Results 42,241-42,260 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to establish the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces, on a non-statutory basis initially, in line with one of the thirteen recommendations of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality Issues in the Defence Forces published on March 28th. The Government moved quickly to establish the Body, making the following appointments...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: There are a range of allowances available to Defence Forces members on overseas deployments. The two most common are Overseas Peace Support Allowance (OPSA) and Overseas Armed Peace Support Allowance (OAPSA). Overseas and Armed Peace Support allowances are paid along with the pay of the members of the Permanent Defence Force serving overseas and payment is commenced following...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Despite the best efforts of my Department and the Defence Forces, it hasn't been possible to provide the information requested within the given timeframe. However, the information requested is being collated and I will revert to the Deputy directly as soon as the information has been fully complied.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Directives (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: As Minister of Defence, my Department has responsibility for transposing the new Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive. This directive creates a framework for EU member states in ensuring that critical entities are able to prevent, resist, absorb and recover from disruptive incidents, whether they are caused by natural hazards, accidents, terrorism, insider threats, or public health...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Policies (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together. 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, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Capability priorities (including replacement capabilities as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Policies (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: In the context of the new Critical Entities Resilience Directive for which my Department has responsibility, my Department engages with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to building resilience and protection of Ireland’s energy infrastructure. My Department is also working with relevant Departments, particularly the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Social Media (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is referred to the below table: Account Tweets # In Irish % In Irish # Irish Translation % Irish Translation % Irish or Translated @IRLDeptDefence 116 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0% @EmergencyIE 71 4 5.63% 6 8.40% ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Equality Issues (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Equality Acts oblige employers to make reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. My Department is an equal opportunities employer and is fully committed to addressing the needs of all employees, including employees with disabilities. To assist in fulfilling its obligations under the Act, the Department has assigned a Disability Liaison Officer (DLO). The DLO...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised by the military authorities that there are 43 Defence Forces personnel currently undergoing training outside of the State. Their locations are as follows: Number of Defence Forces Personnel Location 1 UK 4 GERMANY 2 AUSTRIA 11 BELGIUM 10 PORTUGAL...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Policies (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: The White Paper on Defence, approved by Government in July 2015, resulted from a comprehensive examination of Defence requirements. It provides the defence policy framework for the period up to 2025. This policy framework is designed to be flexible and responsive given the dynamic nature of the security environment and enables the Department, and the Defence Forces, to be adaptive to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Properties (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: At present the following current and former military installations have been made available for the purposes of accommodating those seeking refuge : - Kilbride Camp, Co. Wicklow, - Ballymullen Barracks, Kerry, - former Columb Barracks, Westmeath. In addition a DOD landholding at Knockalisheen Co Clare, which is currently in use as a Direct Provision centre, is also used to provide tented...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212, 214, 215 and 217 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Policies (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The Naval Service, as the State's principal sea-going agency, is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. While the main daily...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Policies (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: The EU and its Member States, including Ireland, have strategic interests in identifying and addressing security challenges linked to the sea. A subgroup of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning (GTF) supported by the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) in my Department, was assigned responsibility to develop guidance on critical infrastructure resilience in 2017. The subgroup...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 May 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 (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 221 together. My previous statements to the House have acknowledged that the conclusions in the Report of the Independent Review Group (IRG) on dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces are both stark and shocking. The Report, which was accepted by Government, makes for uncomfortable reading and goes to the very heart of dignity, mutual...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: The current strength of the Defence Forces as at 31 March 2023 is as follows: Total Strength Army (WTE) 6,333 Air Corps (WTE) 716 Naval Service (WTE) 758 Army Reserve (Effective Personnel) 1,496 Naval Service Reserve (Effective Personnel) 102 WTE - Whole...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Every year, resources have been increased and expanded, and correctly so, in respect of special needs and the families to whom Deputy Doherty referred and whom I have met. There is not a Deputy in the House who has not met families in situations such as this. Staffing is now the issue. I refer here to the recruitment of staff. The funding is there to recruit staff to these services and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this issue. She made a very fair point in respect of the significance of Meta's announcement. It is a significant number of job losses. Our thoughts have to go to the employees who will lose their jobs as a result of this announcement and their families. Notwithstanding that the economy is strong, people are committed to the particular jobs they are in at...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is fair to say there has been significant enhancement of workers’ rights over the last two and a half years since this Government came into office in terms of the Sick Leave Act 2022, the payment of wages and the Redundancy Payments (Amendment) Act 2022. Crucially, and I would have attended the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, programme last year, the report of the high-level...