Results 42,601-42,620 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: In response to both Deputies, I will not speculate any further at this stage, given how imminent the trial is. In the course of my meetings with the Minister for National Defence and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon when I visited following the killing of Private Seán Rooney, I stressed the need for co-operation and the establishment of all the facts and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will first respond to Deputy Cowen's questions. As I said, I do not want to speculate further. I have met with the Lebanese authorities and stressed to them the importance of justice and full accountability in respect of the killing of Seán Rooney. There is a broader context to what happened in terms of the Defence Forces' overseas mission, DFOM, which is the denial of access....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 83 together. The Defence Forces remain committed to optimising the number of personnel inducted and current recruitment initiatives include ongoing general service recruitment, targeted service specific recruitment, direct entry recruitment, and the re-entry schemes.  The maximum age of entry was recently increased to 29 years old for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will take the question on the Reserve first. There was recruitment last year, but I do not think the procedures and processes were sufficient to accommodate those who had expressed an interest. An office has now been created in respect of recruitment to the Reserve force and its organisation. There is huge potential there. In speaking with the Chief of Staff, the military leadership and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have told the military my view on it. I would not be rushing to be a candidate. The Deputies make a fair point. The military authorities are keeping it under review. In respect of the Naval Service, the military authorities have advised me of the position. I have made the point that the first thing you get when you press a button is a psychometric test. I am not convinced that is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will reply first to Deputy Stanton. In terms of the breakdown for the first six months, 150 have been inducted, comprising 141 general service recruits, 125 in the Army, three in the Air Corps and 13 in the Naval Service, with one Naval Service engine room artificer. Of the eight re-enlisted personnel, seven are in the Army and one is in the Air Corps. A total of 435 personnel were...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Policy (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is to ensure the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced to ensure the Defence Forces can carry out all of the roles assigned to them by the Government as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Capability priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered as part of the capability development...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Policy (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: As always, we have to look at both the protection of the State but also civil protection issues. In the context of Dublin Airport, this issue was the subject of considerable publicity recently. The Government decided to appoint the DAA to purchase and deploy a counter-drone technology solution at Dublin Airport. This is an interim response, initiated by my colleague, the Minister for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Policy (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: There is some capability within the Defence Forces regarding drone technology. It is not all about warfare either; it is about many practical applications, for example, where they can come to the aid of the civil power, assist State agencies and utilities and perform drug interdiction. There are many positive utilisations. We have observer status on an Italian-led permanent structured...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will read it into the record. To be frank, it is not an issue to which I have given consideration. Now that the Deputy has raised it, I certainly will and perhaps discuss it further with him. As he said, the tradition was to name them after Irish female mythological figures. In 2013, the then Minister instructed that a review of the naming policy should be undertaken. Following that...

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...

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

Micheál Martin: My officials and Military Management engage in regular and ongoing discussion on recruitment into the Defence Forces. This includes discussions regarding the recruitment of trainees, apprentices etc, and the scope and terms and conditions falling from that, where such proposals are made by Military Management. With regard to Air Corps, it is my understanding that Air Corps Management...

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

Micheál Martin: As Minister for Defence, I chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning (GTF) supported by the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) in my Department. A subgroup of the GTF was assigned responsibility to develop guidance on critical infrastructure resilience in 2017. The subgroup produced the first guideline document on critical infrastructure resilience in February 2019. This document...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Union (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. The Strategic Compass, which was approved in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (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. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish...

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

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, the Defence Forces are currently excluded from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which transposed the EU Working Time Directive into Irish Law. I wish to assure you, however, that I am fully committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Working Time Directive are applied, where appropriate, to its members. This is in line with the...