Parliamentary questions

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

99. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence if members of the Defence Forces are being paid at least the national minimum wage of €10.50 per hour in accordance with the National Minimum Wage Act 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33770/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

109. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the 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]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

116. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the 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]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

3. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the way that he plans to increase the number of personnel in the Defence Forces by 3,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23787/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

26. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence if there has been progress in honouring the outstanding pay adjudications from previous adjudicators of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23792/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

40. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence if there has been progress on extending the service of Post-1994 Sergeants to the age of 50 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23790/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

44. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence when the review on the Army Nursing Service will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23794/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

52. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence when the review on mandatory retirement ages for the Defence Forces personnel will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23793/22]

Energy Policy

Cathal Berry

94. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures he has taken to enhance Ireland's energy security for the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19071/22]

Cybersecurity Policy

Cathal Berry

200. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that he has taken to enhance Ireland’s cyber-security for the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19072/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

114. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the promotion competition for enlisted personnel which was due to commence in 2021; when the competition is expected to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13461/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

115. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the number of promotions pending throughout the Defence Forces by branch and rank in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13462/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

116. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding his Departments implementation of recommendations within the Public Service Pay Commission 2019 on recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces, particularly in relation to options to tackle barriers to extended participation in the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13463/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

110. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding discussions within his Department to enable sergeants who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Forces after 1 January 1994 to continue in service beyond 50-years of age; when an outcome of these discussions is likely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3899/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

116. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the Commission on the Defence Forces report; when this report is expected to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3898/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

126. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with the daily ration rate for enlisted personnel in the Defence Forces; if it is in line with best practice within the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3900/22]

Departmental Data

Cathal Berry

127. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the funds returned unspent to the Exchequer from his Department in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3897/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

140. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces are in a position to contribute to operational measures with European Union partners in the event of Russian military aggression against Ukraine from a capability perspective given the outcomes of the most recent European Commission meeting on 16 December 21 at which the European Union expressed readiness to coordinate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3896/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Berry

90. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, in response to further public health restrictions imposed to reduce the spread of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62420/21]

Tax Code

Cathal Berry

108. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the application of VAT on utility bills; the rate for same; if he is considering a reduction in the rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62418/21]

Tax Code

Cathal Berry

116. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the application of VAT on motor fuel; the rate for same; if he is considering a reduction in the rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62419/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Berry

246. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding supports for the hospitality sector from his Department in response to the further public health restrictions imposed on the sector to reduce the spread of Covid-19; the date the scheme will be open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62421/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Cathal Berry

103. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration will be given to encouraging the use of digital hubs for arts purposes when they are not being used for remote working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55100/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

74. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the action he has taken to address the service limits that apply to personnel who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force after 1 January 1994; when he proposes to provide clarity to these persons in relation to their service contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56304/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

111. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence his plans to apply for a supplementary budget estimate in anticipation of the forthcoming report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56306/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

125. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the action he will take regarding the vacant position of adjudicator to the Defence Forces conciliation and arbitration scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56305/21]

Departmental Schemes

Cathal Berry

107. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide greater detail on the proposed universal basic income for the arts sector that was announced in budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55101/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Cathal Berry

2. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the pandemic unemployment payment was paid to ineligible recipients; the way she plans to recoup this funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48673/21]

Fuel Poverty

Cathal Berry

184. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures he plans to introduce in winter 2021-22 to address fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48674/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Cathal Berry

289. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the processing of applications for the carer’s and disability allowance is in line with the most expeditious practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49082/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Cathal Berry

290. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the processing of appeals for the carer’s and disability allowance is in line with the most expeditious practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49083/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Cathal Berry

291. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which satisfactory provision has been made for public sector employees reaching mandatory retirement age prior to reaching pensionable age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49084/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

8. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence if paragraph 12 of Concilliation Council Report No. 451 in respect of medical officer promotions will be implemented as agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34708/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

15. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the status of the nursing review in the Defence Forces; when it commenced; when it is likely to conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34707/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

18. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence his plans to reintroduce the specialised instructors' allowance for Defence Forces officers in view of the Public Sector Pay Commission’s report, the ever-increasing intensity of Defence Forces induction training, the associated long hours and onerous responsibility taken on by Defence Forces officers and the previous Doyle report recommendations which were accepted by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34705/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

26. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence when the approved technical pay grade 2-6 proposal will be paid to enlisted members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34703/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

33. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the number of enlisted Defence Forces personnel who will be forced to retire early unless changes are made to the post-1994 service contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34704/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

55. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the level of uptake on the recent recruitment campaign for direct entry technicians in the Air Corps; if he is satisfied with these figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34706/21]

International Relations

Cathal Berry

94. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the situation in Belarus and the status of persons (details supplied). [33991/21]

EU Membership

Cathal Berry

104. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the current political situation within Hungary; and the way in which this will affect its relationship with the EU. [33939/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

693. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 322 of 25 May 2021, if figures will be provided for the remaining troop rotations to UNTSO, MINURSO, MONUSCO, EUTM, KFOR, EU-BiH and UNNY. [31057/21]

Pension Provisions

Cathal Berry

215. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons who received a waiver under sections 52(4) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, for the abatement of a public service pension within the past five years; the breakdown by Department and grade of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27737/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

322. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the amount expended by his Department on the procurement of commercial flights for all Defence Forces troop rotations over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27738/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

323. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the evaluation of cost savings by his Department associated with the procurement of an airlift capability for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27739/21]

Departmental Properties

Cathal Berry

9. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence his plans for the remaining residential properties owned by his Department in Orchard Park, Curragh; if he plans to hand over the estate to Kildare County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24607/21]

Air Corps

Cathal Berry

11. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence if he is still committed to the Air Corps having a role in search and rescue; his views on whether the Air Corps should be tasked to undertake this role in the same way as it was tasked to provide the emergency aeromedical service and Garda air support unit service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24605/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

21. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the plan for the old post office building at the crossroads in the Curragh Camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24606/21]

Departmental Properties

Cathal Berry

32. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the number of vacant residential properties owned by his Department in the State; the plans that exist to refurbish them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24603/21]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

35. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence when the abatement waiver deal recently awarded to retired teachers who return to work in the public service will be extended to retired soldiers who return to work in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24604/21]

Diplomatic Representation

Cathal Berry

50. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if private security firms have been appointed to secure Irish embassies and diplomats in unstable regions abroad; if so, the cost of such arrangements; if they provide armed protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24517/21]