Results 341-360 of 732 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Screening of Third Country Transactions Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Sep 2022)

Cathal Berry: Not yet, anyway.

Screening of Third Country Transactions Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Sep 2022)

Cathal Berry: Absolutely. I am happy to do so.

Screening of Third Country Transactions Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Sep 2022)

Cathal Berry: I am the last man standing. I congratulate the Minister of State on his recent appointment. I very much look forward to working closely and constructively with him over the next couple of years. I also wish to compliment the Minister of State's staff. The format of his opening statement is excellent. It is the first time I have seen formatting like that. Whoever is involved, I hope we...

Security of Electricity Supply: Motion [Private Members] (15 Sep 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his closing remarks. One of the advantages of being in the EU is that we get to benchmark ourselves against the other countries on the Continent. Sometimes we are ahead, sometimes we are behind. One glaring anomaly that stands out is that this country of all the 27 has no strategic gas reserve storage facility and no strategic gas reserve. It is a major red flag...

Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Commission of Investigation Report: Statements (14 Sep 2022)

Cathal Berry: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute on this debate on the Siteserv scandal. Once again, we have a detailed and comprehensive report that outlines dubious and poor practices and conduct in the performance by certain elements of corporate Ireland ten years ago during the banking crisis. As Deputy Bríd Smith pointed out, the legacy of that crisis is unfortunately still with...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I am grateful for the Taoiseach's update on his recent trip to Ukraine. It was important that visit went ahead. He got to see how bad things are out there and how much assistance will be required by Ukraine, in particular during the reconstruction phase. I also welcome the opportunity to comment on the outcome of the recent European Council summit on 23 and 24 June in Brussels. I agree...

Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I am delighted to be in the Chamber to speak on a scientific topic such as this. It is an area of great interest to me. To paraphrase Deputy Quinlivan, space is the final frontier. There are great opportunities from a commercial point of view. There are also great responsibilities from environmental and peacekeeping perspectives. I join Deputy Catherine Murphy in congratulating the UCD...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Taoiseach for his response. There is a supplementary matter I wish to raise, relating to the €1,000 pandemic bonus payment. Not a single member of the Defence Forces has been paid the bonus yet, even though hundreds of them are eligible, entitled to it and have been told it is coming. It still has not arrived, however. We have heard that, rightly, 75,000 people in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: My first day in Leinster House was 25 years ago when I was a member of the Defence Forces security detail charged with protecting the campus. I admit to spending a little bit too much time in the Visitors Gallery looking down at proceedings. Little did I know how events would transpire and I would actually end up here today. It is on that basis that I want to welcome the additional...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (12 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: 97. To ask the Minister for Health the number of members of the Defence Forces who are entitled to claim the pandemic bonus payment; the number of members of the Defence Forces who have been paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33759/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Fees (7 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: 4. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way he intends to address the extremely high cost of tuition fees for graduate-entry medicine courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36722/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Fees (7 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: My question relates to a specific course, namely, the graduate entry medicine course run by a number of universities and medical schools throughout the country. As the Minister will be aware, the fees for such courses are absolutely enormous. They are some of the highest in the country at between €15,000 and €16,500 per year, which is incredible. Does the Minister have any...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Fees (7 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his response. It is good to see there is at least a few options on the table. I will give him two more options that might be worth considering. He mentioned, and is on record as having said, that he would like to reduce the student registration fee, which I would certainly welcome. There is a great deal of speculation - obviously, he cannot make any commitments...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Fees (7 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I agree that a similar type of bursary scheme would make an excellent contribution. It could be made as large as possible. As someone who has been down this pathway, I can totally identify with the pressures these students are under. I like what the Minister said about the Bank of Ireland loan. I finished paying off my Bank of Ireland student loan only three months ago. Many people...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I very much welcome the Government's announcement some months ago about the €1,000 Covid bonus payment. The Government is going to extend it to members of the Defence Forces. The Minister might not be aware that not a single soldier, sailor or flight crew member has received that €1,000 bonus payment yet. Worse still, not only have they not received it, but they have not even...

Defence Forces: Motions (5 Jul 2022)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I welcome even more the opportunity to listen to the debate. I have listened to all sides, particularly those who may have different views from me. There are two, pretty much, motions before us. One is about Defence Forces overseas and the other is about the PESCO projects. I will deal with the first one first. I echo many...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Reports on Service by the Defence Forces with the UN and Permanent Structured Cooperation Projects: Motions (30 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I am conscious of the clock so I will be as quick as I can. I acknowledge the presence of the Defence Force veterans and their spouses in the Public Gallery. Many of the contributors pointed quite rightly to the excellent reputation of Irish peacekeepers overseas. That is because of the people sitting behind me, so well done to them. They are most welcome here any time at all. I have...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Reports on Service by the Defence Forces with the UN and Permanent Structured Cooperation Projects: Motions (30 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I wish to make a small point on that, and I am glad the Minister raised it. I know the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, ISME, and IBEC are important, but the biggest and most important employer in this link is the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. If we could get agreement in the public service first and demonstrate to ISME and IBEC that this is quite doable, then...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) Projects: Motion (30 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I very much welcome these proposals, primarily for two reasons. First, the military is very much in favour of them because the skill set will empower them but also personally. In the last 20 years I have benefited enormously from international training in my former line of work. I did multiple courses with the UK Armed Forces.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) Projects: Motion (30 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I appreciate both sides of the argument here. I would say the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces will go to the Government on Tuesday week, supposedly. After that, there will be a full Dáil debate on it. There also is to be a full Dáil debate on these four PESCO projects as well.