Results 501-520 of 798 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Cathal Berry: We are saving the best for last.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Cathal Berry: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirleach. I will ask six brief questions. I am conscious of my colleagues trying to get in. If there is a second round, I would be happy to speak. I welcome Lieutenant General Clancy and his team. To double on what Deputy Clarke was saying, I thank him for the hospitality that was extended to the committee on our visits to the naval base at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Cathal Berry: I take the Chief of Staff's point that the Permanent Defence Force, comprising the regular troops, is competing with the private sector when it come to recruitment and retention and that is the same across the world, but our Reserve Defence Force is not and it is still perhaps 60% below strength. You can have a job in the private sector and be a member of the Reserve Defence Force. We had...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Mar 2023)

Cathal Berry: I wish to raise the 58 school building projects throughout the country that are currently on hold due to a lack of funding in the Department of Education. I accept the reason for this is inflation in the cost of construction. A public meeting will be held tonight in Portlaoise regarding Kolbe Special School, which is in particular need and completely worthy of a new premises. When will...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2023)

Cathal Berry: I am grateful for the opportunity to comment in advance of the EU summit meeting tomorrow and Friday in Brussels. The meeting will be chaired by the Swedish Presidency. I very much approve of the agenda. It is only right and proper that Ukraine dominates the agenda, for obvious reasons. It is the burning issue in Europe at the moment, both literally and metaphorically, unfortunately. I...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2023)

Cathal Berry: I wish to raise the matter of Ukraine. I concur with the Taoiseach's comments of last Friday that Putin will stop where we choose to stop him. That is entirely true. I wish that, in 2014, when he invaded Crimea and half of Donbas, the international community, including Ireland, had been more robust and assertive in stopping him. The appeasement he got eight years ago has brought us to the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2023)

Cathal Berry: It is an unlikely scenario but it is a low probability and high impact issue if it does actually occur. I thank the Taoiseach for confirming that there is a plan. My concern is that everybody who needs to know the plan is aware of it. Would the Taoiseach agree that we have the necessary resources in terms of equipment and people to ensure that we have a resourced implementation of this?...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Civil Defence Bill 2023: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2023)

Cathal Berry: I fully understand the decision and thank the Chair for the update last night, which I appreciated.

Report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality Issues in the Defence Forces: Statements (30 Mar 2023)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate on the independent review group report regarding misconduct in our armed forces. I welcome the Women of Honour group to the Public Gallery. I also welcome veterans of the Defence Forces from Kildare. I welcome the publication of the report and its recommendations. Two commitments in the Tánaiste's opening statement...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (18 Apr 2023)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the opportunity to make some comments on the most recent EU Council meeting in Brussels on 23 March. I welcome the fact that the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, was present physically and that President Zelenskyy dialled in remotely. That is good practice. The EU should be reaching out to third countries, particularly EU accession countries. We should also engage...

Deployment of Naval Service Vessel to Participate in Operation Irini: Motion (25 Apr 2023)

Cathal Berry: I very much welcome the opportunity to make some comments on this very important debate on whether this House should authorise the dispatch of a naval vessel, LÉ William Butler Yeats, to the Mediterranean for approximately five weeks this summer. I am supportive of the motion for a number of reasons. It is very important the arms embargo on Libya is maintained to maintain regional...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Apr 2023)

Cathal Berry: A number of referendums are planned for a single day in November, which I support. Should we have an additional two referendums on that day? The first is on the rapidly rising population in Ireland. There is a constitutional requirement for a Deputy for every 20,000 to 30,000 people. In 20 years' time, if the projections are correct, we could have 200 Deputies in this Chamber which is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (27 Apr 2023)

Cathal Berry: 73. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of offshore wind turbines he expects to be off the Irish coast by the end of 2024, 2025 and 2026, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20209/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (27 Apr 2023)

Cathal Berry: Approximately how many offshore wind turbines do we expect to have in situfor the end of next year and the end of 2025 and 2026?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (27 Apr 2023)

Cathal Berry: I very much acknowledge and appreciate all the work that is going on in the background, such as the establishment of MARA, the legislation and the planning bits and pieces that are taking place. However, what people really need and want to know is when construction will happen. I take the Minister's point. He said the back end of this decade. The key question for me is as to whether there...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (27 Apr 2023)

Cathal Berry: That is great. Thus, the specifics most likely relate to the period from 2026 onwards. At least we have a good, if tentative, timeline. I am glad about the Arklow wind bank. I managed to sail past it last summer on a trip to France. There are seven turbines there that were constructed approximately 20 years ago. I stand open to correction, but my understanding is that it was the largest...

Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2023)

Cathal Berry: I am delighted to take the opportunity to make some comments on Europe Day on behalf of the Regional Group, particularly on the 50th anniversary of Ireland joining the EU. I am conscious that I am one of Ireland’s lucky generation. The country joined in 1973, and I was born in 1977. I am part of the first generation to benefit enormously from being in the European Union. I am very...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Cathal Berry: In light of recent media reports, I want to return to the matter of airspace management in this jurisdiction. In an effort to be constructive, we should probably reframe the debate. It is not really one of national defence but flight safety. The country is at peace, thankfully, so we should have an air policing service here with a constabulary role. That is where the focus should be....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Cathal Berry: My major concern is the primary radar system. We have not heard anything about it in the past 15 months and, if the Taoiseach will pardon the pun, I think the primary radar is about to fall off the radar. I have no doubt that the direct interest of both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste will be needed to pursue this project. It would be a huge disappointment if we do not act on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Disinformation and Hybrid Threats in a Geopolitical Context: Discussion (16 May 2023)

Cathal Berry: I thank the witnesses for their excellent opening presentations and statements. I will start with Dr. Culloty. I take her views on debunking. It is very important. I remember when Ben Wallace, the defence secretary in the UK, published that article in UK newspapers a couple of days before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. He introduced words that most people in Ireland had...