Parliamentary questions

Naval Service

Cathal Berry

12. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on the proposed procurement of a multi-role vessel for the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13281/24]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

15. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the combined budget for the Defence group Vote each year from 2020 to 2024; the percentage uplift each year from the previous year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13282/24]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

37. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on the proposed procurement of a primary radar system for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13280/24]

Military Aircraft

Cathal Berry

58. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the approximate expected delivery date of the new Airbus C295 military transport aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13279/24]

School Enrolments

Cathal Berry

191. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Education her Department's plans for increasing capacity of secondary schools in north Kildare to enrol students from September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7106/24]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

172. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence in light of commitments given on military housing by the Tánaiste last year, what the plan is for the currently unoccupied houses in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3797/24]

Middle East

Cathal Berry

4. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a risk assessment has been carried out on the impact to Irish troops and diplomats in the Middle East should Ireland formally support South Africa's Gaza case before the International Court of Justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3483/24]

Ukraine War

Cathal Berry

4. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Health to outline the direct support his Department has provided to Ukrainians living in Ukraine in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48996/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Berry

45. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Health to consider extending the pandemic special recognition payment to nurses and staff of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48997/23]

Agriculture Industry

Cathal Berry

4. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he expects details of a cow reduction scheme to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35133/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Cathal Berry

560. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he expects to introduce a suckler reduction scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35134/23]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

58. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline in tabular form, the number of commissioned officers promoted in the Army Reserve and Naval Reserve, by rank, from 01 January 2022 to 30 June 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34610/23]

An Garda Síochána

Cathal Berry

346. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide the breakdown of firearm types (details supplied) seized by An Garda Síochána from 2013 to 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31833/23]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

82. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason no Air Corps apprentices have been inducted this year; when this induction is going to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29271/23]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

93. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the date by which he expects primary radar coverage of Irish airspace to be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29272/23]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

106. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline, in tabular form, the numbers of RDF recruited and discharged from both the Army Reserve and the Naval Reserve, since 1 January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29273/23]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

110. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how many of the currently unoccupied married quarters/family homes in the Defence Estate he expects to have refurbished and reoccupied by the end of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29270/23]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

113. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason the military medicine scheme for military medical officers has been so poorly resourced that the scheme appears to no longer be viable; if he will engage with the representative associations on improved terms and conditions for improved direct-entry medical officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29274/23]

Third Level Education

Cathal Berry

82. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how he intends to ensure that PhD students receive a living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26969/23]

Third Level Costs

Cathal Berry

384. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how he intends to reduce the cost of attending third level education for the academic year 2023-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26970/23]

An Garda Síochána

Cathal Berry

4. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Justice how he intends to improve recruitment and retention rates in An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25403/23]

Wind Energy Generation

Cathal Berry

73. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of offshore wind turbines he expects to be off the Irish coast by the end of 2024, 2025 and 2026, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20209/23]

Ukraine War

Cathal Berry

319. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has conducted a review of the activities of the embassy of the Russian Federation in Ireland; if he is satisfied that the current level of diplomatic presence therein is justifiable in light of the prosecution by that nation of a war on the sovereign state, Ukraine, which has been condemned by the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10895/23]

Ukraine War

Cathal Berry

320. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in light of the war in Ukraine being perpetrated by the Russian Federation, he will take steps to expel the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, or at least reduce the number of Russian embassy staff in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10896/23]

Ukraine War

Cathal Berry

321. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in light of their active support for the war in Ukraine, he will summon the Ambassadors of China, India and South Africa to express the State's displeasure at their stance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10897/23]

Naval Service

Cathal Berry

91. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when an improvement in the Naval Service patrol duty allowance will be implemented in accordance with the recommendations in the high-level action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10763/23]

Public Sector Pay

Cathal Berry

190. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when additional long-service increments for Defence Forces personnel will be implemented in accordance with the recommendations in the high-level action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10764/23]

Departmental Properties

Cathal Berry

66. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of family quarters and homes managed by his Department; the number that are currently unoccupied; if there are plans to bring them back into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5129/23]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

107. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount that was returned unspent by the Department of Defence from 2022; if any of this money was from pay savings due to the significantly under strength Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2528/23]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

4. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the current number of medical officer vacancies; the extent to which this is impacting on Defence Force operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58477/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

9. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel inducted and discharged by rank to date in 2022. [58474/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

16. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence when the Army nursing service review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58476/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Berry

19. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence if members of the emergency aeromedical service in Athlone and those who assisted with mandatory hotel quarantine will receive the €1,000 pandemic recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58473/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

33. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the number of vacancies that exist in the Defence Forces by rank. [58475/22]

Citizens Information Services

Cathal Berry

2. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the implementation of the Citizens Information Board's strategic plan in respect of the use of volunteer staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50989/22]

Departmental Schemes

Cathal Berry

279. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the auto-enrolment retirement savings system; the way that it will be funded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50990/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

82. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the contractual terms and conditions that will be used for sergeants over the age of 50 years who wish to remain in service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49048/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

84. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence the way in which he will implement the European Union Work Time Directive in the Defence Forces; when he expects the Defence Forces to be in compliance with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49047/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

87. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence when the pay improvements outlined in the High-Level Action Plan will be paid to military personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49049/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

97. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence when a mechanism will be agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to create the additional military appointments necessary to implement the High-Level Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49051/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

104. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence when the Independent Chair of the Implementation Oversight Group for the High-Level Action Plan will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49050/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Berry

97. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Health the number of members of the Defence Forces who are entitled to claim the pandemic bonus payment; the number of members of the Defence Forces who have been paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33759/22]

Third Level Fees

Cathal Berry

4. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way he intends to address the extremely high cost of tuition fees for graduate entry medicine courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36722/22]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

69. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the pay improvement measures recommended by the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; the expected timeline for the implementation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33771/22]

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]