Results 361-380 of 798 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (24 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: 33. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of vacancies that exist in the Defence Forces by rank. [58475/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (24 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for those figures. I accept he is equally concerned at the shortfall of 283. Most parts of the public service are expanding apart from the Defence Forces. I agree that retention is a massive issue. The Minister may not be aware that there are six married quarters in Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, which members of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (24 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: I hope I can shed some light on the issue Deputy Clarke raised with the Minister. I completely accept that the Minister can only use the information he is given. Having been a medical officer, I probably have slightly more accurate information that may be able to shed some light on proceedings. First, there should be approximately 32 medical officers in the Defence Forces. I am not sure...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (24 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: I want to double up on Deputy Clarke's comments by fully accepting the Minister's bona fides with regard to the figures. He mentioned that there are two pathways into the Medical Corps, direct entry and the military medicine training scheme. There is a third lesser known pathway. It is the one through which I joined the Medical Corps and one of the current medical officers is in a similar...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (24 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: 4. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current number of medical officer vacancies; the extent to which this is impacting on Defence Force operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58477/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (24 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: 16. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the Army nursing service review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58476/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: 19. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if members of the emergency aeromedical service in Athlone and those who assisted with mandatory hotel quarantine will receive the €1,000 pandemic recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58473/22]

Post-European Council: Statements (16 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: I bid good afternoon to the Minister of State, and I thank the Taoiseach for his opening statement. I will start on the pack of cards and the Russian announcement in the past couple of hours of the sanctioning of and declaring as personae non gratae 52 Irish politicians. I am not sure if the Minister of State made the cut. If he did, congratulations; if not, commiserations. I am not sure...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the Taoiseach and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Simon Harris. I very much welcome the €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee that was announced in the budget. It is relevant for this academic year. On balance it is a good thing and is making a very positive difference downstream. Unfortunately, it is only...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: The RHAs, in particular, are vital. It is very unusual to have six hospital groups and nine CHOs and for them not even geographically to align so I hope that will streamline the process. It is also reassuring to hear about the consultants' contract. If that can be done by Christmas it would make a massive improvement downstream because you are not just hiring managers or people with...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: I wish the Taoiseach a good afternoon. It is appropriate that we focus on healthcare reform for the day that is in it. There can be no better way of honouring the memory of Vicky Phelan than to focus on and accomplish what she was advocating for, namely, healthcare reform. We want to fix our broken health service to minimise errors and maximise excellence in all its forms. As the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: Conscious of the clock, I have just a few comments and questions, maybe four. I thank the Minister for attending with his team to make his opening statement. There was a commitment for direct communication or liaison with the veterans’ associations on pensions. That would be very much welcome and useful. We had the veterans’ associations here this year. Maybe this is...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for the clarification. My next question is on the 13,065 military pensioners, which number reflects the extent of the retention crisis. I take the Minister’s point that he is aware of this issue. The big takeaway I am getting is that it is not only operationally preferable to keep people in service but also financially preferable. Many of the pensioners would...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: Doubling down on what Deputy Brady said, I also welcome the interim arrangement for sergeants who are over 50 years of age and the extension up to the age of 52 in 2024. Privates and corporals are allowed to serve up to the age of 55. Obviously, the follow on question is, while welcoming the extension up as far as 52 years of age, where are we with extending it further up to 55? How long...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: I have a final point. My understanding is that there are two people who served in the same platoons and who joined the Defence Forces on the same day. One is still a private and one is a sergeant. The sergeant makes the point that they went out of their way and went overseas loads of times and did the promotion competition, so why should they have to retire three years in advance of...

Long Covid Health Services: Motion [Private Members] (9 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the Ministers of State. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important debate on long Covid. I would like to commend my good colleague, Deputy Naughten, and Cáit Nic Amhlaoibh, our group administrator who, in fairness, did all the heavy work in preparing the motion. I acknowledge and welcome the presence of patient advocates and long Covid patients in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Humanitarian Situation in Ukraine: Members of the Ukrainian Parliament (8 Nov 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank Mr. Merezhko for his detailed opening statement. I am very sorry for what his country and people are going through. He can be assured of the absolute support of the Independent parliamentary group, of which I am a member, in his country's struggle with Russia. I will focus on diplomacy in my questions. Mr. Merezhko brought up a number of points. I take his point on the...

Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: I am sharing time with Deputy Shanahan. I thank the Minister of State for his opening statement. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Bill. I share the concerns that have been articulated and echo them. This is not the way to do business and I think both the Minister of State and the Minister will appreciate that. There is little time for debate or scrutiny when a...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (Resumed) (19 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate in advance of the European Council meeting tomorrow and Friday in Brussels. I begin by welcoming the creation of the European Political Community. It is a good idea and a good initiative. It is appropriate that EU and non-EU countries across Europe can sit around the same table and discuss the pressing matters of the day. It was good...