Results 121-140 of 46,387 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: I am informed by my officials that, following communication with Deputy Howlin's office, the focus of this question has been clarified and has been confirmed to relate to my statement in response to PQ 20106/ 24 that; "a Civil Military Project Team comprising Officials from my Department and the Air Corps has been actively working on the delivery of this project and they are being supported...

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

Micheál Martin: Following the Government approval of February 2023 and July 2023, Ireland has been participating in the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) through the provision of training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. To date, the Defence Forces has delivered 11 modules of training to Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) personnel via EUMAM Ukraine. A total of 455 UAF personnel...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Capital Expenditure Programme (16 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Last March, Minister Donohoe published revised multi-annual capital spending allocations across Departments out to 2026. This increased funding will facilitate the progression of key capital projects and programmes under the 2021-30 National Development Plan (NDP). For Defence, this will see the capital allocation rise from its 2024 level of €176 million to €215 million in 2025...

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

Micheál Martin: Thank you Deputy for the question. The Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024 passed second stage in the Dáil on 2 May 2024 and is scheduled for Dáil Committee Stage on 23 May 2024. This Bill is an important step in delivering on the Strategic Framework for the Transformation of the Defence Forces. This is particularly the case in providing for the establishment and operation, on a...

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

Micheál Martin: As of the 31 March 2024 the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,510 personnel. This was comprised of 6,087 Army, 701 Air Corps and 722 Naval Service personnel. The agreed overall establishment strength was recently increased by 100 to 9,600 to account for the first cohort of Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF) appointments. Changes have been introduced by this...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 46 together. The Government remains committed to bolstering the numbers in the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). One such recent measure in support of this commitment has been the increase in upper recruitment and mandatory retirement ages for the RDF to match comparable increases for the Permanent Defence Force, which were brought into effect in March. ...

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

Micheál Martin: I can confirm that the Defence Forces keep their operational plans and response capabilities for dealing with a wide range of threats under constant review. It is my priority as Minister for Defence to ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles both at home and overseas. ...

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

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure the operational capacity of the Naval Service, Air Corps and Army is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Equipment priorities for the Naval Service, Air Corps and Army are being considered in the context of the capability and...

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

Micheál Martin: I am happy to confirm to the Deputy that no request, official or otherwise, has been received from the European Commission in relation to the strengthening of the Irish Defence Forces. In any case, and as the Deputy will be aware, decision-making power in relation to Defence remain a national competence under the European Treaties, and it remains a matter for Ireland, and any and every...

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

Micheál Martin: My Department provides support to two recognised Veterans Associations. These Veterans Associations, which represent all former personnel, are Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA). My officials and I meet regularly with these recognised Veterans Associations to...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 38 together. I wish to assure the Deputy of my ongoing commitment, as Minister for Defence, to the removal of the blanket exemption which currently applies to the Defence Forces in the Organisation of Working Time Act . As the Deputy is aware, I recently approved the final management position, on this matter, which was presented to me,...

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

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Naval Service stood at 722 personnel as at 31 March 2024. As of the same date, 356 applications were received and there were 31 inductions. I have previously acknowledged the recruitment and retention challenges in the Naval Service and I continue to be committed to maximising recruitment capacity and introducing measures to...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 103 together. As Minister, I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future. The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and its report was published on the...

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

Micheál Martin: On 1 May, I launched the Be Summer-Ready 2024 Public Safety Information Campaign. This year the focused message of the campaign is TravelWise, which is the Department of Foreign Affairs’ travel advice service. The Be Summer Ready campaign provides advice across a wide range of topics on staying safe during the summer period. It is a source of practical information to keep in mind when...

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

Micheál Martin: A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced in order to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out all of the roles assigned to it by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. The current Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) radar system and missile system are approaching...

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

Micheál Martin: Defence Forces medical capability encompasses a broad range of disciplines, including doctors (Medical Officers), dentists, physiotherapists, pharmacists and psychologists. Pre-hospital practitioners such as Paramedics and Advanced Paramedics are an integral and essential part of the service delivery component of the Medical Corps, and serve at home and abroad in medical appointments. By...

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

Micheál Martin: My officials have been engaged with the Defence Forces Engineering Corps on this matter. I am advised that further specialist advice in terms of marine structural and civil engineering is required to assess the required works and a procurement process will shortly be launched to obtain consultancy services in this regard.

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

Micheál Martin: Military management has advised that 104 EU Battlegroup appointments have been made to date, and the expectation is that the remaining posts will be fully filled in the coming months in advance of the first EU Battlegroup 2025 training exercise in Germany in the autumn. It is currently foreseen that the total number of the proposed Defence Forces contribution to the German-led EU...

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

Micheál Martin: Training and education in the Defence Forces is conducted in line with national and international best practice, including the manner in which students are supported. On average, the Defence Forces conducts between 1,200 and 1,400 courses of training and education each year. The Defence Forces is committed to the promotion of lifelong learning and the accreditation of Defence Forces...

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

Micheál Martin: As Chair of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, I published the National Risk Assessment for Ireland, 2023 on 28 March 2024. It identifies 22 key risks with Anti-Microbial Resistant Infection, Pandemic, Cyber Attack and Disruption to Critical Supply Chain rated as our highest probability and highest impact risks. Risks appearing for the first time include Damage to Undersea...