Results 1,961-1,980 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank both Deputies for their remarks. I accept what Deputy Smith said about the role of our military in protecting the State, especially against the shocking violence over the 30-year period from the late 1960s to the nineties. I read a book recently, written by Ronan McGreevy and Tommy Conlon, about the kidnapping of Don Tidey, when a private and a garda lost their lives. It...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 23, 34, 39 and 40 together. I reiterate my absolute gratitude and pay tribute to our Defence Forces personnel who are operating in Lebanon under very challenging, difficult and dangerous circumstances. I am particularly conscious of their families who are obviously very worried and anxious about what they are watching on the news and on social media,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I believe the Deputy's time with the FCA stood him in good stead and prepared him well for his parliamentary and ministerial career, so that speaks volume about the importance of the RDF. In a serious vein, since I became Minister, I have been very determined to drive this on because it is not acceptable that we do not have adequacy and sufficiency in terms of the Reserve Defence Force. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will follow up on the gratuity issue. That has not come on to my radar and more is the pity, because we could have got it done but I will pursue that. Civil servants can be granted special leave with pay if they attend for the full period of the course of training. That could be seven days or three working days for a course of annual training lasting 14 days. They could be given special...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 25 together. Deputy Smith has been very persistent with regard to the structure of our Defence Forces as it applies to the central Border region. He mentioned Cavan Barracks, Aiken Barracks and so forth. 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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the Deputy has done a lot of research on this and has spoken to a lot of military personnel. I will review this and ask my Department to factor in any potential use of barracks in Cavan in terms of future operational needs. I will bring what the Deputy said to me to the table and ask our officials to review the use of the barracks in the future in respect of military...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Forces have advised that there are sufficient supplies of both water and food in Camp Shamrock, as well as the availability of contingency food packs, and that further deliveries were made to Camp Shamrock over the last weekend. This is in addition to a contingency supply chain to allow all of UNIFIL to remain in place for up to 30 days. During the summer, in advance of all of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: They have not done so yet.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: As I said, leave into and out of the mission area is currently restricted due to the security issues, which is understandable. Likewise, planning continues for the November rotation. UNP 6-52 is one of the outposts where we lead, and at UNP 6-50, which is manned by Polish soldiers, we also lead in terms of the Irish PolBatt scenario. That will be a matter for the force commander. They...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are currently three branches of the Reserve Defence Force, namely, the Army Reserve, the Naval Service Reserve and the First Line Reserve. The First Line Reserve comprises former members of the Permanent Defence Force and has no defined establishment. The Second Line Reserve, consisting of the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve, has an establishment of 4,069 personnel. As of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: A whole range of accommodation projects are under way. We have the refurbishment of block 4 in Haulbowline, with 74 beds at a cost of €500,000. I mentioned the refurbishment of the old communications building, creating 20 beds at a cost of €4.2 million and the refurbishment of the cadet mess building in Haulbowline, creating 24 beds at a cost of €3.7 million, and on it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Recruitment and retention of Defence Forces personnel is a significant challenge, which I have acknowledged on a number of occasions. The Government will continue to work to ensure the Defence Forces remain an attractive option as a career choice for both existing and potential members. Considerable progress has been made to address potential...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: We addressed that in the previous question. Approximately 10,000 people indicated an interest. Many of them did not follow through but still. This is an ongoing issue for me when I discuss these issues with the Defence Forces and military leadership. I gave figures in answer to the previous question. I believe 494 personnel have been inducted so far this year and approximately 250 more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Just to return to the figures, as of 30 September, 494 personnel had been inducted in 2024 and the latest advice is that it is planned to have a further 250 inducted this year. That is nearly 750 personnel, which would be the highest number of inductions for some time. That indicates we are beginning to turn the corner in respect of the issue of recruitment and retention and the gap between...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 29 and 31 together. I reiterate that the safety and security of Ireland’s Defence Forces personnel stationed in Lebanon remain of paramount concern to me and the Government. I pay tribute to all our Defence Force personnel in Lebanon for their exceptional work, professionalism and resilience. I am also conscious of their families here at home...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have been less than two years in this portfolio but recruitment is stabilising and turning a corner, with a narrowing of the gap, and this year may see the first time there will not be a net reduction. The figure is currently 7,426. We have looked at all the recruitment methodologies. We were not satisfied with them or the manner in which people were being recruited, and we have changed...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy said fewer people have been recruited this year than have left. That is not correct, in my understanding. So far, up to 30 September, 494 personnel had been inducted, and the latest advice from the military indicates it will have a further 250 by the end of the year.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There have been 443 discharges, which is fewer than last year. This year could be a turning point in the recruitment story. We hope that in respect of the retention issue, successfully raising the retirement age to 62 will have a significant effect next year and in the following year. Moreover, there are other measures we want to introduce, relating to instructors and so forth, that will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to outline the unprecedented levels of capital investment we are making at Haulbowline naval base in County Cork. Since the introduction of the infrastructure development plan, we have completed in excess of €12 million worth of projects at the naval base, including a refurbishment of the operations training building, an upgrade of accommodation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The new gym at the old tank building is progressing well and we are basically down to procurement timelines. Investment will not be an issue and the gym will happen. There are also, as I said, significant accommodation projects. The refurbishment of the block 9 office facility, for example, commenced in August of this year. Once refurbishment works have been completed on this proposed...