Results 381-400 of 798 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: We all appreciate the importance of local government. My constituency, Kildare South, spans three local authority areas, which are Kildare, Laois and Offaly, with a total of 78 councillors. I hear on the ground that some councillors find it increasingly difficult to get release from their full-time jobs to attend crucial council meetings. Interestingly, it is not private sector employers...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: I wish the Minister "Good afternoon" and thank her for her detailed opening statement. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate on the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 and I very much welcome it. It is long overdue. I am happy to support its passage through the Dáil and I do so for the following reasons. First of all, it brings Irish...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizens Information Services (13 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for her response. I agree entirely that it is an excellent service. It is independent, valued and, crucially, it is accessible. I use it myself. I refer many constituents to the service and I presume every Deputy in the House does the same. I have the Newbridge office on speed dial if I want to run something by it on a complex case. I take the point on the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizens Information Services (13 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: That is good to hear. I appreciate the update. My view, which is shared by most Deputies, is that the citizens information service is excellent not in spite of the volunteers but because of them. Many of them have a wealth of knowledge from their careers, be that in tax or social welfare. They also have a crucial accessibility function. I welcome the review and I look forward to reading...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizens Information Services (13 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: 2. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on the implementation of the Citizens Information Board's strategic plan in respect of the use of volunteer staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50989/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizens Information Services (13 Oct 2022)

Cathal Berry: My question has to do with the citizens information service and, in particular, what the plan is to deal with volunteer staff. There have been rumours and concerns floating around over the past couple of months. The Minister might use this opportunity this morning to clarify the Government's position in that regard.

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...