Results 741-760 of 798 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (6 Oct 2020)

Cathal Berry: 415. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on the situation pertaining to the refugees in Lesbos; the number Ireland plans to accept; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28906/20]

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Sep 2020)

Cathal Berry: I note that the HSE's winter plan says that it intends to build capacity for contact tracing. I also understand that earlier this year more than 72,000 people volunteered for the HSE's On Call For Ireland initiative. Has any thought been given to tapping into this great pool of talent, which has been completely underutilised, in order to fill contact tracing roles? If no thought has been...

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Sep 2020)

Cathal Berry: To begin, I wish to extend my very best wishes to the Minister of State and his family on his recent appointment in the Department of Justice and Equality. Law and order are significant priorities for me and my constituents and I very much look forward to engaging with him over the coming years in that regard. From the outset I am very happy with the legislation that is before us. It...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2020)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Tánaiste for that clarification. My final question has specifically to do with Kildare. It is unique among counties in that it is the only county to have experienced three lockdowns, two of them back-to-back. I accept that a financial package was provided and commend the Minister with responsibility for media, tourism, arts, culture, sport and the Gaeltacht, Deputy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2020)

Cathal Berry: Most people in the Chamber are familiar with the range of financial supports available nationwide to mitigate against the effects of this terrible virus. I want to focus my questions today on the situation in the three counties of Laois, Offaly and Kildare, which had been disproportionately affected as a result of the virus. Most reasonable people would accept that the outbreaks in those...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Food Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Cathal Berry: 10 o’clock It is reassuring to hear that an implementation plan is in place. From my perspective, I emphasise the need for the food ombudsman to be an independent office with the statutory powers to enforce the directive as outlined. We have seen in recent months that we have to protect primary producers and small suppliers so that large retailers and conglomerates do not abuse...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Food Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Cathal Berry: 109. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the establishment of the proposed national food ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24366/20]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Food Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Cathal Berry: I congratulate the Minister on his recent appointment. I thank him for coming to the House to answer questions. A national foods ombudsman is proposed in the programme for Government. Will the Minister update the House on the process? Will he give a timeline for establishing that office?

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (15 Sep 2020)

Cathal Berry: 870. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which €5 billion Brexit Reserve Fund will be distributed within the EU and within Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24367/20]

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Sep 2020)

Cathal Berry: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I am conscious of the clock.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Sep 2020)

Cathal Berry: I will finish up a little bit early to facilitate other Members to speak. I have a number of points to make. I thank the Minister, Deputy Coveney, for coming in here tonight. I understand that there are great demands on his time at the moment, particularly when we see the extraordinary events today across the Irish Sea. His presence this evening, therefore, is greatly appreciated. I...

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jul 2020)

Cathal Berry: Níl ach cúig nóiméad uaim agus mé ag caint ar son an Regional Group.

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jul 2020)

Cathal Berry: Níl. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, for proposing this new legislation. As an Independent member of the Regional Group, I am broadly supportive of it. It is necessary, appropriate and timely for a number of reasons. The business sector is important not just for the economy but also for society. Small and medium-sized indigenous enterprises and our microenterprises are...

Perjury and Related Offences Bill [Seanad] 2018: Motion [Private Members] (29 Jul 2020)

Cathal Berry: On behalf of the Regional Group, I am happy to strongly support the restoration of this Bill to Committee Stage. It is really important that this happens and I will explain why. First, significant work has taken place. The former Senator, Mr. Pádraig Ó Céidigh deserves a huge credit for that. There has also been significant stakeholder engagement. He liaised with, for...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (24 Jul 2020)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister and his team for coming in to update the House on the Covid-19 emergency and the Government's response. I thank him for his compliments to the Opposition this morning. I, for one, will continue to engage constructively with his office and the Government as part of the huge national effort to combat the virus. I compliment the front-line workers and members of the...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (24 Jul 2020)

Cathal Berry: My third question relates to contact tracing. How does the Minister anticipate the contact tracing system working in the next few months? Does he anticipate that the contact tracing app will take over or that the manual contact tracing by telephone will continue? The Government's second priority after schools is to reopen the healthcare system to non-Covid illnesses and conditions....

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (24 Jul 2020)

Cathal Berry: I am.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (24 Jul 2020)

Cathal Berry: I am up in the cheap seats here at the very top. Ar dtús báire, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle as a post nua. Is rud iontach é. Go n-éirí an bóthar léi ina hobair agus sa phost as seo amach.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jul 2020)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Tánaiste for that clarification. My follow-up question relates to the defence budget. Based on percentage of GDP, we already have the smallest defence budget in the EU. Compounding this problem has been the practice in recent years of significant Department of Defence Vote moneys being returned to the Central Fund at year end. The size of that return depends on one's...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jul 2020)

Cathal Berry: I wish to raise some defence matters with the Tánaiste. There is almost universal acceptance that there is a severe and worsening staff retention issue in the Defence Forces. All we have to do is look at the naval base in Cork where two naval ships are tied up. These vessels are unable to put to sea because there are not enough sailors to crew them. I have also been reliably informed...