Results 6,441-6,460 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The publication of the IRG report was important. It enabled us to take fairly immediate action. I just outlined for the Deputy the amendments to legislation so that in the future all acts of sexual assault will go the civil courts. They will not be tried at military police level or at military court level; that is important. We had given that directive already. We have witnessed that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I mentioned in an earlier reply the details of starting pay which has increased very significantly in the last number of years. The starting rates of pay in the Defence Forces now compare very well to comparable rates of pay across the public service. In addition, a range of financial and non-financial measures have been introduced such as the extension of private secondary medical care to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Security and Defence Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Russia's ongoing military aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally altered the security situation in Europe. It has also demonstrated the need for Ireland and our European Union partners to work closely together to deal with the serious security challenges that we face. Since my appointment as Minister for Defence, I attended the Foreign...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Security and Defence Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am not anticipating a rapid attack right now-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Security and Defence Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----and as the Deputy knows we have a position of non-alignment. We are not members of NATO, and we have no plans to join, and the Constitution prohibits any European Union common defence pact, or Ireland's participation in any EU common defence pact. There is a broader provision in the EU where EU member states may come to the assistance of another EU member state that comes under attack...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have met with the Women of Honour group on a number of occasions, and with their legal advisers, who are experienced in the matter of tribunals and inquiries going back over a long period of time. I think we have been very fair. I have been very clear, honest and straightforward in relation to this. I think the recommendation of the independent review group, IRG, was to have a statutory...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Exactly.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: First of all, there have been exhaustive discussions. We have had a number of meetings and correspondence with the Women of Honour and other groups. The Attorney General has met with the legal advisers to Women of Honour. We have gone through a lot of stuff in detail. The fundamental recommendation of the IRG has been met by the draft terms of reference and we have sought to go through...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Sorry.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The report of the independent review group established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published following Government approval on 28 March of this year. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the report. One of the first actions taken was the establishment of an external oversight body, initially on a non-statutory basis. This...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have met the representative associations about this issue. They know my commitment to it. As part of the conciliation and arbitration scheme, we established a sub-committee and the representative associations have had an input through that committee. As part of that, compensatory rest is now provided for certain duties in line with the provisions of the directive. There is no question,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The responsibility, as the Deputy said, for developing the legislative framework to remove the blanket exemption for the Defence Forces under the Organisation of Working Time Act lies with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. We have to get the policy positions finalised to inform the general scheme and the eventual legislation. Formal engagement will commence once that is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The report of the independent review group, IRG, established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published on 28 March last. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the report, which include the establishment of a statutory inquiry to identify systemic failures, if any, in the complaints system, in order to ensure accountability and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware that Ireland has been to the fore. If one travels the Arab world there is huge respect for the stance Ireland has taken and the principled stand we have taken in respect of the Middle East over a long period of time. That was certainly the case in Egypt when I was there last week and with the Palestinian Authority when I met it in Ramallah last week, and when I met...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has deliberately ignored my answer and is being disingenuous because, as he is aware, trade policy and market access are largely European Union competencies. In the absence of a general trade embargo of Israel, which there is not-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: That is the Deputy's view, but I am saying that there is not such an embargo across Europe. The Department of Defence cannot unilaterally preclude Israeli companies from participating in tender competitions for military or any other type of goods, under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, GATT, and EU procurement law requirements. Under GATT and EU procurement law requirements, the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is not.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not believe the Deputy should try to characterise me wrongly as he just has-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am very clear that I want the war in Gaza to end now. Ireland was one of the countries to come out early to call for a humanitarian ceasefire. We voted for the Arab resolution at the United Nations. When we met the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah it thanked us and appreciated the principled stand that Ireland takes in relation to these issues, and has taken.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: We will continue to work to get a humanitarian ceasefire and to get aid and medical supplies in at scale into Gaza, which is critical. We signed up to the GATT rules in respect of trade and the European Commission is competent - as the Deputy knows - on trade agreements. Ireland does not have the unilateral capacity and legally we cannot just extricate ourselves and say, "We want to do it...