Opening comments by Dick to the French Senate Committee on European Affairs
Thursday, 03 February 2011 22:01

Address by Minister of State Dick Roche
Sénat de France
Committee on European Affairs
Paris, 2 February 2011.

M. le President (Senateur Jean Bizet), Senateurs, Mesdames et Messieurs

It is a pleasure to be with you today in this historic place. Thank you for your warm welcome.  I greatly appreciate your invitation to engage in this important dialogue.

I must begin of course by thanking Senator Humbert for his visit to Ireland last December, in connection with the report which is before you today. Your colleague has had a longstanding interest in Franco-Irish friendship, which we in Ireland value most highly.

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Address by Dick to the Assemblée nationale de France
Thursday, 03 February 2011 21:54

Address by Minister of State Roche
Assemblée nationale de France
COMMISSION DES AFFAIRES EUROPÉENNES ET
COMMISSION DES AFFAIRES ÉTRANGÈRES

Paris, 2 February 2011.

M. le President, Members of the Assembly, Mesdames et Messieurs

It is a pleasure to be here this afternoon, and to have the opportunity to exchange views on areas of mutual interest.  The timing is very apt for a meeting between a European Committee and a European Minister: we are between a General Affairs Council and a European Council.  You are no doubt aware that it is a busy time also for politics in Ireland; I’m sure you know that our Dail has been dissolved and a general election will take place in three weeks.  Even – and perhaps especially - in busy times such as these, I think it is important that governments and parliaments get the best information available.  There is much media reporting and comment on issues such as the current economic and financial situation in Ireland, but it is vital that decision-makers such as yourselves hear directly from those involved. 

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Key Fine Gael Policies shot down by IMF and EU
Saturday, 18 December 2010 00:00

“Two key policy options put forward last week by Fine Gael have already been shot down by EU partners and by the IMF”, Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche.

“In the run up to last week’s EU Council Fine Gael bombarded the media with two claims regarding policies which Enda Kenny said could save Irish taxpayers billions.

The two claims have been comprehensively dismissed by the IMF and EU partners.

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Dick condemns religious intolerance during Seanad debate
Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:19

Speaking in Seanad Eireann today, Wednesday 19th January 2011, Dick Roche TD, Minister for European Affairs expressed his concern at the recent murders of many Christian people in Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq and Egypt.

Minister Roche said that the growth of religious intolerance, including instances of Christianophobia, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism and in particular at the recent attacks in Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq and Egypt is something that is unacceptable and that Ireland will continue to work for the eradication of all forms of religious intolerance at both the international and national levels in order to protect all people from the threat of violence.

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Fine Gael behaviour ‘nothing short of bizarre’. Gombeen politics cut little ice in the EU Council rooms - Dick
Wednesday, 15 December 2010 21:53

Speaking in the Dail debate on the EU/IMF facility for Ireland Minister for European Affairs, Dick Roche, described the approach adopted to the issue by Fine Gael as ‘gombeen politics’ that will cut no ice in the EU Council.

The approach adopted over the weekend to the EU/IMF programme by various Fine Gael speakers on the EU/IMF facility has been nothing short of bazaar.

A series of Fine Gael spokespersons have argued basically that they could renegotiate a better deal with the EU and the IMF on the basis that Mr. Kenny has some sort of personal friendship with the German Chancellor.

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