on every council.

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

Dick Roche: I will attempt to return the House to relative calm.

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

Dick Roche: This will not be a point of order.

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

Dick Roche: The Ceann Comhairle should suspend the House.

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

Dick Roche: I thank the Ceann Comhairle.

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

Dick Roche: Thank you very much. I will attempt to return the House to relative calm. Deputy Shatter is aware of the realities and principles that are set out in Bunreacht na hÉireann. Those principles determine when a Government will go to the country and when it is elected.

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

Dick Roche: Deputy Kenny, who now wishes to have a general election-----