Results 41-60 of 704 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: That is good to hear. I understand there is a small a blockage in the context of re-induction. Re-induction is when troops who have retired and want to get back in. That list is increasing. Many of them have been on to our office to say they had applied, for example, six months ago and still have not heard. Some people have heard but are blocked to the system so perhaps the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: These are fully trained and would just need a small bit of re-induction and they are good to go. Deputy Stanton asked about looking at broader ways of recruiting. There is a lateral transfer programme that Australia and the UK use. They generally poach some of our troops, and they have done so for the last 20 years. Some of these people have been on to me. They are Irish citizens who...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: On the houses in the Curragh, about this time last year the Tánaiste made a very uplifting commitment before the Dáil when he said that what we have we hold. Where are we with the 62 vacant houses in the Curragh Camp? My understanding is there are three tranches. One tranche could pretty much be reoccupied. Another tranche needs a lot of work, and another tranche needs a whole...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: I agree. While the Russian army might be a couple of thousand miles away, the Russian navy can be just 12 nautical miles off our coasts, as well as its air force.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (1 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: Including flails.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (1 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: My question is pretty much already answered but it follows the Chair’s question and dovetails nicely. On the European Peace Facility, the Minister said it was €271 million. That is pretty impressive. It is being used for non-lethal aid. My understanding of the mechanism is that a third country buys communications equipment, medical equipment and fuel, gives them to Ukraine...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (1 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: Cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, attack drones – Iranian made – have never been alive so you cannot have a lethal effect on them. Surely providing radar and interceptors would fall into the category of non-lethal assistance in those circumstances. I would argue that not providing this would have a lethal affect. It is having a lethal affect on the civilians on the ground....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (1 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: We have a responsibility to protect civilians and it is primarily cities that have been targeted. I will finish on the point that there is a perception in Ireland that we are doing Ukraine a favour by taking in all of these people. To an extent, we are but it could also be argued quite convincingly that Ukraine is doing us a favour by keeping the Russian army at bay. We know what the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: Most people in the country are very much on board with the principle of the energy transition with the promise of cleaner, greener and cheaper electricity. To be fair there has been a lot of progress from a cleaner and greener point of view but there has been no progress at all from a cheaper perspective. Much research suggests that Ireland has the most expensive electricity in the European...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: It relates to the perception of whether the large energy companies are dusting down the ordinary people. Those are the three things - the cost, the energy security and whether we can cut out this middle guy, whether we can provide more solar panels for people and literally give power to people. I want to focus on two programmes in particular. The first is the schools solar panel...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: Maybe it is just me.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for his response. It is encouraging to hear about the schools programme in particular. It is good that roll-out is taking place. I just want to revisit the cost of electricity. The Minister acknowledged that we have an inordinately high cost of electricity here in this country. I emphasise that permeates every aspect of the economy and society, from the cost of a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: Perhaps we can fastforward to head 25, unless someone online wants to comment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: I welcome the themes and the publication of the Bill. I also welcome the pre-legislative scrutiny process, which is very important. We get to consult widely, which is great. Ms Maguire, in her opening statement, mentioned the possibility of a second Bill later this year. When will we see that? Will it be the back end of the year? Is there a timeline for its publication?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: Is that the Bill where the Naval Service becomes the navy and the Air Corps becomes the air force?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: I hope before the recess. I thank Ms Maguire.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: In general terms as regards ICTU, it is great to have this regularised in legislation. It is a major step forward and very much welcome. Head 25 concerns the military prosecutor and military judge who will not be allowed to become a member of a representative association. Does the Department know if they are currently a member of a representative association? .

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: Is this something that they have actively sought themselves?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: I presume they are aware that these provisions exist. Do they have any thoughts on whether they should and was there consultation?