Results 7,541-7,560 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports, and has issued over 536,000 passports to date in 2023. All turnaround times are at their target level, and there are no backlogs. The Customer Service Hub is responding to an average of 15,000 queries per week. We are currently in the busiest season for passports, as citizens prepare for upcoming summer holidays. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: As I noted in my previous reply, costs related to the Forum will be split on an equal basis between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence. The contribution by the Department of Foreign Affairs will be made from within existing resources in Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs). Expenditure related to the Forum will be in line with the Public Spending Code to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The international security environment has changed significantly over the last year. We have seen blatant disregard by Russia of international law and Europe’s collective security architecture, bringing war to the European continent. Ireland’s commitment to a rules-based international order and our traditional policy of military neutrality, do not inure us from the need to...

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

Micheál Martin: There are no plans to launch a new cadetship recruitment campaign for the Naval Service. The 2023 Naval Service cadetship competition was launched in March and closed on 26 April 2023. This competition resulted in 172 applications and these applications are currently being processed.

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

Micheál Martin: I am informed by the military that the current number of vacancies for each of the requested positions are as follows: Position Vacancies Remarks Dentist Three The recommendations of the Dental Service Review are currently in the process of being implemented. Doctor Five* Medical Officer positions...

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

Micheál Martin: While Defence Force Regulation (DFR) A9 sets out the qualifying criteria required to be awarded such Defence Forces Medals, the awarding of medals is a matter for the military authorities. I am advised that in general, medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces on the basis of various criteria such as their length of service, for service overseas and for acts of bravery...

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

Micheál Martin: The circular to which the Deputy refers, sets out the Protocol for the Provision of Information to Members of the Oireachtas by State Bodies under the aegis of Government Departments. The only State body currently under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board which is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 and consisting of a chairman...

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

Micheál Martin: The cost of food for the Defence Forces is met from Subhead A.14 of the Defence Vote, which provides for Defence Forces Uniforms, Clothing, Equipment and Catering Costs. The budget allocation for this subhead for 2023 is €16.5 million, of which €9.5 million provides for Defence Forces catering needs. This includes an increase of €1.76m on the 2022 allocation. In addition,...

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

Micheál Martin: Costs related to the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy will be split on an equal basis between the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The contribution by the Department of Defence will be fully met from within existing resources, mainly from the Subhead A.22 (Miscellaneous Expenditure) allocation provided to the Defence Vote.

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together. Armament Artificers in the Naval Service are currently paid Technical Pay Rate 6, while their counterparts in the Army continue to be paid Technical Pay Rate 5. This differing rate arose in 2018, due to a request from Naval Service HQ, who, at the time, and as is also the case today, were facing a significant retention issue for this...

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

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, a commemorative medal was awarded to all Defence Forces personnel, Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016. This was a special acknowledgement from the Government to the members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who served during the centenary year of 2016. The 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal was awarded as a...

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

Micheál Martin: 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 Commission’s report, was to commence planning...

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

Micheál Martin: In terms of cybersecurity, the primary role of the Defence Forces relates to the defence and security of their own networks and systems. From an operational perspective it would be inappropriate to comment on the numbers currently in place in the Defence Forces working on cyber capability, however, this important role is being developed in the context of the High Level Action Plan for the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 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, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Following the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces in 2022, which included a wide range of...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together. As the Deputy will be aware the project referred to forms part of a wider initiative in Portlaoise in relation to the provision of new buildings for An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. My Department has confirmed to both the Irish Prison Services and the OPW that the Defence Forces have a current operational...

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

Micheál Martin: I understand that the Deputy wishes to seek clarity on Pay and Allowance matters for the Defence Forces. I am very happy to outline to the Deputy the range of recent key improvements in terms of pay and allowances for personnel. At the outset, it is important to state that starting rates of pay in the Defence Forces compare very well to comparable rates of pay across the public service. In...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 189 together. As at 31 May 2023, the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces was 7,764 personnel comprised of 6,305 Army personnel, 704 Air Corps personnel and 755 Naval Service personnel. I have previously acknowledged the current staffing difficulties in the Defence Forces and, to counter these, there are a number of recruitment and retention...

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

Micheál Martin: I presume the Deputy is referring to the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve in his question. Members of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve are volunteers who undertake training in their spare time. In order to facilitate the voluntary nature of Reserve Service and to maximise attendance of Reserve personnel, training continues to be organised both in and out of normal working...

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

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development...

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

Micheál Martin: The table below sets out the number of women who applied for, and the number that were inducted into, the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 May 2023. - Army Air Corps Naval Service Applications 369 153 95 Inductions 5 1 1 The Government remains committed to a...