Results 1,421-1,440 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: The approved environmental economist post in my Department is at middle management level with a salary equivalent to an Assistant Principal Officer. The principal duty of the economist is to provide economic and environmental analysis to support development and implementation of the national climate change agenda.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: It is not anticipated that the European Commission will prepare a separate impact assessment or an assessment of the cost implications of the proposed Framework Directive for Ireland for the protection of soil or any other EU member State. Such an assessment will be done in Ireland in due course according as the consideration of the proposal is advanced and in accordance with the requirements...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together. I assume that the Questions relate to appointments made to State boards currently under the aegis of my Department. A number of different statutory processes are involved in appointments to State boards. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Under Part IX of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Government may by Order, on foot of a proposal from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, designate a site or sites as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) to facilitate development which is considered, in the Government's opinion, to be of economic or social importance to the State. Before proposing the...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: I can never recall an occasion when either his wind or his loquaciousness failed the Deputy opposite.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Today's contribution was a good example of how bad it can get.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: I listened to the Deputy for 20 minutes without interrupting him once.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: I expect the Deputy to show some courtesy on this occasion. I will deal with the last speech first. Deputy Durkan, with other speakers, made the point about the huge spend before the elections, and about the postering taking place at present. As I drive around the country, I see an astonishing amount of very large posters which are predominantly Fine Gael posters.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: In fact, there have been two or three separate, major campaigns of postering. I have no problem with it.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: However, as one Deputy noted earlier, I wonder where the money comes from. I want to commend——

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: That is it. The old Blueshirt comes to the fore. Shout the other fellow down. Do not listen.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Do not allow a response. Be ignorant, be thick. Keep the head down and shout. I will deal with some of the points raised.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: I commend Deputy Gay Mitchell on a thoughtful and incisive speech — it was one of the better speeches in this debate. He made the strong point that it is time for us to consider the creation of a kinder Ireland. In complete contradiction to the last speaker, he made the point about it being important in all political debate and discourse that we listen to each other. I commend him on...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Mr. Bruton is doing a very good job in Washington. The Deputy was happy to walk behind him——

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: As the Deputy is from Galway, he may remember that his current leader, when talking to students in Galway, extolled the virtues not just of voting electronically but of voting on the Internet. People are entitled to change their minds but they are not entitled to play the hypocrite. While much of the debate was not on the Bill, a couple of points on the Bill were raised. Deputy McCormack...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: There is double think in that. Fine Gael branches will never listen.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Will the Leas-Cheann Comhairle ask the Deputy to respect the rules of the House?

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: I have sat in the House for three hours and respectfully listened to the Deputy.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: Deputy Finian McGrath said Independents were prepared to take the difficult decisions. I cannot remember a single occasion in this House on which an Independent Deputy pushed through taxation measures, as the rest of us, including Deputy McCormack, must do from time to time to pay for public services.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Dick Roche: I will return to less controversial and sensitive matters. Deputy Gormley referred to the amount of money spent recently on election posters. The main Opposition party has done the same, as it is entitled to do. It is not breaking any law or trespassing on anybody's rights in so doing. The Deputy asked where the money would come from and suggested a post hoc arrangement, whereby such...