Results 1-9 of 9 for garda reserve speaker:Cathal Berry

An Garda Síochána: Motion [Private Members] (4 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...is tábhachtaí faoi láthair, nó in Éirinn ar aon nós. I will begin by endorsing the views already expressed by my good colleagues. I associate myself with their remarks. I acknowledge the very proud history of the Garda. For the past 100 years, its members have watched over the country through times of war and peace, boom and bust and thick and thin. By...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Current Issues Facing Members of the Defence Forces: Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (3 Oct 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...? Should we be looking at it? I take on board the witnesses' views on strength. We hear this and that has been done, but the bottom line is the outcome. The numbers continue to fall. An Garda Síochána has dropped below 14,000 members. It should have 15,000. The country is up in arms. How could this possibly happen? An Garda Síochána is down 1,000 people....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association (11 Jul 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...or his grandchildren's benefit, that is perfectly fine, if they think that is appropriate. A second positive is that, although most people may not be aware of this, four boats for the Naval Reserve are being constructed here in Ireland, in a shipyard in Valentia. I will try to get down there over the summer to eyeball them myself. It just shows that there are some positives happening....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: High-Level Action Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...told there is no problem but that you need a blood test in about six months and you might play your first match in about three years. Nobody is going to join that team. That is precisely what the Reserve Defence Force is insisting on. There is a fitness test for which there are no testers and a medical test but for which there are no doctors available. Even if someone wanted to join,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister for that useful information. Most people would say that being a garda is not the job that it used to be. It is not as attractive a career as it was in the past. This relates to shift work, work-life balance and perhaps the lack of respect for gardaí among some members of the public. It is a more dangerous job. Post 2013 the paltry pension is a fraction of what...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 May 2023)

Cathal Berry: The events of the last 24 hours have again hammered home the need to have uniformed gardaí on the street, both as a deterrent and from a reassurance point of view. For that reason, I raise the Garda Reserve force this morning. It is an outfit that has been around for about 20 years. There is currently about 300 reserve gardaí but they have never really got the recognition or the...

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

Cathal Berry: .... 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 time. Security and safety are important, and...

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

Cathal Berry: .... They do fantastic work. As other colleagues have said, they are an integral part of the fabric of Irish society. They provide huge support for the three principal response agencies - the Garda, the HSE and local authorities - and for charitable and community organisations. This may be controversial, but perhaps the Civil Defence is modern and effective in what it does because it...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for the Public Services 2021
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (20 May 2021)

Cathal Berry: ...what is going on in the Defence Forces at the moment. I will go through the Estimates one page at a time, starting with page 3 if that is okay. I will flag a few things. The strength of the Reserve Defence Force at 39% is appalling. If one was asked to run a school with 39% of teachers, or a hospital with 39% of nurses, one can imagine how dysfunctional that school or hospital...