Results 4,261-4,280 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche
- Environmental Policy. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: No one has a monopoly on wisdom in this area, we should avail of all opportunities.
- Environmental Policy. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: I am not saying that, I am making an admission, not an accusation. I do not always disagree with the Deputy and I agree strongly that if business wakes up to the reality, it is a win-win situation. Europe will not be penalised by meeting its Kyoto targets, it will be at an advantage because if we are leaner and more energy efficient, we will benefit.
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 47 and 92 together. The Local Government Act 2001 sets out a new ethical framework for local government, including provision for the publication of codes of conduct for the guidance of members and of employees of local authorities. Two codes, one for members and one for employees, were issued in June 2004. The two codes are similar in that they each cover...
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: As ever Deputy O'Dowd is positive and I will consider the points he has made. The Department is in consultation with the Standards in Public Office Commission and the Department of Finance regarding the review of the code for local authority employees. These decisions which address the general issue will produce some changes in the code. The discussions with the Standards in Public Office...
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: The Deputy, in his wildest dreams, does not believe I would condone such cases. Some of the revelations are horrifying.
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: I agree.
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: That is not a fair, reasonable or accurate comment. I have outlined the steps I have taken and I am prepared to listen to proposals on what other steps could be taken. The Deputy and I share a common interest in ensuring the taint of the past does not persist in the future.
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: I agree that members of local authorities face considerable pressures, the reason being that we have vested in local councillors the right to make decisions on these matters in an open, transparent and democratic manner. It is a matter for each individual councillor to make moral and ethical decisions. The Deputy stated that councillors should not be pressurised to give a commitment regarding...
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: I am not sure how one could prevent a councillor from forming an opinion on a particular case.
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: I agree it is foolhardy for councillors to give commitments, particularly ones produced by an inducement which is illegal.
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: I am trying to progress that matter rapidly because, as I have already stated, I am anxious that regulations are introduced sooner rather than later. The local government code must be brought into sync with the code applied centrally because it is, in some ways, more urgent given the local and specific nature of local government affairs. The type of cases the Deputy and I discussed illustrate...
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: They can expect action from me. It is wrong to suggest there is still rank corruption in local government. That is not the case.
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: Like other Deputies I have some experience of local government. The vast majority of the men and women in local government, of all political parties and none, are honourable people. To be fair to them, the public interest is the main priority for the vast majority of them.
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: In any way that I can possibly protectââ
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: As I stated, I am interested in a code of practice but it would be wrong and silly to rush into the issue without first concluding ongoing discussions with stakeholders.
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: The Deputy asked a number of separate questions. On the issue of behaving in a quasi-judicial manner, local authority members are often cautioned that they have to make decisions with planning specifically in mind. For example, that admonition is frequently given with regard to the operation of section 140 of the Planning Act 2000. Case law exists in which decisions of members have been...
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: It exists in practice and strong county management teams certainly make recourse to it. On whether there should be a central point for dealing with ethical issues pertaining to local authorities, my understanding is that officials have been designated with this responsibility, although the code has only recently been introduced in a number of local authorities. I will find out whether it is a...
- Proposed Legislation. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: That is not true.
- Local Government Modernisation Programme. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: A key objective of the local government modernisation programme is to enhance the quality of service to customers. Information technologies are an important means of providing easier access to services, supplying information on the wide range of local authority activities and speeding up service delivery. Substantial investment has been made in e-local government and the use of on-line...
- Local Government Modernisation Programme. (8 Mar 2006)
Dick Roche: I thank Deputy O'Dowd for that. I am aware he shares my opinion that we can make local government better and more cost effective. Extraordinary progress has been made in this area by South Dublin County Council under its current county manager. I want to see that standard in place elsewhere, so that, for example, planning files can be interrogated at any time of the day or night, and hope...