Results 61-80 of 798 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Cathal Berry: I will double down on a few points. First, I thank the Tánaiste for his response. I appreciate his position. I do not even feel as though we are having a debate here. We are not even having an argument. It is really an appeal to reason. The word "victim" was used, and it was used correctly. I would say we are speaking on behalf of the victims because the Women of Honour group...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Cathal Berry: I will speak on my amendment No. 8 and in support of Deputies Cronin and Howlin. First, there is a lot of good stuff in this Bill, but this is a lightning rod for any discontent. I think we all welcome true, independent oversight. It is a good model. I think everybody here wants this oversight body to be a success. We want it to not only be a success but an exemplar of good governance....

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Cathal Berry: I support the general thrust of those comments. I wish to speak to amendments Nos. 3 and 5. I agree with the two Deputies that the phrase "or matter of Government policy" is unnecessary. It is probably superfluous. The relevant sentence could very easily stop after the phrase "in relation to a political matter". A tradition dating back 30 or 40 years means members of the Defence Forces...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Cathal Berry: I will just speak briefly to support the principle of Deputy Howlin's amendment. I agree that the structures are not fit for purpose in any shape or form. They are nearly a century old and definitely need to be reformed for sure. I will also zoom in on Deputy Howlin's point on the Accounting Officer piece. Maybe this is not for today but it is very important to put on the Dáil record...

Nature Restoration Law: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jun 2024)

Cathal Berry: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I wish the Minister of State a good morning. I am very grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important debate on the nature restoration law. I commend my good colleague, Deputy Naughten, and our group administrator Cáit Nic Amhlaoibh, who did the lion's share of the work preparing this motion to be brought to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 Jun 2024)

Cathal Berry: 271.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she expects the design of a new school (details supplied) to progress to planning permission and tendering stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24723/24]

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I raise the issue of the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, a support scheme for farmers. The scheme has two main shortcomings. First, as we are all aware, the weather was horrendous up to a few weeks ago so a lot of the work initiatives are behind time. Second, there are some outstanding payments, even from last year, for some farmers. I would be grateful if the Taoiseach...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: That is better than I was expecting; I thank the Taoiseach for the response. I also thank him for agreeing to meet the physicians. The feasibility study is a very positive development. Reducing the number of fatalities on our roads would be a sufficient reason for this system but I see my constituency colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon across the Chamber and am minded that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I raise the issue of road safety, especially in advance of the bank holiday weekend. Fatality statistics are trending in the wrong direction again, which is unfortunate and sad. At the last count, there were already 79 fatalities this year, which is ten more than the same period last year. We know what the reasons are for these things. We know it is driver behaviour, speeding, driving...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I will briefly speak in support of Deputy Howlin's contribution. It makes perfect sense. I am very supportive of the principle and concept as well, particularly with regard to the separation of headquarters. For instance, Garda headquarters is not embedded in the Department of Justice. It is completely separate and rightly so. It has a certain amount of operational independence as well,...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I want to speak in support of both suggestions. The bottom line is that the singular focus of the defence apparatus at the moment should be recruitment and retention. Reducing people's constitutional rights would be highly unlikely to incentivise someone to join or stay. One of the reasons the Defence Forces are in a bit of difficulty is that people were silenced and could not speak up....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: The fundamental question is whether we should elevate these secondary regulations to primary legislation at all. Should we be nesting this in primary legislation? Are we distracting ourselves from what we should be doing? Is it necessary?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: We say this with full respect. We are fully on board with genuine external oversight. We welcome it. It is a good structure to have in place, but we want it to be a success and for the new body to be an exemplar of good governance by its very existence. We feel - and the Tánaiste will detect that there is unanimity on this - that having someone who is merging the executive function...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I am very encouraged by what the Tánaiste has said. I agree with him about Deputy Stanton's solution. I know the Deputy has introduced it as a kind of compromise solution, but I think it is actually a superior solution rather than a compromise one. It allows the board to have access to the expertise of the Secretary General but keeps that separation between the board and the Secretary...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: It is superfluous.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: It could just state,: "With the consent of the Minister".

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: It is not in the most recent draft of the Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (22 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: 55. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider exempting psychotherapists and counsellors from the 13.5% VAT rate, in order to improve access to mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23268/24]

Housing for All: Statements (Resumed) (21 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: On behalf of the Regional Group, I am grateful for the opportunity to make some brief comments on the Housing for All strategy. As the Minister of State knows, we on this side of the House are always fair. From a political point of view, Housing for All is the only strategy that exists, so we are critiquing a strategy in isolation. I would like it if there were two or three alternatives...