Results 161-180 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: Deputy Kenny's current position, as of last week, could not be further from the position his party accepted in the past, in particular when the euro was established. Let us remind ourselves that the criteria were finalised in December 1996 during an Irish Presidency. John Bruton played a major role in setting out those criteria and there was international recognition of the role played by...

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: Deputy, with all due respect, if you come in here an act like an ass, that is exactly the label you will gain.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: Deputy, with due respect------

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: With respect, I have no intention of withdrawing what I said.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: We are engaged in the usual nonsense here.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: With respect, I have tolerated interference.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: I am respecting the Chair.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: Provided I have the time to finish.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: Chair, read the record. I did not call the Deputy an ass. I said if a Deputy comes in here and acts like an ass, that is the appellation which will be attached.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: That is okay. There are equal insults. I respect the Chair. I did not call the Deputy an ass. I have been called a jackass and a worse ass, or whatever the appellation was. We should all calm down a little. If the Deputy allows me to finish my script he will have time to question each and every point I have made. I will listen to him respectfully. The criteria-----

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: I was very interested in the last two contributions, as they showed the rich diversity of views that exist within Fine Gael. When the financial position of Greece deteriorated, the governments of the EU decided that determined and co-ordinated action was required. We are now seeing legislation introduced to this House to reflect part of that. The Heads of Government of the eurozone endorsed...

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: -----the idea that we could renege on bonds that were the subject of a guarantee and to which the Deputy's party agreed is fundamentally wrong.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: Ireland is a small open economy depending on trade and inward investment.

Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Dick Roche: I listened to the Deputy put a series of statements on the record that are simply false. I did not interrupt the Deputy once and I would be grateful if he could display the same courtesy. I will make my points and he can make his points. That is how we work in this House. The lessons from Greece are for us all. Failing to deal with the crisis in Greece in a timely way has made the...

Job Creation (27 Apr 2010)

Dick Roche: I am very pleased to reply to this debate because I understand the sincerity with which Deputy McGrath addresses this issue. I also know something of the crisis in this area because, as Deputy McGrath will recall, I took some personal criticism when I designated Ballymun as the place to receive 500 jobs from IKEA some years ago. As usual, the prophets of doom suggested the country would...

European Union Work Plan. (27 Apr 2010)

Dick Roche: I thank the Deputy raising this matter. We had an opportunity to discuss it very briefly during the meeting last week of the Joint Committee on European Affairs. I agree with the Deputy that targets are important but they have to be precise and not waffle; they have to be very specific. The spring European Council reached agreement on the main elements of the new European strategy for jobs...

Coastal Protection. (27 Apr 2010)

Dick Roche: That was a spirited performance as ever from the Deputy. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I were raised within sight, sound and smell of the Safe in Wexford. We are fully familiar with the problem of sea lettuce. The Deputy waxed eloquently about how it looks when the tide is coming in in the early morning but anybody who has been in the vicinity of a large amount of sea lettuce when the tide...

Coastal Protection. (27 Apr 2010)

Dick Roche: It is not in my office. However, I accept the undertaking is important to Deputy Sheehan and his constituents. It is important to remember that the priority must be the safeguarding of the beaches and those who use them in the summer. These beaches, including Inchydoney blue flag beach, are key to west Cork tourism and must be protected. I understand that water conditions may soon again...

Passport Applications. (24 Mar 2010)

Dick Roche: I acknowledge that Deputy Timmins made suggestions with a view towards helping. However, escalating the conflict with the trade union would not necessarily help. I agree with him that the union should give serious consideration to reviewing and reversing its position on overtime and the taking in of temporary staff. Many of the temporary staff are people who have been employed over the...

Passport Applications. (24 Mar 2010)

Dick Roche: We are borrowing more than €340 million per week just to keep the public services ticking over. A very high proportion of that is going on pay. It is clear that the Government, whoever is in government, must balance the books. We cannot continue to borrow at that level. It would not be wise or prudent to talk about reversing this situation. In fact, I would be absolutely opposed to...