Results 1,341-1,360 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: The stipulation exists because it arose from consultations. If my memory serves, the explanation I received was that it was meant to capture experience and the reality that conditions have changed. Senator Norris made the point that changes occurred in 1977 when there were different forms of access to university. The stipulation is meant to capture such changes. It is amazing that the...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: I understand the point made by the Senator, especially if there were a genius out there. I believe it could apply to those who have started in an academic course but had to drop out due to illness or domestic and financial reasons. The age limit came out of discussions and has not been raised to date. It should be read in the context of the entire section.

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Unfortunately there is no amendment on the issue at this stage and none has been proposed at any point. It is a well made point but it arose out of discussions, specifically because circumstances had changed. It was meant to reflect the reality that it is easier to get access to courses for the profession, or rather that courses for the profession are more democratically governed today by...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: It is.

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: There is no amendment before the House, we cannot decide to pluck one out of the air.

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Not in this House.

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: The Senator knows there is no amendment before the House and I cannot discuss an amendment if there is none before the House.

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: We can discuss the idea, which we have done. I make the point that it would be imprudent to simply make a change on an issue that has passed without comment to this point.

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Despite our full debate, we only failed to reach one Government amendment. I thank Senators because the Bill has been improved in the Seanad. On the 35 years of age matter, I share Senators' general antipathy to the creeping ageism in society and to the fact that ageism cuts both ways. While it was done previously, it is not possible to decide on the floor of the House to change something...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: I would have been available to the House, but the rules are the rules.

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: The Senator knows the Bill would not be enacted in the life of this Dáil——

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: They are minor.

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: I will pass the Senator's comments to Professor Harrison. One of the last comments referred to a planning decision made recently by An Bord Pleanála which involved a good friend of mine — I must declare an interest. I do not wish to appear in any way to be inflexible in this regard but we should stop the messing. The reality is that if we do a substantial rewrite of the Bill, we know it...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: I am sure the Senator does and I am sure the grandchild loves having her as a grandmother. However, the point is this is a textual amendment which will address a point made by Senators. All parties were consulted on this issue. All agreed that the RIAI should be the registration body, provided provisions were included in the Bill to differentiate between and protect the interests involved....

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Yes.

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: I am grateful to Senator O'Toole for illustrating that the process is robust, is not dominated individually and is multi-tiered. That is important because it has a bearing on the fears and concerns that have been expressed in some of the material I have seen. Senator O'Toole is correct that there is a preponderance of lay persons. In the first instance, there are the architects, the persons...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Those are two fair questions. On the first question, there is no reason for professional people with expertise to fear. There are many distinguished people who operated as architects in this State over the years who did not necessarily have that formal arrangement. They are not in any way imperilled by this. That was the point Senator O'Toole raised earlier and I apologise for not...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Of course. I do not wish to appear impatient but I cannot understand why these arguments were made, particularly given that it is in the profession's interest, including those who have entered it through experience, to proceed with this legislation. Consultations have been carried out, my door has been open and I have answered most of the e-mails I personally received. I have met people...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Several Senators, and Senators Leyden and O'Rourke in particular, expressed concern on Second Stage about the use of the term "grandfather clause" and its relevance to modern parliamentary language. I have considered those views and, having looked at the record of the debate, I accept their well-made argument that the use of the term was patronising, carried connotations of ageism and did...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: "Practical experience assessment procedure". The technical assessment board will be established under section 19 to assess eligibility for recognition of persons with ten or more years experience in this State of performing duties commensurate with those of architects. Section 20 sets out the procedures for assessment and includes the requirement that an applicant submits to the board a...