Results 221-240 of 704 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: I am glad the Minister is the present in the Chamber. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important debate on policing, security and community safety for a number of reasons. The Bill replaces an important Act, namely the Garda Act 2005, and legislates for the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing from about four years ago. This Bill is not before...

Anniversary of Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Motion (22 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on Putin’s unnecessary and highly illegal war in Ukraine. Again, on behalf of the Regional Group, we wish we were not marking this grisly anniversary but we are here nonetheless. Unfortunately, that is just the way things are. I have a few points to make. The first is that I welcome, in general, Ireland’s response to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: Of the 27 EU countries, only 21 deployed small medical teams and search and rescue teams to Türkiye in the aftermath of the recent earthquake. Ireland, unfortunately, sent nobody at all. I accept the fact we provided approximately €10 million, which was a good thing, but money is of little use to families who are caught beneath the rubble. It is a pity. We have the Civil...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: I want to raise the issue of the housing crisis in County Kildare. There are more than 6,500 people on the social housing waiting list. Many of them are military families and the Tánaiste is their Minister, as Minister for Defence. At the same time, the Department of Defence has stated that 62 houses in the Curragh Camp are vacant or in various states of dereliction, which is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Tánaiste for that very reassuring answer, which is great. Something the Tánaiste may not be aware of is that you do not actually need planning permission to build military houses on military property for military families. It really streamlines the process. I am grateful for the answer and agree that in this country we have changed much more profound policies than...

Civil Defence Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his opening statement. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill, which aims to modernise legislation that dates to the Second World War. That is probably a good litmus test for the need to modernise legislation. From the outset, I compliment the Civil Defence, both the organisation and the 2,700 volunteers. They do fantastic work. As other colleagues...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: I wish the Tánaiste and his team a good afternoon. It is good to have them on board. I wish he was just the defence Minister rather than having other responsibilities as well, but that is, unfortunately, the way of things at present. This is our third set of Estimates. They are obviously not perfect in any shape or form but they are the best of the three we have seen so far. There...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: To buy them back, yes. I take the Tánaiste's point about increasing the basic wage for people with less than three years' service, but people with more than three years' service are my next focus. A recommendation in the high-level action plan indicated that the patrol duty allowance for the Naval Service should be reviewed. It is why the Naval Service is at a historic low as...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: It is ridiculous.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: Most countries deploy their nurses overseas and agency nurses cannot be deployed overseas.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: I would agree if the Bill were imminent but it could be months down the tracks. We could make full use of the Civil Defence Bill 2023.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: If it would be helpful, or if the Minister needs someone to do so, we will certainly table an amendment.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: I might be able to answer that, if that is of any use.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: I would definitely back up Deputy Clarke on that issue. The biggest issue in the Defence Forces is pay. The second biggest, as Deputy Clarke pointed out, is contracts that are not fit for purpose. We go to such great efforts to recruit people but then effectively sack them at the age of 50 if they are privates or corporals. There are seven of these people on "death row", as they describe it.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: They have been in touch with me.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: If we want to improve retention rates, amending the Defence Forces regulation that requires a ministerial signature is an obvious first place to start. It is low-hanging fruit.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: I agree.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: I definitely back up the Deputy, who is well able to speak for herself. I think she might be suggesting that what would be helpful, if there are seven people in this position, that a pause be put on anybody being sacked pending-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: That is the reality. That is what they are saying to me. This does not happen in any other part of the public service where one hits the age of 50 and is forced to retire. In fact, the opposite is happening in the public service. If these people are fit, able, willing and skilled, we want to keep hem. If the review is going to take couple of months, it would be helpful if we could have a...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the increase in the pension allocation. Some of the language used, that these payouts are non-discretionary and demand-driven, I agree with to a certain extent. We need to realise that the number of people who leave the Defence Forces is within our control. Our preference would be that our service people stay in service, rather than transition into the pension path. There are...