Results 361-380 of 798 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Proposal for a Directive on Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence: Motion (21 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I very much welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate on the proposal for an EU directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. I support it for number of reasons. It modernises our procedures and, as the Minister said, standardises them to a minimum standard, at least, across the European Union. I wish to focus on three areas. It is good that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: 69. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline the pay improvement measures recommended by the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; the expected timeline for the implementation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33771/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: As we are aware, approximately five months ago, the Commission on the Defence Forces report was published. There are a number of very specific pay improvement recommendations in that report. I would be grateful if the Minister could update the House on what those pay improvement recommendations are and, most importantly, what is the timeline for implementation of the recommendations.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his response. I welcome the permission for the PDFORRA and RACO to associate with ICTU. That is at least half a step forward. The measures to which I specifically referred are on page XXIV - it is in Roman numerals - in the report. The commission identified four things: it recommended an increase in military service allowance for people with fewer than three...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister. The reason I raise the Labour Court issue is that many of the Minister's Cabinet colleagues would probably not be aware – I would not expect them to be aware – that military personnel are the only people without access to the Labour Court. To me, a panel of international experts recommending specific pay improvements should at least hold equivalence. It...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (29 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important debate on the Offences against the State Act and the Criminal Justice Act. I also welcome that we have to renew these special powers at least every 12 months; it is a prudent and sensible way to do business. We would all prefer if the Special Criminal Court did not exist and if there was no need for it. However, the court...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: 99. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if members of the Defence Forces are being paid at least the national minimum wage of €10.50 per hour in accordance with the National Minimum Wage Act 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33770/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: 109. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when he expects the first member of the Reserve Defence Force to deploy overseas on a six-month tour of duty on a United Nations mandated peace support operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33772/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: 116. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of advanced paramedics and paramedics in the Defence Forces in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022; if this decline in numbers is compromising the safety of Ireland’s troops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33773/22]

Defence Forces: Motions (5 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I welcome even more the opportunity to listen to the debate. I have listened to all sides, particularly those who may have different views from me. There are two, pretty much, motions before us. One is about Defence Forces overseas and the other is about the PESCO projects. I will deal with the first one first. I echo many...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I very much welcome the Government's announcement some months ago about the €1,000 Covid bonus payment. The Government is going to extend it to members of the Defence Forces. The Minister might not be aware that not a single soldier, sailor or flight crew member has received that €1,000 bonus payment yet. Worse still, not only have they not received it, but they have not even...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Fees (7 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: 4. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way he intends to address the extremely high cost of tuition fees for graduate-entry medicine courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36722/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Fees (7 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: My question relates to a specific course, namely, the graduate entry medicine course run by a number of universities and medical schools throughout the country. As the Minister will be aware, the fees for such courses are absolutely enormous. They are some of the highest in the country at between €15,000 and €16,500 per year, which is incredible. Does the Minister have any...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Fees (7 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his response. It is good to see there is at least a few options on the table. I will give him two more options that might be worth considering. He mentioned, and is on record as having said, that he would like to reduce the student registration fee, which I would certainly welcome. There is a great deal of speculation - obviously, he cannot make any commitments...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Fees (7 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I agree that a similar type of bursary scheme would make an excellent contribution. It could be made as large as possible. As someone who has been down this pathway, I can totally identify with the pressures these students are under. I like what the Minister said about the Bank of Ireland loan. I finished paying off my Bank of Ireland student loan only three months ago. Many people...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Situation in Ukraine: Engagement with Ukrainian Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Co-operation (28 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank Mr. Merezhko for his excellent presentation. We are very sorry for what is going on in his country at the moment and we totally recognise the reality of the situation. I take his views on board in relation to recognising Russia as a terrorist state and applying pressure and greater advocacy in relation to classifying it as sponsor of state terrorism as well. I appreciate those...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: My first day in Leinster House was 25 years ago when I was a member of the Defence Forces security detail charged with protecting the campus. I admit to spending a little bit too much time in the Visitors Gallery looking down at proceedings. Little did I know how events would transpire and I would actually end up here today. It is on that basis that I want to welcome the additional...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Taoiseach for his response. There is a supplementary matter I wish to raise, relating to the €1,000 pandemic bonus payment. Not a single member of the Defence Forces has been paid the bonus yet, even though hundreds of them are eligible, entitled to it and have been told it is coming. It still has not arrived, however. We have heard that, rightly, 75,000 people in the...

Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I am delighted to be in the Chamber to speak on a scientific topic such as this. It is an area of great interest to me. To paraphrase Deputy Quinlivan, space is the final frontier. There are great opportunities from a commercial point of view. There are also great responsibilities from environmental and peacekeeping perspectives. I join Deputy Catherine Murphy in congratulating the UCD...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I am grateful for the Taoiseach's update on his recent trip to Ukraine. It was important that visit went ahead. He got to see how bad things are out there and how much assistance will be required by Ukraine, in particular during the reconstruction phase. I also welcome the opportunity to comment on the outcome of the recent European Council summit on 23 and 24 June in Brussels. I agree...