Results 221-240 of 798 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (19 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: The clue about what is good about this partnership and co-operation agreement is in the name. It is about partnership and co-operation. There is co-operation on a number of different strands; including from political, economic, climate change, anti-terrorism and judicial points of view. There are many positives. It was never meant as a fait accompli or a final document. It specifically...

Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: I am delighted to be here this morning to speak on this Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill which is very important for a number of reasons, and two in particular. First, it allows us to shine a light on another neglected area in Irish society. Second and perhaps most importantly, it allows us to speak for people who cannot be here this morning. These are the people who are profoundly autistic,...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: I wish the Minister of State a good afternoon. I welcome this opportunity to make a statement in advance of the European Council meeting in Brussels tomorrow and Friday. I thank the Taoiseach for outlining the agenda, which seems quite full. I am reassured by the fact that that the pandemic is still top of the list because it is actually still with us. I am also happy it is there...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: The Minister will be aware that, thankfully, a significant number of people throughout the country are now microgenerating electricity from photovoltaic, or PV, solar panels on their homes, farms and businesses. They are doing this for two reasons, namely, environmental and financial. However, they are supplying surplus energy to the national grid and are not receiving remuneration for it....

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: I acknowledge the Taoiseach's opening remarks. I am grateful for the update on the Council meeting two weeks ago. I have four points to make with regard to the debrief and the Council meeting. The first relates to the rule of law. I share the concerns voiced by a number of Deputies about what is happening in Poland and Hungary at present. The rule of law, fundamental freedoms and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (11 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: 107. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide greater detail on the proposed universal basic income for the arts sector that was announced in budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55101/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (11 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: I was happy to see on page 160 of the budget last month that there is a €25 million allocation to support a pilot basic income guarantee scheme for the artistic community in the country. It is a very good concept but I would like to know a little more of the detail. Perhaps the Minister could use the opportunity this morning to expand the detail of the scheme and let everybody know...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (11 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: That is a useful reply and we are really in full agreement that Ireland's artistic and creative sector has achieved world renown for good reason. These people are exceptional and need to be supported just to maximise value both from a societal and economic perspective. I thank the Minister of articulating the timeline in general. Who is the scheme for? What internal sectors within the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (11 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: It is good the Government recognises that the artistic sector needs to be supported financially. I would argue that it also needs to be supported infrastructurally. There are many small towns and villages throughout rural and regional Ireland that do not have an artistic centre, although they have digital hubs. Perhaps this is an issue the Minister will raise with her Cabinet colleague,...

Farrelly Commission of Investigation Substantive Interim Reports: Statements (11 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this truly tragic and harrowing case. I thank the Minister of State for her opening statement. I would have preferred more detail, but I understand that she was being deliberately vague in light of the fact that there is an ongoing commission of investigation. I, too, will be quite circumspect in my use of language for the same reasons. I wish to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recent Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the UN Security Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (9 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister and his team for coming in and for his detailed opening statement. I have two questions. The first concerns the situation at the Belarusian-Polish border. Large waves of refugees are being used as political pawns, and basically being used in hybrid attacks against the European Union. There have been reports of refugees being flown in from the Middle East to Minsk and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: It is no secret that we are in the midst of another wave of Covid-19. The peak of that wave is some still distance away. It is also no secret that our hospital system is under severe strain and pressure at the moment. That is being felt by our front-line healthcare professionals, including our doctors, nurses, paramedics, healthcare assistants and everybody else involved. They have been...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: I agree with the Taoiseach's views on vaccination and boosters, but my question is on whether we are likely to have a decision this side of Christmas on a recognition package for our front-line professional healthcare workers. The second group of people I would not like to see ignored or forgotten about comprises the voluntary, unpaid workers who are working in testing and vaccination...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: 74. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action he has taken to address the service limits that apply to personnel who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force after 1 January 1994; when he proposes to provide clarity to these persons in relation to their service contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56304/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: The most urgent, pressing and important matter in the Defence Forces at the moment is the need to bring clarity to the situation pertaining to employment contracts for enlisted personnel who joined after 1994. It is an issue of huge concern and is causing a lot of angst, frustration and anger across the Defence Forces. I ask the Minister to bring clarity to the situation if possible.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his helpful response. I appreciate his commitment to honour his previous commitment to provide clarity by 31 December, which is only a few weeks away. That commitment will be appreciated across the military community provided it is honoured, which I presume it will. The important point to remember is that this is not just about the hundreds of troops who may be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: That is quite a useful response and will provide some measure of reassurance to the hundreds of impacted troops and their families. On a more general note, I take the Minister's point that we want to have young soldiers. We also want to have young gardaí, firefighters and prison officers but entrants to those three professions are not subjected to the same types of contracts as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: Has Deputy Clarke a supplementary question?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: I call the Minister.