Results 581-600 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Dáil Sittings: Motion (17 Jun 2008)

Dick Roche: We have transformed our economy into one where more than 2 million people are in employment. However, as Deputies will be aware, the economy is entering a more challenging period. That is true not just of this economy but of economies around the world. Domestically, the pace of transition for new house building to more sustainable levels of output is having a significant dampening effect....

Seanad: Lisbon Reform Treaty Report: Statements (5 Jun 2008)

Dick Roche: I thank all Senators who have made a contribution, both for and against. I want to give Senator Bacik one further coherent argument in favour of the treaty, and I agree with her 100%. One of the tragedies of the debate so far is that we have been debating what is not in the treaty as opposed to what is. In a sense that is inevitable, however. I got to know Danny Cohn-Bendit well during the...

Seanad: Lisbon Reform Treaty Report: Statements (5 Jun 2008)

Dick Roche: The enhanced role of national parliaments is one of the most important features of the Lisbon reform treaty. It is one area that has not been raised in the debate on the forthcoming referendum. One feature of the debate is the tendency to raise matters that are not in the treaty as opposed to those that are. If the Irish people vote "Yes" next week and the treaty is ratified, the EU will...

Seanad: Charter of Fundamental Rights: Statements (4 Jun 2008)

Dick Roche: I thank all Senators who contributed. There is possibly only one thing on which I agree with Senator Doherty and that is that in a democratic society everybody has the right to express his or her opinion. That is one of the fundamental rights we all enjoy as part of our democracy, and I agree very firmly with him on that. I also agree that whether people are Fianna Fáilers, Fine Gaelers,...

Seanad: Charter of Fundamental Rights: Statements (4 Jun 2008)

Dick Roche: I welcome this opportunity to discuss the charter which I believe will be one of the most important elements introduced into European law if we vote "Yes" next week. I intend to explain the background of the charter which is often overlooked. I will also take this opportunity to respond to a number of extremely erroneous and false claims set before the public. The Lisbon treaty will confer...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: We do not need bus lanes 24 hours a day. By contrast, bus lane restrictions in the Dublin City Council area are confined to times of busy transportation levels. I do not understand the logic that informs such different approaches. These problems are not confined to bus lanes, incidentally. As one drives from one local authority area to another, one can observe the recent phenomenon of a...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I came initially to this debate simply to sit in and take the ministerial place but it is a critical debate. I will take up the last point made by Deputy Mitchell because she made a very interesting and rich contribution. I do not say this in a patronising sense because I listened to her contribution with great interest. As the Deputy noted, we are always divided in two directions in this...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: No, it was not Wicklow County Council, unfortunately. I will speak about Wicklow in a moment. The Deputy is close enough. As the Deputy knows, I struck down the development plan of one local authority because it provided for more plonking of huge developments into areas which did not have the infrastructure to handle them. I also put in train the steps which my successor brought to...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: ——producing plans——

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I would be very careful if I were the Deputy. The parties on this side of the House did not have a majority on either of the two councils I am thinking of.

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I am being diplomatic.

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (21 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I should not respond to such comments. I accept the chastisement. We all accept that there has been woeful sub-optimisation in physical and transport planning. The proposal to establish a Dublin transport authority to take the lead role in bringing the two sides of planning together represents a major step forward. I am pleased that the authority will have the power to regulate transport...

Democratic Process in Zimbabwe: Motion (15 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I welcome the strong consensus which clearly exists in the House on the situation in Zimbabwe. I reiterate once again our utter condemnation of attempts by authorities to interfere in the electoral process in Zimbabwe, including, in particular, the vicious and sometimes sadistic assaults which have been perpetrated against opposition supporters. The second round of voting must happen...

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages. (7 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I thank Senators from all sides who participated in this debate. Picking up the points made by Senators Kelly and Bradford, there is nothing before the people over the next four weeks which is more important than this issue. We will make a decision not only for ourselves but for 500 million other people. We will make a decision which will not result in the world coming to an end on 12 June...

EU Treaties. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: Article 1.56 of the reform treaty inserts a new Article 48 into the Treaty on European Union. This article has been the subject of some of the most extraordinary distortions during the public debate on the reform treaty. Any suggestion that the treaty prevents any future referendum on EU issues is a complete misrepresentation. In fact, a Danish MEP who visited the Forum on Europe and who...

EU Treaties. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that my understanding of the issue, as well as the Government's legal advice and the advice from almost all sources, is precisely the same as hers. The suggestion that this is a self-amending treaty and that if the treaty is to be changed in any significant way in the future, the Irish people could simply be ignored is not true. It is not based on any...

International Crises. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 11, 12, 43, 49, 50 and 98 together. I have already outlined in my earlier answer the Government's stance on Zimbabwe. I reiterate our grave concern about this issue and desire to support all efforts at achieving an outcome to the electoral process which fully accords with democratic principles. Regarding the specific issue of election monitoring, Ireland...

International Crises. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: The UN declaration on the principles of international election observation and the code of conduct of observers indicates an international election observation mission should only be organised when basic standards have been met, including that the host country issues an invitation or otherwise indicates willingness to accept such missions. There is a weakness in this.

International Crises. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: The UN principle is that the observation mission is not imposed. I was an observer at one election but it is practically impossible for external observers to be present without agreement and support from the host government. This is the tragedy of the Zimbabwean scenario. That is why SADC should do good work. Given the tragic relationship between Europe and the African Continent,...

International Crises. (1 May 2008)

Dick Roche: The Deputy, as usual, has broadened the debate in a positive way. I agree the lack of proper governance is one of the tragedies in Africa. Unfortunately, the Continent is beset by corruption, tribalism and a lack of functioning institutions. Those dreadful conditions are interrelated and that, tragically, has been the case for the past 50 years. Colonial powers left an appalling legacy...