Results 341-360 of 704 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: 109. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when he expects the first member of the Reserve Defence Force to deploy overseas on a six-month tour of duty on a United Nations mandated peace support operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33772/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: 116. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of advanced paramedics and paramedics in the Defence Forces in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022; if this decline in numbers is compromising the safety of Ireland’s troops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33773/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Situation in Ukraine: Engagement with Ukrainian Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Co-operation (28 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank Mr. Merezhko for his excellent presentation. We are very sorry for what is going on in his country at the moment and we totally recognise the reality of the situation. I take his views on board in relation to recognising Russia as a terrorist state and applying pressure and greater advocacy in relation to classifying it as sponsor of state terrorism as well. I appreciate those...

Proposal for a Directive on Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence: Motion (21 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I very much welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate on the proposal for an EU directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. I support it for number of reasons. It modernises our procedures and, as the Minister said, standardises them to a minimum standard, at least, across the European Union. I wish to focus on three areas. It is good that...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (21 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate in advance of the EU summit later this week. On Friday, it will be four months since the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine so it is fitting and appropriate that the agenda of the EU summit is dominated by the Ukrainian crisis. That is as it should be. First, I welcome that it now appears Ukraine and Moldova will officially...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: We know that central banks across the world are starting to raise interest rates now. The European Central Bank, ECB, is likely to begin to move the rate next month. Traditionally, Irish retail banks have been very quick to raise interest rates for borrowers but very slow to raise them for depositors and savers. Does the Government have any plans to ensure that Irish retail banks will not...

Annual Transition Statement: Statements (15 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister of State for his opening statement. I welcome the publication of the annual transition statement for 2020. It is 18 months late, but it is still a very useful piece of evidence and information. Given it is the last one, I also welcome the opportunity to contribute in this regard. In my limited time, my comments will focus on the concept of energy security, or, more...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: We were told that the inflationary spike we experienced last year would be transitory. We appreciate now, however, that inflation is firmly entrenched in the global economy and it is having a massive impact on the cost of living for everyone in the country. The US Federal Reserve is also meeting tonight and that organisation will likely increase interest rates in America by up to 0.75%....

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister of State for his opening statement. I very much welcome the opportunity to contribute to the discussion of this Bill. I fully recognise its importance and the urgency associated with it. I take on board as well the points that have been raised by other Deputies. There are two ways of looking at it. First, we would all prefer to not to be here discussing very detailed...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: Good afternoon to the Minister and colleagues. I raise a local issue with the Minister today. While it is primarily local, it has international significance. I had a pint in the South Pole Inn in Annascaul, County Kerry, a while back. It was Tom Crean's old pub. Last week, I got to visit the Shackleton Museum in Athy. I am not sure if the Minister has been there but I thoroughly...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his response. The treaty is only seven pages long but I accept that there are some bureaucratic hurdles. I am slightly reassured that there has been some progress. This year is important because it is the centenary of Ernest Shackleton's passing. The climate crisis and the war in Ukraine are still raging. I appreciate and welcome the fact that public funds are...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his detailed opening statement, which was very helpful. I thank the Minister, the Minister of State and their staff for the detailed briefing we received yesterday, which was very useful. I only wish that the opposition spokespeople would get more such briefings on other topics. Perhaps the Minister and Minister of State could raise this with their Government and...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the Bill. We all appreciate that it is long overdue. I look forward to its very swift implementation. I am very grateful for the opportunity to play a very small part in ending a practice that no longer has a role in modern Ireland. It is a practice that should be confined to the history books where it certainly belongs.

Adaption Grants for Older People and People with a Disability: Motion [Private Members] (1 Jun 2022)

Cathal Berry: I am sharing the time with Deputy Naughten. I am delighted to be here to contribute to this very important debate on housing adaptation grants for older people and those with disabilities. I am very familiar with the motion and I fully endorse it. I am very happy to support it. I am also very grateful for the Minister's very positive engagement and interaction this morning, which is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Current Situation in Ukraine: Discussion (31 May 2022)

Cathal Berry: I have a couple of brief questions. The ambassador and her team are most welcome again. I thank her for updating us on that very important survey. It is great hear some very positive findings from it. As the Chair said, it would be great get a copy of the documentation just from an evidence based point of view. My first question is on the number of displaced Ukrainians in Ireland at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Current Situation in Ukraine: Discussion (31 May 2022)

Cathal Berry: My question was on the 33,000 displaced Ukrainians here at the moment. Sorry, 30,000 are displaced and 3,000 were already here.

Journalists in Conflicts across the World: Statements (24 May 2022)

Cathal Berry: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this really important debate on the importance of journalism in conflict zones. Even in peacetime, we all appreciate in the Chamber the important role that journalists play. First, they keep the public informed. Second, they act as a counterweight to much of the disinformation on social media. Third, and perhaps most important, they keep...

Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 May 2022)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister her opening statement, which she delivered yesterday. I am delighted to be in the Chamber today to contribute to this important debate on the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill. I am very happy with this Bill and welcome it. I recognise it is probably long overdue. I am happy to support its passage through the Oireachtas. I do so for the following...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 May 2022)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the Government's plans to increase the amount of microgeneration of energy across the country. This is a good thing. Anything that diversifies and democratises our energy supply is something that should be incentivised and supported. Every Deputy in this Chamber is aware, however, that there has been a massive increase in energy costs, in particular electricity costs, over the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Cathal Berry: The Minister quite rightly urged the Commission on the Defence Forces to be ambitious in its recommendations, and I urge him now to be ambitious in the implementation. There is virtually unanimous cross-party support for this. I have not heard a single dissenting voice in the Chamber on the issues of improving pay for our troops, increasing the number of personnel and improving the...