Results 43,641-43,660 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Security and Defence Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Russia's ongoing military aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally altered the security situation in Europe. It has also demonstrated the need for Ireland and our European Union partners to work closely together to deal with the serious security challenges that we face. Since my appointment as Minister for Defence, I attended the Foreign...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Security and Defence Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am not anticipating a rapid attack right now-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Security and Defence Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----and as the Deputy knows we have a position of non-alignment. We are not members of NATO, and we have no plans to join, and the Constitution prohibits any European Union common defence pact, or Ireland's participation in any EU common defence pact. There is a broader provision in the EU where EU member states may come to the assistance of another EU member state that comes under attack...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: On 15 November, when I was in the Middle East, my Department became aware of a Lebanese media report announcing that one of the individuals accused of the murder of Private Seán Rooney on 14 December last who had been in Lebanese custody had been released on bail. The case against this individual and the other defendants is due to resume in Beirut on 15 December. In addition to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate what Deputy Ó Murchú is saying. I am not happy with this and quite understandably the family are not happy. I will again convey to the Lebanese Government and to the United Nations my view that the lives of our peacekeepers need to be valued and affirmed through robust legal processes. We know the situation in Lebanon is challenging to say the least, in terms of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am conscious that the case is under way. Hezbollah is a major force in Lebanon. That must be acknowledged as well. A new government has not been formed in Lebanon in quite a long time. That is not helpful either. The situation generally in Lebanon, with the collapse of the economy and the currency, mean there is a significant need for stability in the country. We have been long-term...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Forces have almost 460 personnel serving between the two UN missions referenced by the Deputy. As of 1 November, 319 Irish personnel were attached to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, and 136 were serving with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in Syria, UNDOF. All Defence Forces personnel are maintaining a high level of vigilance and continue...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Peace keeping is the most noble act of all. We pay tribute to the courage and commitment of our Defence Forces personnel in Lebanon and in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, in Syria. Their mission is to protect the civilian population in the area. We have been doing this for decades now, generally within Lebanon. In recent years the situation has become more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: That decision has been taken on foot of recommendations from the Chief of Staff and military management. One has to take those decisions to give adequate time for their implementation so that decision was taken about a year ago, following recommendations to bring clarity to planning into the future. We have participated in every EU battle group since 1999 and will participate in this one as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 45 together. The military authorities advise that at the end of October 2023, the number of personnel in the Defence Forces stood at 7,595. The establishment of the Defence Forces was recently increased to 9,589. This increase is intended to expedite implementation of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, through the creation of 89...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: This year alone, 409 personnel have been inducted into the Defence Forces, comprising 310 general service recruits, 61 cadets and a number of others in various specialist positions. We have provided unlimited resources for media, and various campaigns are on the way for both the Naval Service and the Defence Forces more generally. General service recruitment is ongoing. There are campaigns...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: There were a number of issues there. The pause in psychometric testing for the Naval Service continues but we will have an evaluation of it. Specific advertising for specialist recruitment is placed in industry-specific publications. Deputy Dillon talked about campaigns and websites. As part of the Naval Service-specific recruitment campaign, the second phase of an advertisement was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 52 together. First, no such equation was ever made. The report of the independent review group, IRG, established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published on 28 March. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the report, which included the establishment of a statutory inquiry to identify...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: This was discussed at the meeting before any letter was sent out. It was discussed by the Attorney General with the legal advisers to the Women of Honour. Reading it, the intent is quite obvious. If we include every aspect of the health and safety Act as a term of reference that is a problem due to the length of time the tribunal would subsequently take and it is by including that one...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The intention of the terms of reference is not to exclude anybody. People will be able to come forward, and we encourage that. On the time issue, experience tells us it is a problem if the terms of reference are not correctly drawn. Bearing in mind the need for closure for victims and survivors and indeed personnel within the Defence Forces right now, it is an important issue because we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The diplomatic networks are being worked to the full to try to avoid reasonable escalation, including Lebanon. I have spoken to the Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, to the Qatari Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Al Thani, the Egyptian foreign minister, the United Arab Emirates' foreign minister, the Saudi Arabian foreign minister and so on with a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Everything that can be done is being done with the military command. The Deputy and his party have advocated for the breaking off of diplomatic relations with Israel. In the context of Lebanon and the security of our Defence Forces personnel, we need to retain diplomatic relations with Israel. We need diplomatic channels open. All we have been doing for the past four weeks is maintaining...

Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "deeply deplores the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the death of over 11,000 people, including 5,000 children, over 100 United Nations (UN) workers and over 40 journalists, and the damage and destruction of hospitals, schools, UN premises, and infrastructure...

Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: A small number of Irish citizens remain in Gaza. Ireland will continue to work tirelessly with the relevant authorities on additional cases where these arise and to assist in instances where other Irish citizens and dependants wish to exit Gaza. These relevant authorities include Israel, which has a huge say in terms of who leaves Gaza right now, whether you like it or not. Getting rid of...

Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----and was part of a broader disinformation campaign that followed my visit, which in itself was illustrative in terms of how people want to undermine objectivity and impartiality and fair assessment of how we all approach this issue.