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

European Union Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: I see Deputy Costello's point. However, such a change would be more appropriate to consolidation legislation. There is a need, at some stage, for such legislation in this area. The collective citation used here has its roots in the principal Act, which is the European Communities Act 1972. It is felt it is not necessary to make the proposed change. There is need for consolidation...

European Union Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: Not really. I am saying the citation draws its roots from the principal Act. I accept the general principle of Deputy Costello's amendment. Different terminology is used to describe this body of 27 member states. At some stage in the future we will need consolidating legislation to make sure there is homogeneity in the language used right across. I do not accept the amendment but Deputy...

European Union Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: I see Deputy Costello's point. Section 8 comes into operation now. Enactment will depend on someone in another member state finding his Biro and signing the necessary document for final ratification. The Minister will then sign a commencement order.

European Union Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: Given the torture and twists and turns that we have all gone through there will not be any particular delay, but the enactment order has to be signed when the ratification process is completed. The Minister specifically referred to that in his Second Stage speech. The Deputy can take it that there will be great anxiety for an Irish Minister to do that but we do not know the day yet.

European Union Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: I thank everyone in this House and everyone in this country who has engaged in the two referenda. I am somewhat mystified at comments made by Deputy Ó Snodaigh about the possibility of there being some sort of democratic deficit. The Irish people have spoken clearly. When one takes the aggregate of the "Yes" and the "No" votes in both referenda, they have spoken even more clearly. We have...

European Union Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: It does.

European Union Bill 2009: Second Stage (21 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: There is one on Deputy Timmins's side with a view about the national parliament.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: Rather than reading out, as Ministers do, a speech praising our side and criticising the Opposition side, it struck me that we might, for a change, consider what people are saying. Like most Members of this House I have received hundreds of e-mails recently and I have tried to engage in a dialogue, through the e-mail system, with my constituents and with people from far and wide who have...

Treaty of Lisbon: Motion (8 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the terms of the Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, signed at Lisbon on 13 December 2007, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on Tuesday, 6 October 2009. I move this with some considerable relief.

Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: It was a diesel car.

Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: Which Christmas?

Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: And Kilkenny.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Oct 2009)

Dick Roche: Mr. Alan Dukes had a different view.

Order of Business (24 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: The Deputy has no more interest in jobs than in supporting a "Yes" vote.

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 74 together. The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. We have emphasised our strong support for the undocumented in all our engagements with the US Administration and Congress, including during meetings earlier this year with President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: I very much support the view that the international community must continue its engagement in Bosnia-Herzegovina and more generally do all possible to achieve lasting stability in the countries of the Western Balkans. In relation to Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), which monitors the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, last met in Sarajevo...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: The Conflict Resolution Unit (CRU) was established within the Department in 2007 to enhance Ireland's engagement in conflict resolution internationally. The work of the unit is intended to build on Ireland's tradition of UN peacekeeping, our commitment to overseas development aid, our experience of the peace process in Northern Ireland, and our commitment to international human rights and...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: At present, 37 properties are owned by the State abroad for use as Chanceries and official Residences of Heads of Mission. The estimated total valuation of all these properties is €146 million. However, I would caution that this estimate is subject to the price volatility of the current property market across the globe. In recent years, and with the support and encouragement of the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 25 together. Ms Sharon Commins, a Goal development worker, and her Ugandan colleague, Ms Hilda Kawuki, were abducted by a group of armed men in Darfur on Friday 3 July. I can assure this House that, in the weeks since, the Irish Government has been making every possible effort to secure their release. A strong multi-disciplinary Irish team, led by the...

Departmental Expenditure. (23 Sep 2009)

Dick Roche: Supporting Irish communities overseas, and in particular the most vulnerable members of these communities, is an important priority for the Government, as it has been for many Governments. Since the establishment of the Irish abroad unit in 2004, the Government has allocated more than €60 million under the emigrant support programme, ESP, to support Irish communities abroad. Funding to...