Results 8,981-9,000 of 50,213 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 316 together. I am aware of this case and would like to extend my sincere sympathies to the citizen and his family who have suffered a terrible ordeal. I wish to acknowledge that this has been, and remains, a difficult time for them. The Department of Foreign Affairs is precluded from intervening in the legal processes of another jurisdiction, in line...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has not retained any social media influencers and online personalities, television and or radio personalities for any media campaigns during the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue by date. The issue by date for the application is 8 March 2023. The Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly to advise of the option of booking an Urgent Appointment for passport renewal at the Passport Service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has contracted a number of the listed management consultancy firms in the period 2018-2022, primarily for the provision of audit services to Embassies managing significant development cooperation programmes, as well as to a small number of units at Headquarters. In overseas locations, the contracts are awarded locally to independent affiliates in each...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Under the terms of contracts with third party suppliers, the Department of Foreign Affairs avails of support services from Microsoft for Microsoft products deployed globally by the Department, including software and hardware licensing. Annual payments for these services are directly invoiced by Microsoft. Details of payments in the period 2018-2022 are provided below: Year ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The information sought by the Deputy is as follows: Capital Projects Year Completed McKee Barracks - Refurbishment of Block H 2022 McKee Barracks - External Upgrade of Guardroom HQ Building 2022 McKee Barracks - Refurbishment of Barrack Foreman Stores 2022 The Deputy may also wish to note...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Staff (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since my appointment as Minister for Defence Ms. Grainne Weld has been appointed as Special Adviser to me, as both Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs. She is employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and her salary and expenses are administered by that Department.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy, that while my Department did not engage any social media influencers, online personalities, television and or radio personalities in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, there was one instance for the Defence Forces as follows: September 2022 The Gardner Brothers - Social Media Recruitment Project Gardiner Bros are brand ambassadors for Guinness, Coke & on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: In May 2022, the then Minister for Defence appointed a Senior Counsel to establish whether the actions taken on behalf of the Minister by Civil Servants in the Department of Defence and the military authorities on foot of correspondence received by the Minister from a former member of the Defence Forces were correct having regard to the regulatory frameworks, policies and internal grievance...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The awards made both with and without tender process to the management consultancy firms (details supplied) by my Department for each of the years 2018 to 2022 inclusive are as follows: Firm Purpose Total Amount Paid Timeframe of Contract Desired/Completed Output KPMG ERP System Architecture Services €56,250...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department has no record of any awards made to the organisation referred to by the Deputy for the years 2018 -2022 inclusive. My Department uses Microsoft products, such products are purchased from authorised Microsoft resellers through central Office of Government Procurement frameworks and not purchased directly from Microsoft. Standard government procurement guidelines are followed.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The following table provides the number of engine room artificer vacancies as of 24th February 2023. Establishment 85 Strength 67* Vacancies 18 *includes 16 personnel undergoing training to become Engine Room Artificers. Vacancies are filled in line with promotional arrangements, as appropriate, and by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available within the time frame sought. At the request of my Department the military authorities are conducting the search, retrieval and collation of same. I will arrange to have this information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Chairman and committee members for the invitation to brief them today. I look forward to our exchange on foreign policy issues. I will speak on the key foreign policy priorities currently under discussion at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, as well as share some reflections on our UN Security Council term. I will also outline some of the foreign and security policy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies and Senators for their contributions. I join with Deputy Brady in welcoming the Windsor Framework and particularly the certainty it will give to business and to industry, some of which are doing quite well while others in the context of consumer goods were finding aspects of the protocol difficult. In all of the practical day-to-day issues that were raised, from goods...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Yes. We have issued a statement on the issue. On the detention of Mr. Bernard Phelan, I have been in touch with the Iranian foreign minister and I had a long discussion with him. It is a very difficult situation for Mr. Phelan. We are continuing our contacts with the Iranian Government. He is a dual citizen as the Deputy noted. In our view, his imprisonment is wrong. To protect his...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy maintains that people are saying that. However, the Deputy is the first person that I have heard say it. I do not think it is fair at all because I explained at the defence Estimates that they are operational issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: If the Deputy would allow me to make my point, operational decisions have to be taken regarding strength and where we deploy. The EU battle group has very significant challenges. We have been part of these groups since 2000. I do not know whether the Deputy thinks we should be part of common security and defence policy at European level or not. We have been part of German-led battle...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is not all about ships. We are not equipped right now to deal with that so we have to address the issue. We need to get our mindset away from conventional thinking. This is something I am stressing to the military as well. The modern threats are much different from what we think we know of military in terms of battle groups and ships, etc. We will need more brainpower on the...