Results 1-20 of 450 for going forward speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...again is a great relief to anyone who wants to see progress in Northern Ireland. Following yesterday's North-South Ministerial Council, there is a full agenda before us and I am determined to push forward the work of the Shared Island initiative. For the first time in our history, our Government is making major long-term investment and deepening North-South understanding and economic and...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (9 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...of this moment and of this day. I have no doubt in the immediate aftermath things might get a bit more challenging and rockier. I wish Simon well. This is a special day for him. I look forward to a constructive and effective co-operation in the time ahead. Go raibh míle maith agaibh agus go n-éirí an t-ádh leat.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (9 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...programme so as to extend the useful life of a ship to thirty or more years. A Mid Life Extension Programme is underway in respect of the P50 class vessels, LÉ Niamh and LÉ Róisín. Work on LÉ Niamh is ongoing and is scheduled for completion later this year. The refit programme for LÉ Róisín has been completed, and that vessel is currently in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...deepest condolences to the family of Saoírse Ruane, her parents, Ollie and Roseanna, her sisters and all who knew and loved her. I was fortunate enough to meet Saoírse at Croke Park some years ago. I was very much struck by her radiant smile, her warm personality and her love of sports, including Gaelic games. Saoírse inspired so many people with her positivity and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: There have been different views across the European Union for a considerable length of time on the Middle East and particularly on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Because of history going back to the Second World War, the Holocaust and so on, people, particularly in Germany but also elsewhere, look at the conflict through a different lens from others in Europe, including...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...I would like to assure the Deputy that it is my intention, and that of the Chief of Staff, to ensure that the momentum behind the regeneration of the RDF will be maintained, thereby enabling us, going forward, to create a Reserve Defence Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy with the Permanent Defence Force, both nationally and internationally.

Seanad: Situation in the Middle East: Statements (20 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Go raibh maith agaibh, a Chathaoirligh and Senators. In Gaza we continue to bear witness to a brutal conflict: 136 long days of war, 100,000 dead, injured or missing, 1.9 million displaced and 90% facing acute hunger. These are numbers but they describe a human reality of mass suffering on an industrial scale, a humanitarian disaster unfolding before our eyes. More than half of the...

Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...take up the roles as First Minister and Deputy First Minister, to Edwin Poots on assuming his role as Speaker and to all the other members of the executive. The immediate task of the new executive is to set out the policies and priorities that can drive Northern Ireland forward. I look forward to working with them all in what will be rewarding and challenging roles. I also wish Matthew...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ... I would like to assure the Deputy that it is my intention, and that of the Chief of Staff, to ensure that the momentum behind the regeneration of the RDF will be maintained, thereby enabling us, going forward, to create a Reserve Defence Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy with the Permanent Defence Force, both nationally and internationally.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ... 3 1 4 2 Total 14 15 8 20 While it is not possible to estimate the year on year female participation rates going forward, the Commission on the Defence Forces have recommended a female participation rate of 35% across the Defence Forces. In light of the Commission on the Defence Forces report and the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...of the wider field of recruitment out there with full employment. The idea of bringing someone up to a standard as opposed to saying to them, "You are not at the standard, so you are not even going to get considered", is a step forward. Some people swear by psychometric testing as being key - Deputy Berry might enlighten us on that later - but others do not. Psychometric testing for...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ..., particularly for those who have less than three years of service, is quite a dramatic uplift, as the Deputy describes it. The C-295 will be coming on target to be delivered to us in 2025. The ongoing issue would be recruitment and retention. On the retirement front, we have had a Cabinet sub-committee meeting on this issue around all the services. The Minister for Public Expenditure,...

International Court of Justice and Genocide in Gaza: Motion [Private Members] (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 2: A. To insert the following after "ongoing bombardment of Gaza by Israel;": "reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on 7th October, 2023"; B. to delete "call on Israel to immediately implement fully" and substitute "reiterate its call on Israel to immediately implement fully"; C. to delete "file a declaration...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: ..., education and so forth. This really is a crisis of governance in Northern Ireland. The strike, and the full participation in it, is a manifestation of people's anger and frustration at what is going on. I agree with Deputy Howlin. That has been my view for a while. However, the election that took place should be validated insofar as the First Minister and deputy First Minister...

Tribunal of Inquiry into certain matters relating to the Complaints Processes in the Defence Forces: Motion (24 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...idea was that if thousands of cases were coming in, the judge would have an entitlement at some stage to say they could make conclusions. The judge has made very clear to me that the tribunal is going to hear all cases, and that if it ever gets to a stage when that could have to be invoked, it will be. On most of the other substantive issues, we had agreed on the legitimate issues the...

Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...collapse of the health system in large parts of Gaza with 65 per cent of hospitals now shut and the World Health Organisation (WHO) warning of widespread death from preventable diseases; condemns the ongoing bombardment of Gaza; highlights the urgent need for full, safe, and unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian aid by UN agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs);...

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have to go into the other House to take defence questions in about 20 minutes. I am pleased to join with those who contributed to the debate on the motion put forward by Senator Byrne, which raises a number of important issues, many of which are also of considerable interest to the Government. I agree that it is timely to have this discussion now, following the visit to Ireland last week...

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: ..., in the past year and a half. I do not see how that helps us in advancing the agendas, principles and values we have. I am digressing a bit. Ireland’s trade with China, and importantly our goods exports to China, have trebled in the past five years. There is an economic interdependence globally and globalisation is not going away. The Government will continue to support many...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...is progressing two Bills to amend the Defence Acts.In December I welcomed the Government's approval for the drafting of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023. This is the first of two Bills which I intend to bring forward in the next year to drive forward the cultural transformation of the Defence Forces. I expect to bring the General Scheme of the first Bill to Government shortly. In...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...tests. In addition to the above, I recently announced new changes to the existing Naval Service allowances, as a means of simplifying current structures, by consolidating the daily allowance and the sea-going commitment scheme into one enhanced allowance. This is in line with the Commission on Defence Forces recommendation to replace existing sea-going allowances with less complex...