Results 4,121-4,140 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes, members of Defence Forces have been discharged as result of criminal convictions in the courts. Apart from the discharge process, there is an existing local leave mechanism that can be used. On 27 June, lest there be any doubt, I instructed that anyone who had been convicted and is awaiting an appeal or is before the courts on the charge of rape or sexual assault be immediately placed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: When the report of independent review group of 12 months ago was published, I immediately took the decision and gave an instruction to the military that all sexual assault allegations were no longer to be dealt with by the military courts or under military law and that all sexual assault and rape cases were to be referred to the civil courts. That has been the position for over 12 months. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 65, 71 and 90 together. I thank the Deputies for their questions. As they are aware, the Defence Forces is a disciplined service with an extensive suite of regulations that govern all aspects of military life. The regulations have been used effectively to discharge personnel in cases where such personnel have received a conviction. Subject to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I immediately asked for report on the situation after the court sentence was announced in the case of the appalling attack by Crotty on Natasha O'Brien. As the matter is under appeal, I cannot comment any further on it other than to say that I have received a report from the Chief of Staff identifying 68 cases where there have been some convictions, where some are still before the courts and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: We are proceeding with that but as with the purchase of any major defence platform and complex project, it requires the finalisation of required capabilities to enable the specification of requirements to be defined before a tender competition can go to the market, and work is ongoing in this regard. An estimate of the cost of the MRV will only be known, of course, once the tender...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Again, those specifications are being worked on but the multi-role nature of the vessel is important. Drug interdictions generally are intelligence-led. They have been extremely successful in recent years, notwithstanding all the negative commentary. The bottom line is that the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service, the Air Corps and the Army Ranger Wing, worked exceptionally well...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 88 together. I thank the Deputies for raising these questions. As I have publicly stated, since becoming Minister for Defence 18 months ago, I have been absolutely clear on the need for urgent transformation of the culture in the Defence Forces. As I have done earlier this evening, I wish to again reiterate in the strongest possible terms that the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 30 April last, the Government approved the proposal to draft the general scheme of a Bill to govern overseas deployments into the future. Work on drafting those proposals is well under way. This involves, where required, further consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and across Departments and key stakeholders. I will be reverting to the Government shortly with the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I would dispute that.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Can I counter that the triple lock is not the cornerstone of Irish foreign policy. As a member of the Fianna Fáil Party, I have knowledge of the historic role that Fianna Fáil Ministers played in establishing an independent foreign policy. In fact, Frank Aiken was the key first signatory of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and we have a very proud record on nuclear...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: There has not been a peacekeeping mission approved by the Security Council of the United Nations since 2014. It is now 2024. The Security Council is paralysed. The idea that we would depend on Russia, China or the US to decide on whether Ireland should send troops to a peacekeeping mission, particularly given the role of like Russia, is completely outdated and absurd. That Russia would...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 85 together. The Naval Service is currently adopting a three-ship operational posture, which sees the four P60 class vessels on patrol in operational rotation. The decision to reduce the number of operational ships was made as a result of the previously acknowledged recruitment and retention difficulties in the Naval Service, in particular for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I too salute the courage of Natasha O'Brien in making very clear her position as a victim. I am conscious that the case has now been appealed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, so I cannot comment any further. Since I became Minister for Defence, I have focused on changing the culture in the Defence Forces. I mentioned earlier the external oversight body that has been...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for the question. I again express my unequivocal condemnation of any form of gender-based violence. Such behaviour has no place in a modern society or in the Defence Forces. The nature and type of such attacks on women are deeply troubling and absolutely unacceptable. The depth of feeling expressed at the protests recently is testament to that and I know everyone in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Okay.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I want to correct that. I was at pains in the previous reply to outline the regulatory obligations. The officer who attends a court is not there to give a character reference-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----and is not there to give a glowing account. The officer had a record in front of him and was cross-examined by the prosecution and the defence. He happened to be in the court in line with the Defence Force regulations. We have to be fair to everyone in this context. However, I am reviewing that and I have asked Mr. Peter Ward SC to undertake a high-level analysis of the application...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am very clear on this. The Defence Forces are there to protect society and keep people safe. I believe that, as with An Garda Síochána, standards have to be very high, given the unique role the Defence Forces play in society, over and above other sectors of the public service. That imposes an extra burden, but it is necessary. I think we are all shocked by the level of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 61 together. I thank the Deputies for raising this serious question. I wish again to express my unequivocal condemnation of any form of gender-based violence. Such behaviour has no place in a modern society or in the Defence Forces. Let me be quite clear about this: the Defence Forces are not a place where someone who has been convicted of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: In respect of the individual in the Naval Service, there is currently a process under way, which may be coming to a conclusion. I have been advised by the Attorney General's office the less comment now at this stage, given the potential impact on that process, the better. I hope the House understands that I am not going to comment further on it other than to say, generally, there are...