Results 6,461-6,480 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Carthy for raising the question. I believe it has actually accelerated. Since coming in as the Minister I identified this as a key priority of mine. The Defence Forces are currently exempted from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which transposed the EU working time directive into Irish law. I assure the Deputy, however, that I am fully committed...

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

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have provided me with a table showing the estimated number of personnel who will be required to retire on age grounds from next year up to 2028, if they serve their full contract term. It should be noted that many personnel leave the Defence Forces before reaching mandatory retirement age. The table outlining projected mandatory retirement figures, which should be...

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

Micheál Martin: I gave that figure, which is net 400.

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

Micheál Martin: The Deputy asked for the figure and I have given it in my reply. We are, of course, conscious of a recruitment and retention issue within the Defence Forces. I identified a long list of measures we have taken to improve allowances and improve the situation overall for members of our Defence Forces in order to attract new members and encourage retention. There are issues around recruitment...

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

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy knows, I was not Minister for Defence this time last year, nor was he his party's spokesperson on defence. There are a number of factors at play, of which the buoyant employment market is a key one. We have been close to full employment over the past two years. There is significant evidence that private industry has recruited a lot of our naval personnel and other staff from...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 38 together. As the Deputy will be aware, we like many other countries in Europe have witnessed a fundamental change in our security environment in the last year with an increased focus on maritime security and the protection of subsea cables. The security of Ireland’s sub-sea infrastructure is a matter of utmost importance for the Government....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

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. Enhancing the physical working environment and equipment for our Defence Personnel is key feature of the recently published Strategic Framework...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government. The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister for Defence, I have no statutory role in the military discipline system as enshrined in Part V of the Defence Act. Any complaint or allegation of unacceptable behaviour in the Defence Forces is currently subject to administrative investigative procedures as outlined in Defence Forces Administrative Instruction A7 and includes, but is not limited to,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Climate Action Plan 2021 (CAP21) committed that public sector bodies will reduce Green House Gases by 51% by 2030, improve energy efficiency from 33% (2020) to 50% by 2030 and produce a Climate Action Roadmap by the end of March 2023. The Climate Action Roadmap is a document to be produced by public sector bodies which communicates how each public body aims to meet the requirements of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces. As of 31 October 2023, the representation of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stands at 7%. It should be noted that while this percentage is far from satisfactory, it is not out of kilter with standards across international militaries. For example, the percentage of women in the UK Armed...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 55 and 56 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. Following the publication of the Report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality issues in the Defence Forces in March 2023, I set...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 59 together. The Government approved a move to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2), as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces in July, 2022. As part of that decision, the Government committed to increasing the funding allocated to defence to €1.5 billion (at January 2022 prices) by 2028, through the annual Estimates process. Delivery of this...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: As of 01 November, the Defence Forces have 468 personnel serving between the three UN missions in the Middle East region – UNIFIL (319), UNDOF (136) and UNTSO (13). All Defence Forces’ personnel, including personnel serving in Lebanon (with UNTSO and UNIFIL), are maintaining a high level of vigilance and continue to monitor the developing situation in their respective mission...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Middle East (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 72 together. I am advised that the Department of Defence has purchased defensive equipment from Israeli companies as set out in the table at the foot of this reply. The expenditure primarily relates to Ground Surveillance Radars, Engineering Equipment, Fire Control Systems and the upgrade of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles operated by the Defence Forces....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The total allocation provided for the Defence Vote Group for 2024 is €1.231 billion, comprising of €921 million for Vote 36 - Defence and €310 million for Vote 35 - Army Pensions. This is an overall increase of €21 million on 2023. For 2024, the key priority is to progress the transformation of the Defence Forces, with a programme of work as outlined in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 66 together. The Chairperson of the Forum, Louise Richardson, has prepared and presented her report, which provides a summary and analysis of the four days of discussions and submissions to the public consultation. This report was published and presented to Government on 17 October. The Dáil debate on the report, to which I committed, will take...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The report of the Independent Review Group established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forceswas published on 28 March 2023. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the Report, which included the establishment of a Statutory Inquiry to identify systemic failures, if any, in the complaints system, in order to ensure accountability and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised that a Museum has been established by the Air Corps in Baldonnel and has been developed by them over the years. The Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out an ambitious programme of project delivery for the years 2023 to 2027 across the entire spectrum of military activities. With regard specifically to the Irish Air Corps Museum there are currently no...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Reviews (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The White Paper on Defence published in 2015 set out the Government intention to put in place a new fixed cycle of defence reviews. Such reviews are common practice internationally and give reassurance that policy remains up to date and relevant to changing future circumstances. The White Paper set out that every three years there will be a White Paper update that would consider...