Results 1-20 of 75 for long speaker:Cathal Berry

National Cancer Strategy: Motion [Private Members] (16 Apr 2024)

Cathal Berry: ...over a number of years so that they can be implemented properly. The obvious question is what do we spend the extra €20 million on. First, it should be on colonoscopies. We know that the waiting lists are very long from a colorectal cancer point of view. If addressing this means mobilising private hospitals on a Saturday and Sunday, they are well capable of doing that extra...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Cathal Berry: ...will be putting manifestoes together for the next general election. If there was a commitment in the manifestoes to honour the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, that would go a long way. I am happy to wait for a written reply.

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Mar 2024)

Cathal Berry: ...I nor any reasonable person would be very hopeful about the outcome. It is very obvious what happened. It reminds us of how lucky we are to be living in such a free and democratic country, and long may that continue. I welcome the fact that secondary sanctions are being prepared against three other countries - Belarus, North Korea and Iran. This is completely appropriate. These...

Second Anniversary of War in Ukraine: Statements (20 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: ...support both the war effort in Ukraine and the post-war reconstruction. I recognise that there are legal and monetary complications to what I am suggesting, but we could fast-track dealing with those and move matters along. The Russian Federation and the Kremlin has seized Irish assets, namely, aircraft. It is high time we reciprocated. We should be preparing our Defence Forces....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Cathal Berry: ...’ members think their appearance here over the past four years has not had an effect, I would say the opposite is true. It has been a major catalyst for not just change but progress, so long may it continue. I have just come from the plenary session of the Dáil, so some of the following questions may have been covered. If they have been, our guests might just gloss over them....

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Jan 2024)

Cathal Berry: ..., I am glad there is general consensus at the EU. Obviously, there are a couple of outlying EU states at the moment, but there is general consensus the European Union should support Ukraine for as long as it takes. I know there is a lot of talk in the US among some political parties that it should support Ukraine only for as long as it can, so it is very important the EU maintains its...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Supplementary)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed opening statement as well as the detailed briefing note. It is great we could do the forensic scrutiny long before he came before the committee. It was great that we had all the detailed information in advance. Not only do I have no objection to the additional €71 million but I welcome it. Ireland has a good surplus and it is in its...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Supplementary)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...years because you get to sound out the neighbourhood. However, when the country is as financially rich as it is now, we should bite the bullet and buy these properties. It makes perfect sense over the long term and it is something we could pass on to the future generations that may not be able to afford rent in ten or 15 years’ time the way things are going. On the Washington...

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy Report: Statements (22 Nov 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...a different view are somehow personalised, demonised or polarised. It is important that we remember that having a different view is not just a feature of a free society; it is its very essence. Long may that continue. On the points of agreement, I was glad to hear the Tánaiste say - and Deputy Tóibín picked up on this - that we need to provide more funding. There is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...even though our exports to China so far this year have been worth only €16 million. Could the Minister use his time to give us some background to the BSE case? Is there any indication as to how long it will be before the temporary suspension is lifted and access restored? Are we talking about days, weeks, months or longer? What engagement has there been between the Minister's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Implementation of the Recommendations of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...-occupied? When can we expect the first military married quarters, as they were called, to be re-occupied? Is there a timeline for that? Finally, this is more of an open question. We know there are some issues with long-service increments. We speak consistently about recruitment and retention. It is my own view that we should be speaking about retention and recruitment because...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Second Stage (21 Sep 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...contingency planning was done. There was no threat identification. Yes, Putin's invasion of Ukraine was probably not preventable but it was entirely predictable. We had discussions in this House long before he crossed the start line noting it was going to happen. The is not unique to the energy sector. Let us look at the difficulties in refugee reception. Again, no contingency...

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

Cathal Berry: ...The executive is empowered just to get on with it and the board sets the policy. That is how it should be. I am therefore not surprised it took ten years to review an R5 document. Is that about 50 pages long? That could have been done in a week. One would not accept that from a college student or a leaving certificate student, yet we accept it from a State entity. As regards the 2015...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...to recognise and acknowledge them. We have done so in the sporting and business worlds, but not in the military world. I look forward to engaging with the Tánaiste on this issue because it is long past time that both Private Billy Kedian and his family get the recognition and acknowledgement they rightly deserve.

Our Rural Future Policy: Statements (14 Jun 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...perspective. Europe and the world need Ireland to lead on wind generation. Any time an international delegation comes to the House, its members always inquire about what the hold-up or blockage is and why Ireland is taking so long to harness this renewable resource. Some people would say Ireland is like the Kuwait of north-western Europe when it comes to wind energy and that finding the...

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: ...a decade ago which has not been honoured by the Government. If these people were paid properly, the narrative would change throughout the Defence Forces because they would finally see the Government was serious about fixing pay rates. Long-service increments are also an issue. I fully accept and very much welcome the improvements in pay for people with fewer than three years' service....

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy: Statements (18 May 2023)

Cathal Berry: I am grateful to contribute to this important debate on Ireland’s defence and security posture. I welcome the fact that a conversation is finally, belatedly, taking place. For too long Ireland’s defence and security have been treated like kryptonite. We could not even discuss it or look at it in case, as Deputy O’Callaghan pointed out, even to discuss it would mean we...

Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...awareness and respect for diversity. I said last year that I am heartened that the Erasmus programme is continuing in Northern Ireland and that this jurisdiction is providing funding for that and long may that continue. Third, I am supportive of the EU because of what happened in the context of Brexit. Without the EU’s influence and backing, the outcome of the Brexit...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (18 Apr 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...can happen to any of our diplomats abroad. We do not have that capacity and we should. I welcome the fact that the Tánaiste signed a contract for a new aircraft for €68 million prior to Christmas. However, we do not know how long it will take. It may be two years before that aircraft arrives. Will the Minister indicate when in 2025 we can expect to have this capability so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Cathal Berry: ...while. That is not sufficient. It should be quadrupled because it is such a small allowance. Is that the case? When will the final decision be made on the patrol duty allowance? The commission also recommended long-service increments for those with long service but we do not yet see any implementation of that. Where are we with that process? The commission recommended 840 lance...