Results 1-20 of 728 for speaker:Cathal Berry

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I will briefly speak in support of Deputy Howlin's contribution. It makes perfect sense. I am very supportive of the principle and concept as well, particularly with regard to the separation of headquarters. For instance, Garda headquarters is not embedded in the Department of Justice. It is completely separate and rightly so. It has a certain amount of operational independence as well,...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I want to speak in support of both suggestions. The bottom line is that the singular focus of the defence apparatus at the moment should be recruitment and retention. Reducing people's constitutional rights would be highly unlikely to incentivise someone to join or stay. One of the reasons the Defence Forces are in a bit of difficulty is that people were silenced and could not speak up....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: The fundamental question is whether we should elevate these secondary regulations to primary legislation at all. Should we be nesting this in primary legislation? Are we distracting ourselves from what we should be doing? Is it necessary?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: We say this with full respect. We are fully on board with genuine external oversight. We welcome it. It is a good structure to have in place, but we want it to be a success and for the new body to be an exemplar of good governance by its very existence. We feel - and the Tánaiste will detect that there is unanimity on this - that having someone who is merging the executive function...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I am very encouraged by what the Tánaiste has said. I agree with him about Deputy Stanton's solution. I know the Deputy has introduced it as a kind of compromise solution, but I think it is actually a superior solution rather than a compromise one. It allows the board to have access to the expertise of the Secretary General but keeps that separation between the board and the Secretary...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: It is superfluous.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: It could just state,: "With the consent of the Minister".

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: It is not in the most recent draft of the Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (22 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: 55. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider exempting psychotherapists and counsellors from the 13.5% VAT rate, in order to improve access to mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23268/24]

Housing for All: Statements (Resumed) (21 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: On behalf of the Regional Group, I am grateful for the opportunity to make some brief comments on the Housing for All strategy. As the Minister of State knows, we on this side of the House are always fair. From a political point of view, Housing for All is the only strategy that exists, so we are critiquing a strategy in isolation. I would like it if there were two or three alternatives...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Park-and-Ride Facilities (16 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (16 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Minister. He can come back in again.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (16 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: The Deputy has had his last slot to respond to this question. We are moving on to the next question.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Airport Policy (16 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Deputy. The last word goes to the Minister.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (16 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: 2. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to outline the additional allowances payable to Defence Forces Irish contingent personnel participating in the EU battle group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22068/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (16 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I want to associate myself with those comments relating to Lieutenant General Seán Clancy as well. It is a great bit of news for the general personally, his family, the Defence Forces and Ireland. I very much welcome that appointment. My question this morning relates to allowances payable to Defence Force personnel involved in the EU battle groups. I would be grateful if the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (16 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: I thank the Tánaiste for that response. I acknowledge and welcome the progress that has occurred over the past four years from a pay point of view in the lifetime of this Dáil, particularly from a basic pay perspective and also from the offshore allowances for the Naval Service perspective. On the EU battle group, when I compare the positive trends in previous years for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (16 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: When the Tánaiste doubled the offshore allowances on 1 January last, it had a very positive effect on the Naval Service. I am encouraged that there is a claim before the conciliation council relating to the EU battle group. If the Tánaiste could take a personal interest in that claim, it would be very much appreciated. There is one other anomaly I want to highlighted, which he...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Security (16 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: 18. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to outline Ireland's air defence capability; if he has any plans to upgrade it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22158/24]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 May 2024)

Cathal Berry: 46. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence how he intends to increase the strength of the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22156/24]