Results 201-220 of 798 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: Yes, for the end of the year. I know with the recent operation there was an issue with serviceability of helicopters. I know the UK is looking to sell five brand new EC135 helicopters for £4 million each. If there is money left over, there is certainly a good option out there. The current EC135s are 20 years old. If you were driving a 20-year-old car you would know about it. There...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: It was for 2023, so it was some time this year. There is a suggestion that €32 million was withdrawn from the Defence Vote. First, was such an attempt made and is this article true? Second, was that attempt successful? This relates to the pay savings because the number of troops is below-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: It was written in January of this year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: No, the 2023 funding.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: Correct. The budget from October 2022 left us with the impression that the funding was X, but his understanding is that it was X minus €32 million. That would be of concern to this committee, if it were true. Is it the case that an attempt was made, and was the attempt successful? Can we get copies of that correspondence? I presume the reporter got it on foot of a freedom of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: That is a useful clarification. The money was not recouped by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. It was used for alternative purposes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: There is a quotation from-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: The Secretary General of that Department, Ms Jacqui McCrum - fair play to her - described it as a bombshell suggestion and stated that €32 million was the most likely figure. She went on to state, “It is my very strong view that it is grossly inequitable to seek to change these arrangements midway through the National Development Plan." I am just seeking to clarify that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Tánaiste for the clarification.

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Budget Statement 2024 (10 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: I am very glad that the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, is here this afternoon because I know he is genuinely interested defence affairs. He was the Opposition spokesperson for defence and was also Minister of State at the Department of Defence for the first two and a half years of the Government's term. I presume he has looked through the defence portfolio relating to the budget. It...

An Garda Síochána: Motion [Private Members] (4 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: Táim an-bhuíoch agus sásta as a bheith anseo inniu chun labhairt faoin ábhar tábhachtach seo. Is é an t-ábhar is tábhachtaí faoi láthair, nó in Éirinn ar aon nós. I will begin by endorsing the views already expressed by my good colleagues. I associate myself with their remarks. I acknowledge the very proud history of the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: The free schoolbooks for primary school children scheme is working very well across the country. It is taking a lot of pressure of hard-pressed families in every constituency. The problem now is getting children to school in order that they can take full advantage of this scheme. As we know, the national school bus transport scheme has been under a lot of pressure in the last couple of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Current Issues Facing Members of the Defence Forces: Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (3 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: Days are being recorded but hours are not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Current Issues Facing Members of the Defence Forces: Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (3 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: I welcome Lieutenant Colonel King and his team. It is great to have people in military uniform before the committee. Perhaps they can fill in the gaps. I think ten years ago it would have been unheard of, frowned upon and deemed to be completely unacceptable to have people in military uniform before a committee. It might give us a glimpse into what Lieutenant Colonel King mentioned about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Current Issues Facing Members of the Defence Forces: Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (3 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: There are no substitutes on the bench. Even a GAA team has substitutes on the bench but Mr. King is saying the Defence Forces has none.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Current Issues Facing Members of the Defence Forces: Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (3 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: But that language is not being used for the Garda. It is trying to get back up to 15,000. The language is not being used in the National Cyber Security Centre, which is also seeking to increase its headcount. Therefore, how is it acceptable to speak about stabilisation in the Defence Forces when it is not acceptable in any other sector? How come the Department of the Environment, Climate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Current Issues Facing Members of the Defence Forces: Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (3 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: I am not convinced that Ireland could mount a similar meagre operation in 12 months. Where is the point of no return? Where is the point at which the trend is irreversible? I believe we are approaching it. This is really serious. To double up on what Deputy Carthy said, not only should there be a whole-of-government approach but there should also be a whole-of-Parliament approach....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Current Issues Facing Members of the Defence Forces: Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (3 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: I thank Mr. King for his candour. It is very much appreciated. It is great to get an honest appraisal of what is actually happening on the ground.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Current Issues Facing Members of the Defence Forces: Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (3 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: I have one small thing to say. I very much like the Chair's suggestion about writing to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. My fundamental question is always about the extent to which this committee is culpable for what is happening in the Defence Forces. We are the cross-party committee with oversight. What is the extent of our powers? We...