Where is Dick Roche ?

Senator · 18-05-2007 9:20am #1

Sightings of the lesser-spotted Environment Minister can be reported here.

delta_bravo · 18-05-2007 9:54am

I think he did return yesterday to say something about the health service. Not 100% sure though

JeanClaude · 18-05-2007 9:55am

Senator wrote:

Sightings of the lesser-spotted Environment Minister can be reported here.

Wasn't he on Election special yesterday (12pm) debating with Dr Liam Twomey (FG) and Dominic Hannigan (Labour)??.

Macy · 18-05-2007 10:16am

Cullen on Newstalk this morning as well. Surprised the FF Machine fell for the FG trick of getting the two biggest spoofers out front in the final week. They epitomise to many everything that is wrong with the current Government from a FF perspective...

jmayo · 18-05-2007 10:19am

Ah jeeze now what will I do with all my "Free the FF 2" placards?

nollaig · 18-05-2007 11:41am

I didnt like that FG/Lab thing of the missing FF 2 or whatever they were calling it.

They were saying that they wanted to conecntrate on the issue, yet they spent much of the last week talking about them.

Jackz · 18-05-2007 11:57am

Bit of joke FG bringing Roche up considering Richard Bruton has been rolled out for everything apart from Hayes on Bruton's night off in place of the hiding FG crime spokesman O' Keeffe.

Senator · 18-05-2007 1:38pm

I know Roche from way, way back and agree he's a bit of a joke alright.

Jackz · 18-05-2007 1:49pm

He lecture you in UCD?

Senator · 18-05-2007 1:55pm

No, I was a civil servant in Dublin when he was a senator and, begging your pardon, he was a right full-of-himself pr!ck who caused considerable problems including once compromising safety and security to 2 government departments. The Official Secrets Act still applies to me so I cannot say more.

Jackz · 18-05-2007 2:05pm

Ah ok I heard he was a prick when he was in UCD aswell and I don't think he should have been a minister, but as I have stated elsewhere who are the potential FG ministers? Fg say despite Enda Kenny's lack of experience in any ministerial role he's a hard worker who will have hard working accountable ministers. Richard Bruton is superior to Enda and therefore has been rolled out at every opportunity to do the talking. But who else is there? Are we going to have lefty labour ministers for health and justice? No thank you.

Senator · 18-05-2007 2:19pm

Just donning my former civil servant hat for a moment, let me assure you that whatever minister is nominally "in charge" the real masters will see to it that no lasting damage is done.

kevmy · 18-05-2007 2:20pm

Jackz wrote:

Ah ok I heard he was a prick when he was in UCD aswell and I don't think he should have been a minister, but as I have stated elsewhere who are the potential FG ministers? Fg say despite Enda Kenny's lack of experience in any ministerial role he's a hard worker who will have hard working accountable ministers. Richard Bruton is superior to Enda and therefore has been rolled out at every opportunity to do the talking. But who else is there? Are we going to have lefty labour ministers for health and justice? No thank you.

Interesting thought on who will be in a potential FG/Lab/GP government. Obviously Enda as Taoiseach
Bruton and FG would prob want Finance
I'd see Justice going to Howlin
Foreign Affairs or Education to Rabbitte (he won't want poisoned chalice of health)
Twomey will be the loser on that and end up with Health
Education/Foreign Affairs to possibly Olwyn Enright
Brian Hayes will get something (Defence/Communications/Sport)
Liz McManus will also get something (Transport?)
Greens to get Environment
FGer to get Agriculture (Denis Naughten?)

HelterSkelter · 18-05-2007 2:25pm

Jackz wrote:

Are we going to have lefty labour ministers for health and justice? No thank you.

But our current Taoiseach is lefty Bertie the "socialist"!

The Rooster · 18-05-2007 2:31pm

Senator wrote:

Just donning my former civil servant hat for a moment, let me assure you that whatever minister is nominally "in charge" the real masters will see to it that no lasting damage is done.

Or in most cases, that nothing at all gets done.

The Rooster · 18-05-2007 2:33pm

kevmy wrote:

Interesting thought on who will be in a potential FG/Lab/GP government. Obviously Enda as Taoiseach
Bruton and FG would prob want Finance
I'd see Justice going to Howlin
Foreign Affairs or Education to Rabbitte (he won't want poisoned chalice of health)
Twomey will be the loser on that and end up with Health
Education/Foreign Affairs to possibly Olwyn Enright
Brian Hayes will get something (Defence/Communications/Sport)
Liz McManus will also get something (Transport?)
Greens to get Environment
FGer to get Agriculture (Denis Naughten?)

Rabbitte's getting Finance kev.
Its not a secret, but you'd think it was.

OTK · 18-05-2007 2:46pm

Liz McManus for Health, surely? Greens for transport or energy or environment.

Dick Roche is so widely hated, I've never seen anything like it.

Senator · 18-05-2007 2:46pm

The Rooster wrote:

Or in most cases, that nothing at all gets done.

Sometimes yes, that is the lesser of 2 evils.

Senator · 18-05-2007 2:56pm

OTK wrote:

Dick Roche is so widely hated, I've never seen anything like it.

The vast majority of politicians in my experience both inside and outside the civil service are ok guys. You can have a laugh with them, you can tell them that there are certain rules and regulations designed for everyone's benefit in the long run and that within those they can have their head and play away at governing to their heart's content. They're open to suggestions and will argue their case back and forth with no problems.

Then there is the "Don't you know who I am ?" brigade, of whom Roche is a prime example. Premier League gob****es who forget that they are public servants first and foremost and who think it's the other way round - that the public are there to serve and adore them. They get right up your nose from the off and manage to antagonise the mildest of creatures with their high and mighty self-preening.

Aw here - don't get me started !

20-05-2007 2:43pm

He must be pretty worried.I met him canvassing in Arklow today and he was looking for no 1's for himself and not for the local FF candidate...
I know of hardened FF supporters who don't want to vote for him.

luapenak · 20-05-2007 2:54pm

Tristrame wrote:

He must be pretty worried.I met him canvassing in Arklow today and he was looking for no 1's for himself and not for the local FF candidate...
I know of hardened FF supporters who don't want to vote for him.

Who will vote for him? Everyone ive talked to assumes he is dead certain to get in again and he probably is. At the same time i havnt found one person is going to vote for him and i have been trying to find one just to see if there out there. Ive met a few people who would have seriously considered voting FF but who just wont vote for him and dont really know of any of the other FF candidates in Wicklow.
It would be great to see him go. we can all hope...

Wicklow Boy · 20-05-2007 4:27pm

Well many people have the same opinion of Dick as you. That he is extremely talented and well educated is without question. That he has an excellent brain is given, That he did a wonderful job in mamaging Ireland's presidency of the EU is certain. However in a country that has grown on we still respect people with the common touch, with basic decency and with most of all basic cop-on.
We all saw the hunt in the media and on the internet for the missing Dick Roche this past few weeks when it was implied that Dick was being kept under wraps by FF for fear of inflicting further damage. So out he was trotted onto an afternoon politics programme and he treated us not to an educated attempt at the common touch but with a condescending rant at the media and the public.
So he doesnt even have the cop to know when he should learn. The polls show that the Rainbow will not come closer than 77 seats in this election including the greens and that includes the assumption that Wicklow will only elect one FF TD. They have 3 candidates running, Joe Behan who is a member of Bray and Wicklow councils for nearly 20 years and is currently chairman of WCC and Pat Fitzgerald. I say now vote one and 2 for these 2 candidates in the order of preference and let the chips fall for Mr Roche as he may or may not deserve. But dont shoot yourself in the foot by electing 4 rainbow candidates and having nothing to show for your vote (other than embarrassment as a Wicklow person when Ms De Burca repeats her county council antics).

tallyman · 20-05-2007 5:19pm

Wicklow Boy wrote:

Well many people have the same opinion of Dick as you. That he is extremely talented and well educated is without question. That he has an excellent brain is given, That he did a wonderful job in mamaging Ireland's presidency of the EU is certain. However in a country that has grown on we still respect people with the common touch, with basic decency and with most of all basic cop-on.
We all saw the hunt in the media and on the internet for the missing Dick Roche this past few weeks when it was implied that Dick was being kept under wraps by FF for fear of inflicting further damage. So out he was trotted onto an afternoon politics programme and he treated us not to an educated attempt at the common touch but with a condescending rant at the media and the public.
So he doesnt even have the cop to know when he should learn. The polls show that the Rainbow will not come closer than 77 seats in this election including the greens and that includes the assumption that Wicklow will only elect one FF TD. They have 3 candidates running, Joe Behan who is a member of Bray and Wicklow councils for nearly 20 years and is currently chairman of WCC and Pat Fitzgerald. I say now vote one and 2 for these 2 candidates in the order of preference and let the chips fall for Mr Roche as he may or may not deserve. But dont shoot yourself in the foot by electing 4 rainbow candidates and having nothing to show for your vote (other than embarrassment as a Wicklow person when Ms De Burca repeats her county council antics).

I disagree, I have meet him several times over the years and he is a very charming and decent man, he also puts in 110% for his constituents so I can see him topping the poll again, I do agree that Fitzgerald and Behan are strong candidates so FF are sure to get 2 seats and perhaps 3 in Wicklow