Results 121-140 of 798 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (28 Apr 2021)

Cathal Berry: 577. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will support and implement trauma-informed school strategies and restorative practices for all students, educators and school communities commencing in the new school year 2021-2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21723/21]

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: It is amazing how time flies. Next week is the anniversary of a useful exchange the Tánaiste and I had in the Dáil Chamber in Leinster House during a debate on the lack of strategic airlift capability in this country. I remember being quite heartened by the Tánaiste's response at the time. He specifically said: Military air transport is a real weakness for us. We are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Tánaiste for the response. I welcome the acquisition of two new CASA 295 maritime patrol aircraft in 2023. What I would say is that they are to be for maritime patrol and should be used exclusively for that purpose, especially given the fact we have two ghost ships in Cork because the Naval Service cannot put them to sea because of a crewing problem. We still very much...

Europe Day: Statements (11 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: I am delighted to be here to speak on Europe Day as a member of the Regional Group. Ireland joined the European project in 1973. I was born in 1977 and as such I am one of Ireland's lucky generations really. We were the first generation to be born within the European Union, the first generation to benefit fully from its membership and the first generation to witness first-hand the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (11 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: 50. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if private security firms have been appointed to secure Irish embassies and diplomats in unstable regions abroad; if so, the cost of such arrangements; if they provide armed protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24517/21]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (11 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: Have private security firms have been appointed to secure Irish embassies and diplomats in unstable regions abroad? If so, what is the cost of such arrangements, do they provide armed protection and will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (11 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for that very useful response. More than €1 million seems like quite a large outlay for such a bespoke service. Has any consideration been given to resourcing and tasking the Defence Forces to provide such a service on a more permanent basis rather than just on an ad hocbasis? I ask that for a number of reasons. First, Irish embassies overseas are sovereign...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (11 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister. Again, that was a very useful response. My point is just to encourage the use of the Defence Forces, these State assets we have, when appropriate. Many of the tasks the Minister listed would be well within the Defence Forces' comfort zone, for instance, armoured protection, bodyguard services, medical support and, crucially, critical communications as well. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: White Papers (11 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: 416. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if Irish military attachés will be appointed to a small number of Irish embassies abroad as outlined in the White Paper on Defence 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24518/21]

Private Security Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: I very much welcome the publication by the Government of the Private Security Services (Amendment) Bill 2021. It is long overdue. I recognise and acknowledge the work and contribution of Deputy Ó Laoghaire in the initial drafting of the Bill some time ago. I am heartened by the fact there is cross-party support for it. There is good reason for that support. I am happy to say that I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Properties (13 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: 9. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans for the remaining residential properties owned by his Department in Orchard Park, Curragh; if he plans to hand over the estate to Kildare County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24607/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Properties (13 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: My question is in respect of Orchard Park, which is the residential estate in the Curragh Camp which is currently being run and managed by the Department of Defence. There are a number of vacant homes in that estate. I would be grateful to hear the Minister's thoughts on what the plans are for those vacant homes and is he minded to hand over the estate to Kildare County Council?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Properties (13 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for that excellent and very useful update, which is most helpful. From a broader perspective, the Curragh Camp, as we both know, is an excellent place full of wonderful people but dereliction is a major issue in the camp on foot of decades of neglect. It is quite an old Victorian camp. To be fair to the Department of Defence, it has a finite budget. There is only so...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Properties (13 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: I am regularly asked on what I would spend the extra funding if the defence budget were increased. The budget negotiations will be coming up in the next few months and I ask the Minister to advocate as strongly as possible to his Cabinet colleagues - I know he does so - that if the defence budget was increased, there would be more money available for infrastructural projects and to invest in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (13 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: 11. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is still committed to the Air Corps having a role in search and rescue; his views on whether the Air Corps should be tasked to undertake this role in the same way as it was tasked to provide the emergency aeromedical service and Garda air support unit service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24605/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (13 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: My question relates to the national search and rescue service. The service is up for renewal in 2023 and I understand proposals will shortly be brought to Cabinet with regard to how best to configure the service from 2023 onwards. I was very grateful for the comments of the Minister a few months ago when he stated that, in his view, the Air Corps should be given the most significant role in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (13 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his very supportive and useful comments. When Roscommon hospital was closed down in 2013 and there was a need to establish a medevac helicopter in Athlone, the Air Corps was tasked with providing this aeromedical emergency service. It has been providing that service successfully for the past ten years. It did not go out to contract; the Air Corps was just tasked...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (13 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: I fully appreciate how limited and restricted the Minister is in his comments. The key final point I wish to get across is that this contract could be an enormous contract, worth up to €1 billion over ten years, which is the equivalent of half a children's hospital, but without having a children's hospital or even half a children's hospital to show for it. My specific recommendations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: 21. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the plan for the old post office building at the crossroads in the Curragh Camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24606/21]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (13 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: 32. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of vacant residential properties owned by his Department in the State; the plans that exist to refurbish them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24603/21]