Results 501-520 of 732 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Farrelly Commission of Investigation Substantive Interim Reports: Statements (11 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this truly tragic and harrowing case. I thank the Minister of State for her opening statement. I would have preferred more detail, but I understand that she was being deliberately vague in light of the fact that there is an ongoing commission of investigation. I, too, will be quite circumspect in my use of language for the same reasons. I wish to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (11 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: It is good the Government recognises that the artistic sector needs to be supported financially. I would argue that it also needs to be supported infrastructurally. There are many small towns and villages throughout rural and regional Ireland that do not have an artistic centre, although they have digital hubs. Perhaps this is an issue the Minister will raise with her Cabinet colleague,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (11 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: 107. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide greater detail on the proposed universal basic income for the arts sector that was announced in budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55101/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (11 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: I was happy to see on page 160 of the budget last month that there is a €25 million allocation to support a pilot basic income guarantee scheme for the artistic community in the country. It is a very good concept but I would like to know a little more of the detail. Perhaps the Minister could use the opportunity this morning to expand the detail of the scheme and let everybody know...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (11 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: That is a useful reply and we are really in full agreement that Ireland's artistic and creative sector has achieved world renown for good reason. These people are exceptional and need to be supported just to maximise value both from a societal and economic perspective. I thank the Minister of articulating the timeline in general. Who is the scheme for? What internal sectors within the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recent Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the UN Security Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (9 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister and his team for coming in and for his detailed opening statement. I have two questions. The first concerns the situation at the Belarusian-Polish border. Large waves of refugees are being used as political pawns, and basically being used in hybrid attacks against the European Union. There have been reports of refugees being flown in from the Middle East to Minsk and...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Cathal Berry: I acknowledge the Taoiseach's opening remarks. I am grateful for the update on the Council meeting two weeks ago. I have four points to make with regard to the debrief and the Council meeting. The first relates to the rule of law. I share the concerns voiced by a number of Deputies about what is happening in Poland and Hungary at present. The rule of law, fundamental freedoms and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: The Minister will be aware that, thankfully, a significant number of people throughout the country are now microgenerating electricity from photovoltaic, or PV, solar panels on their homes, farms and businesses. They are doing this for two reasons, namely, environmental and financial. However, they are supplying surplus energy to the national grid and are not receiving remuneration for it....

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: I wish the Minister of State a good afternoon. I welcome this opportunity to make a statement in advance of the European Council meeting in Brussels tomorrow and Friday. I thank the Taoiseach for outlining the agenda, which seems quite full. I am reassured by the fact that that the pandemic is still top of the list because it is actually still with us. I am also happy it is there...

Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: I am delighted to be here this morning to speak on this Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill which is very important for a number of reasons, and two in particular. First, it allows us to shine a light on another neglected area in Irish society. Second and perhaps most importantly, it allows us to speak for people who cannot be here this morning. These are the people who are profoundly autistic,...

Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (19 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: I am delighted to be here today to speak on this motion. The motion is close to my heart for a number of reasons. First, my sister-in-law, Cindy Lee, is Singaporean-Chinese. I have close family out on the island and have been fortunate to have visited the island three times over the past number of years. I can see, understand and speak highly of it. I am also reassured by the fact there...

Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (19 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: I can assure the Deputy it was not meant in that way, in any shape or form. It is just that I have personal experience in that regard and that simply is the objective position I have adopted.

Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (19 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: I am in favour of the motion for a number of reasons. First, I have read it and have been through it forensically and can see, from the articles, there are human rights safeguards in there, which gives me a certain amount of reassurance. Second, I have sat through the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence hearing. I have listened very carefully to what the Minister of State,...

Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (19 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: The clue about what is good about this partnership and co-operation agreement is in the name. It is about partnership and co-operation. There is co-operation on a number of different strands; including from political, economic, climate change, anti-terrorism and judicial points of view. There are many positives. It was never meant as a fait accompli or a final document. It specifically...

Death of Sir Davis Amess MP: Expressions of Sympathy (19 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: On behalf of the Regional Group, I echo the sentiments and attitudes expressed already and convey my deepest sympathies to David Amess's family and friends. The lesson I draw from how Sir David lived his parliamentary life is that it is perfectly okay to disagree with somebody while still maintaining a very professional and courteous relationship. Those two states are perfectly compatible...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: I do not have a question. I just want to welcome the Minister of State and support of the agreement between the EU and Singapore. I have a twin brother living in Singapore so I have a vested interest from that perspective. I have visited there a number of times; it is a lovely location and I approve of the programme and agreement.

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: This budget is an exercise in treading water. Most of the measures it contains involve frantically trying to keep up with the increase in the cost of living. Inflation is running at 3.7% and is likely to head towards 4% in the new year. One can talk about gross income or net income but the only income that really matters is discretionary income at the end of the week or month. That is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (7 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister and agree entirely with the principle of her response. That is exactly what the Department of Social Protection should be for. It should be there to provide a safety net and safety blanket when required. I remember processing many claims to the Department and they were dealt with expeditiously and humanely. I appreciate that the Comptroller and Auditor General took...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (7 Oct 2021)

Cathal Berry: That is great. That is reassuring information. I think the appropriate balance was struck between proper checks and controls, on the one hand, and proper humanity, on the other. That is important. The figures the Minister called out at the start of her response were staggering. Some 500,000 people had their claims processed over a three-week period. Those are incredible numbers. The...