Results 641-660 of 798 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the themes and the publication of the Bill. I also welcome the pre-legislative scrutiny process, which is very important. We get to consult widely, which is great. Ms Maguire, in her opening statement, mentioned the possibility of a second Bill later this year. When will we see that? Will it be the back end of the year? Is there a timeline for its publication?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: Is that the Bill where the Naval Service becomes the navy and the Air Corps becomes the air force?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: I hope before the recess. I thank Ms Maguire.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: In general terms as regards ICTU, it is great to have this regularised in legislation. It is a major step forward and very much welcome. Head 25 concerns the military prosecutor and military judge who will not be allowed to become a member of a representative association. Does the Department know if they are currently a member of a representative association? .

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: Is this something that they have actively sought themselves?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: I presume they are aware that these provisions exist. Do they have any thoughts on whether they should and was there consultation?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: Most people in the country are very much on board with the principle of the energy transition with the promise of cleaner, greener and cheaper electricity. To be fair there has been a lot of progress from a cleaner and greener point of view but there has been no progress at all from a cheaper perspective. Much research suggests that Ireland has the most expensive electricity in the European...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: It relates to the perception of whether the large energy companies are dusting down the ordinary people. Those are the three things - the cost, the energy security and whether we can cut out this middle guy, whether we can provide more solar panels for people and literally give power to people. I want to focus on two programmes in particular. The first is the schools solar panel...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: Maybe it is just me.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his response. It is encouraging to hear about the schools programme in particular. It is good that roll-out is taking place. I just want to revisit the cost of electricity. The Minister acknowledged that we have an inordinately high cost of electricity here in this country. I emphasise that permeates every aspect of the economy and society, from the cost of a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: 172. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence in light of commitments given on military housing by the Tánaiste last year, what the plan is for the currently unoccupied houses in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3797/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: I wish to make some general points about head 25, if that is okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: Are they in favour of this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: I am clear on head 25.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: We skipped head 34 and I wanted to come in on that. It deals with the re-engagement of personnel. There is mention of increasing the retirement ages and from this committee's point of view, it is important to hammer that message home. It does not make a whole lot of sense, if An Garda Síochána is allowing people to join at the age of 50, for the Defence Forces to make people...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: To back up Deputy Cronin, there was a suggestion that the retirement ages were going to be increased soon. Would our guests have any update on that and the timeline for implementation? I know there are lots of people in the corporal and sergeant ranks across the Defence Forces who are approaching 50. They are concerned about where they are going to be, career-wise, in the next five years...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: I bid the Tánaiste and his team a good afternoon. I thank him for his opening statement. I will start on a few positives. In the budget in October, an allocation of €1.23 billion was announced. In the context of the Revised Estimate, the allocation is now €1.25 billion. Obviously ,there is an additional €20 million, which is not to be sneezed at. It is small...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: I also mention it up because, as the Tánaiste stated, the sectoral national development plan allocations will be coming on stream soon. I presume that the defence apparatus will be fighting for at least its fair share of that. I will hammer home the point that we are, in the context of GDP and GNI*, only getting one third of the EU average when it comes to defence spending. If our...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: If there was an assurance that it would be project specific, it would certainly help. There is a key point I want to make. The briefing document provided to members states that the role of the Defence Forces is "to provide for the military defence of the State". The Commission on the Defence Forces openly stated- this has been accepted by nearly everybody - that the Defence Forces cannot...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: Someone who joined before 1994 could stay until the age of 60. The age was then reduced to 50.