Results 181-200 of 705 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Cathal Berry: 26. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the approved technical pay grade 2-6 proposal will be paid to enlisted members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34703/21]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Cathal Berry: 33. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of enlisted Defence Forces personnel who will be forced to retire early unless changes are made to the post-1994 service contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34704/21]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Cathal Berry: 55. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the level of uptake on the recent recruitment campaign for direct entry technicians in the Air Corps; if he is satisfied with these figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34706/21]

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2021)

Cathal Berry: I have three brief points to add to the contributions I have made over the past couple of weeks. First, I very much welcome this legislation. This is a historic day for the Reserve Defence Force. Its members have been screaming for this Bill for literally decades and it is finally here. It really is a defining moment for the Reserve Defence Force. It is 60% below strength but I see that...

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (7 Jul 2021)

Cathal Berry: I am delighted to speak on this important topic of post offices in Ireland. I am also grateful to be here as a member of the Regional Group. As the Minister of State is most likely aware, my colleagues and I never come in here to trade insults with the Government of the day. Rather, we come in here to trade ideas and exchange potential solutions to address the problems of our time. It is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2021)

Cathal Berry: I very much welcome the Minister's acceptance last week of two significant amendments to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021. I strongly support that. The reason is that the two amendments will ensure, for the first time, that the farming community will get due recognition when it comes to capturing and storing carbon on the land, be it in hedgerows, soil or...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his genuinely useful and helpful response, particularly regarding how farmers may be able to monetise this situation, which is definitely good news. The Minister mentioned that an amendment will be tabled in the Upper House tomorrow. Does the Minister envisage any more amendments being accepted and can he indicate when the amended Climate Action and Low Carbon...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2021)

Cathal Berry: We are all aware that representatives from the hospitality industry and officials from the Department of Heath are currently meeting to discuss how best to tease out the reopening of indoor dining over the next couple of weeks. That is a good thing. We are also aware that there are approximately 750 pharmacies across the country in which members of the public are being vaccinated on a first...

Mandatory Hotel Quarantine Extension: Motion (14 Jul 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister of State for bringing this motion to the House and for her opening remarks. I thank everyone involved in the mandatory hotel quarantining system, specifically hotel staff, Department officials, private security firms and members of the Defence Forces. It is important to remember that the mandatory hotel quarantining system was established at the peak of the third wave....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jul 2021)

Cathal Berry: Community pharmacies are now actively involved in the vaccination programme. It is great to have them on board. The House appreciates that community pharmacies have significant latitude and autonomy in terms of whom they vaccinate first. That is entirely as it should be. Has any consideration been given to asking community pharmacies to prioritise indoor hospitality workers, particularly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank Commandant King and his team for his very candid testimony today. It is very tough to listen to. It is very sad that an organisation that gives so much to the State is getting so little in return. I have two very brief questions because I am conscious that Deputy Clarke wants to come in. I am sure Commandant King and his team can detect that this committee is on their side. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Cathal Berry: This question is for Lieutenant Colonel Priestley. I thank him for outlining all the great work the Defence Forces have been doing as a result of the Covid emergency. I am mindful that it sounds like many very expensive operations have been taking place, even paying additional staff for additional hours and the additional equipment. The Department of Justice received many additional...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Situation in Belarus: Discussion with Ms Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (15 Jul 2021)

Cathal Berry: I welcome Ms Tsikhanouskaya. It is great finally to have her home. I offer our full solidarity. I have one brief question on the two passengers who were forcibly removed from a Ryanair flight at the end of May in Minsk National Airport. Does the Belarusian opposition leader have any update on the welfare of those two individuals? I thank Ms Tsikhanouskaya for coming before the committee...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence (7 Sep 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his opening statement and for the apology contained within it. I have three questions. They are technical in nature. Perhaps the Minister or his team might be able to answer them over the next few minutes. I acknowledge the large treasure trove of documentation that was uploaded onto the Department of Foreign Affair's website yesterday. It was very useful and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence (7 Sep 2021)

Cathal Berry: That is great. I thank the Minister and the Secretary General. I have no further questions.

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Cathal Berry: I have absolutely no hesitation in voting confidence in the Minister, Deputy Coveney, tonight. I do it for one reason and one reason only. Earlier this year he committed to implementing the findings of the Commission on Defence Forces, which is scheduled for submission in a few weeks' time. I very much look forward to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, still being in office so that I can hold...

Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Sep 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister of State for coming into the Chamber this afternoon to debate this Bill. It is a Bill that is long overdue. I welcome its publication and look forward to supporting its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas over the coming days and weeks. I have three points to make. First, I wish to emphasise the importance of the marine domain in this country. I heard...

EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Motion (21 Sep 2021)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber to propose this motion on extending the interim period of co-operation between the EU and UK on the exchange of data of an evidential nature. I have no difficulty with the motion. It is very prudent and sensible and I look forward to supporting its passage through the Dáil. I support it for three reasons primarily. First, we...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Sep 2021)

Cathal Berry: I very much welcome the proposal being floated at present to establish a specific task force to tackle the ever-growing hospital waiting lists in Naas General Hospital and every hospital in the country. If the vaccine task force under Professor Brian MacCraith has taught us anything, it is that if one assembles the right people with the right skills and the right resources, one can achieve...