Results 2,001-2,020 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. As I informed Deputies earlier, the military authorities have advised that as at 31 August 2024, the latest date for which such data is available, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,426 personnel. In terms of recruitment targets and plans for 2025, Budget 2025 has provided a record €1.35 billion for the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Retention, of course, as the Deputy will be aware, is not influenced by a single factor, but rather that there are multiple, interconnected factors, which are responsible for retaining people in any organisation. In common with other international militaries and while in a buoyant economy, the Defence Forces is facing a challenging environment at present. Pension entitlements cannot be...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I welcomed the opportunity to attend and speak at RACO's Annual Delegate Conference (ADC) on 3 October last. At the Conference, I acknowledged the ongoing serious situation in Lebanon and the wider region, which remains very tense and unpredictable. I outlined the Government’s commitment to continually monitor the situation closely, along with our partners in the UN and the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Bodies (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: On the 17th September last, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced Mr. Andrius Kubilius as the EU Commissioner-designate for Defence and Space. All of the Commissioners-designate will have a confirmation hearing with one, or more, of the European Parliament's committees. In the case of the Defence and Space portfolio, that confirmation hearing will be with...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Middle East (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 28 and 45 together. I believe the Deputy may be referring in his question to a recent report of planes transporting weapons to Israel through Irish airspace. In the first instance, I would like to clarify that the Department of Transport holds the authority and responsibility for overseeing matters related to Irish airspace. As the Deputy is aware, my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Security (17 Oct 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. Against the backdrop of the complex and volatile global security environment, it is clear that Ireland cannot rely on our geographic isolation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Budget 2025 (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Vote Group, comprising of Vote 35 (Army Pensions) and Vote 36 (Defence), has been provided with a funding allocation of €1,350 million in Budget 2025 - €1,021 million for the Defence Vote and €329 million for the Army Pensions Vote. This represents a €100 million (8%) increase on the corresponding 2024 allocation. On the Defence Vote, the overall...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Middle East (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The ICJ advisory opinion of 19 July 2024 has made it clear that all States must abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the occupied Palestinian territory that may entrench its unlawful presence there. In discussions in Brussels, the Government has called for the EU to take steps to prohibit that trade, and I have already taken action by instructing my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: In July of this year, Government approved the latest in a fixed cycle of defence reviews - the Defence Policy Review 2024 - Adjusting and affirming our Defence Policy in an era of change. The publication of the review comes at an important juncture not just for my Department and the Defence Forces but also in the context of the wider security landscape in which we are operating. This...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: International Agreements (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy, that since I became Minister for Defence in December 2022, the following EDA projects have received Government and Dáil approval: Joint Procurement of Ammunition Joint Procurement of Soldier Equipment Joint Procurement of CBRN (Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear) Equipment. Military Computer Emergency Response Teams Project (MICNET) Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Security (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: On the 25 July 2024 I published, on foot of Government approval, the Defence Policy Review - 'Adjusting and affirming our Defence policy'. The policy Review highlighted a number of key priorities for the years ahead, including a focus on maritime security. My Department will lead on the development of the National Maritime Security Strategy, in co-operation with national and international...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Civil Defence (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The current strategy for the development of Civil Defence is laid out in the Towards 2030 10-year strategy which was published in 2020. This document re-confirms the central strategic objective for Civil Defence - to support the Principal Response Agencies in a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations. Civil Defence will focus on five core services; emergency response, search and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Tribunals of Inquiry (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Following the approval by both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann of the motions to establish the Tribunal of Inquiry, I signed the necessary Statutory Instrument to formally establish the Tribunal on 20 June 2024. Ms. Justice Ann Power was appointed as the Sole Member of the Tribunal and delivered the Tribunal's Opening Statement at its first public sitting on 24 June 2024. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: As Minister for Defence, 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 9th of February 2022. The Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Proposed Legislation (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: In April 2024, Government approved the proposal to draft the General Scheme of a Bill to govern overseas deployments into the future. Work on drafting those proposals, including consultations with the Office of the Attorney General, Government Departments and key stakeholders, has progressed, and a draft General Scheme has been prepared. It is Intended to revert to Government with this...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I wish to thanks the Deputy for his question. At the outset, I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims and all of those injured and affected by the tragic events of 14 April 1979 at the Glen of Imaal. As the Deputy is aware, an investigation was carried out by the Defence Forces immediately after the incident. Subsequently, a number of litigation cases were...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: International Agreements (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's relationship with NATO has always been conducted through Partnership for Peace (PfP), of which Ireland has been a member since 1999 following Government and Dáil approval. Participation in PfP is seen as fundamental to Ireland being able to meet its obligations in providing professional peacekeepers for international crisis management and peacekeeping operations mandated by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the Working Time Directive , earlier this year, I approved a management position on the implementation of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces, including protections for military activities, deemed outside the scope of the Directive, due to their nature. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment are working to develop the appropriate legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 to 114, inclusive, together. Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2026. Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are progressing across both policy and operational strands of planning, led by my Department in close cooperation with the Department of the Taoiseach, and with input from all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Social Enterprise Sector (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has a range of programmes available that provide support to organisations, among them social enterprises. In line with the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019-2022, I take the term social enterprises to refer to businesses whose core objective is to achieve a social, societal or environmental impact. The table below outlines...