Results 7,481-7,500 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 69 together. The Government has agreed to progress, as a priority, the recommendations in the report of the independent review group. The establishment of a statutory inquiry to investigate whether there have been serious systemic failures in dealing with individual complaints in relation to interpersonal issues, including but not limited to sexual...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: We had a lengthy discussion on this last week with the Women of Honour group and other groups. We also consulted serving members of the Defence Forces, including serving women in the Defence Forces. I do not accept that the terms of reference are too narrow. We took on board some recommendations from various groups, including the Women of Honour group. We then agreed there would be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: My aim and objective is to have it done before the summer recess. This gives me only two to three weeks. There will be further engagement with the groups on this. I have made it very clear from the very beginning that the Department would be covered in a statutory inquiry. There is no issue around this. I have made this very clear to the Women of Honour group and every other group.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I agree. I am on record in the House as paying tribute to those in the Women of Honour group who came forward to highlight abuses in the Defence Forces. This led to the establishment of the independent review group, which has had an impact. People may disagree on this but I believe that has had an impact in the public realm in terms of people's reactions to it. I was anxious to implement...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I can report that good progress has been made on the working time directive. I asked my officials some time back to engage again with the organisations representing our Defence Forces - PDFORRA and, of course, RACO. Concentrated meetings were held over a period of time in the past number of weeks. I do not have an exact timeline yet, but I am confident-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: We have not. That will be part of the broader organisation of the working time directive. I am very clear that we want to introduce the directive. The pressure will be maintained in the discussions under way with the representative organisations. That is a very important factor. It does present some challenges, but that said, it is an important part of not just of the broader culture...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The development of a primary radar capability was one of the key recommendations made in last year's report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. Demonstrating the Government's commitment to implementing this recommendation, one of the early actions identified in the subsequent high-level action plan, published in response to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I outlined in my reply that there was a visit to Cyprus as part of the research that has been undertaken by the project team that has been established. The Deputy mentioned a figure being bandied about. We need to be careful of reporting any figure. I am a firm believer-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: If we are going to tender at some stage in the future, I do not want those who are tendering thinking that we have a bottom-line price,-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----because they can inflate the price above that level. I will not give any figure as to what this might or might not cost because we are going to tender some stage and we want competitive tendering. I have discussed the matter with the Secretary General and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. It is complex and we have to get it right. We want synergy between all three arms of our...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have made it very clear that we are going to do this but it is very complex work. I can confirm, as I said earlier, that the project team has been established, comprising senior civil and military personnel. It has initially focused on looking at identifying the military radar requirements across the land, air and sea domains. It has conducted research into various delivery options...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As of 31 May 2023, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,764 personnel while in 2022 it was 7,966, in 2021 it was 8,456 and in 2020 it was 8,568. The current establishment of the Defence Forces is 9,500. I note that the Deputy requested a further breakdown of these figures by branch and I have arranged for a table with these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is 7,764.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: For clarification, I have the table here and can be straight up with the Deputy. The strength of the Army in 2023 is 6,305 while that of the Air Corps is 704 and that of the Naval Service is 755. I am extremely concerned. I have been in this position for six months now and I am very worried about the situation in the navy. We have had meetings with the flag officer, the Chief of Staff and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Unlike other areas of the Public Service, and due to the nature of the duties performed, overtime payments are not available to members of the Defence Forces. Comparisons with other areas of the Public Service must be cognisant of the unique role, structure, duties and working conditions of service, which are particularly unique to military personnel. The non-standard time and attendance...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Common Security and Defence Policy (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) sets out the EU’s framework in the field of defence and crisis management, including defence cooperation and coordination between Member States. Ireland is a strong proponent of the important role the EU can play in support of international peace and security and of the UN. Ireland is engaged with a number of EU...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Fisheries Protection (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. Naval Service vessels are multi-tasked in that they have the ability to undertake general...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Following Government and Dáil approval, the L.É. William Butler Yeats will commence operations with the Operation Irini mission in the Mediterranean tomorrow (21 June 2023). The core task of the mission is to contribute to the prevention of arms trafficking within its agreed Area of Operation, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2292 (2016) and subsequent...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: A wide range of primary medical services are provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force, including an annual medical examination, sick parades, GP services, prescription services, laboratory services, physiotherapy, chiropody, radiology, ophthalmic examinations, clinical mental health services provided by an in-house psychiatrist and two in-house psychologists, and routine dental...