Results 321-340 of 732 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (13 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: 279. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on the auto-enrolment retirement savings system; the way that it will be funded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50990/22]

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: That is correct. There are a lot of rumours going around and there are some proposals on the table that 50-year-old sergeants will be forced to retire and be rehired on their birthdays, with drastically reduced terms and conditions for pensions and pay. I find that unacceptable and the Taoiseach probably feels the same. I do not think anyone would try to chance that with a garda, a nurse...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: The reason I mention this is that it is the most pressing issue relating to the Defence Forces at the moment. It goes back to the comment I made about retirement functions at the start. This will only affect eight sergeants over the next 12 months.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: Yes. It is just eight troops but there are 8,000 troops watching very carefully to see how those eight people are treated. That is where the real downstream consequences are. We should be mindful that the Dublin Airport Authority tried something similar two years ago and we saw where that ended up. It was unable to fulfil its mandate and the public suffered accordingly. The take-home...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: We all go to retirement presentations from time to time. They are really important because they allow us to acknowledge and recognise the contributions of particular workers to particular workplaces. What is perhaps even more important is that retirement presentations signal to the remaining workforce that their contributions are also appreciated and valued. I mention this because I will...

Creeslough Community: Expressions of Sympathy (11 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: While I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Regional Group, I recognise how inadequate any words of mine must be in the face of such tragedy and loss. Nevertheless, I also want to pay tribute to the emergency services, both North and South of the Border, who rushed to the scene on Friday, once again answered for their courage and saved so many lives in so doing. I wish...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (6 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: I too welcome the restart of negotiations between the EU and UK negotiating teams on the Northern Ireland protocol. It is a good thing. I also welcome the change in tone, in particular, the apology by Steve Baker during the week. It is quite a rare event in international relations these days that someone would apologise. That is also a good thing and he should be commended on it. My...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (6 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his response. I appreciate he has to be much more circumspect than me when speaking in Parliament; I can comment much more freely. My point is that our two islands have solved vastly more complex problems than the protocol. If the will is there, we can certainly do it again. There is a proposal floating around that we could treat goods travelling from Great...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: 82. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the contractual terms and conditions that will be used for sergeants over the age of 50 years who wish to remain in service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49048/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: 84. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the way in which he will implement the European Union Work Time Directive in the Defence Forces; when he expects the Defence Forces to be in compliance with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49047/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: 87. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the pay improvements outlined in the High-Level Action Plan will be paid to military personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49049/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: 97. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when a mechanism will be agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to create the additional military appointments necessary to implement the High-Level Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49051/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: 104. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the Independent Chair of the Implementation Oversight Group for the High-Level Action Plan will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49050/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the Minister's statement that it will be around €1.8 billion or €1.9 billion by 2028. That is still only half the EU average but it is half a step forward from our point of view. Is there a table available, particularly for the next two budgets, which are the remaining budgets of the Thirty-third Dáil? Does the Minister have any idea where he would like to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: On the subject of the one just across the line, the €67 million in the budget is quite a small figure in light of what is needed. The Minister said that does not include the Building Momentum pay deal that is currently being balloted on. We obviously do not want to prejudge what the trade unions are going to say or do. Perhaps the Minister might use this opportunity to state clearly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: I wish to make a suggestion if that is possible. What would the Minister think about the Department of Defence paying this, recognising that the Department of Health is supposed to do so? Could the Department of Defence actually front-load the payment and ask the Department of Health to reimburse it? The Department of Defence would take ownership of this to pay its own people and then get...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister and welcome him and his team. I am conscious of the clock as my other colleagues have to get in as well. Does the Government intend scheduling some time in the Dáil Chamber on this matter? The Minister is going to the Seanad after this but if we had an opportunity to debate the commission or at least give statements in the next couple of weeks that would be very...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Sep 2022)

Cathal Berry: Ireland is the only country in the EU without a national security strategy. Development of such a strategy was commenced a number of years ago but there has been radio silence ever since. In light of events in Ukraine and in certain embassies in Dublin and in particular over the past 72 hours in the Baltic Sea will the Tánaiste update the House as to where we are on the development on...

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Budget Statement 2023 (27 Sep 2022)

Cathal Berry: On balance, in the circumstances, this is an okay budget. It is okay for just one reason; namely, all the hard work by people and businesses across this country that has provided this significant surplus for the Exchequer. We have not has such a surplus for approximately 15 years. Now we are able to redistribute that as fairly as possible. There are a few measures I would like to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Sep 2022)

Cathal Berry: I raise with the Tánaiste today the matter of the deliberate and outrageous ramming of a Garda car in Cherry Orchard on Monday evening, which I utterly condemn. Is it a disadvantaged area? Yes, for sure. Is that an excuse? No. There are plenty of disadvantaged areas across all our constituencies where that type of behaviour would not be accepted or tolerated. Of particular concern...