Results 44,041-44,060 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs uses public awareness campaigns primarily to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad such as passport and consular services. In recent years, public awareness campaigns in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions and Brexit have formed a significant part of advertising costs. As with other Government Departments, the Department of Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (5 Dec 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: Official Travel (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) provides the Government and the President with an independent and flexible air transport service to assist in meeting national and international obligations. MATS is delivered primarily by the use of the Learjet 45 aircraft, which came into operation in 2004. Where it is unavailable, the CASA 235 and/or other Air Corps aircraft may be used....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 Section 4 is the primary legislation governing service overseas. The authority to mandatory select personnel for overseas service is governed by Defence Forces Regulations, and subject to the administrative process contained in Administration Instruction CS5 – Administration of Overseas Service, which details the circumstances and eligibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Military Authorities advise that it is not possible to collate the required information in the time available. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the information is made available to me.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The so-called "triple lock" mechanism sets out the requirements for the deployment of Defence Forces' personnel for peacekeeping operations overseas. These requirements are provided for in legislation, in particular the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960 and the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006, as amended. The Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 also provides for a series of other circumstances in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: In January of this year, the Government approved the participation by the Defence Forces in the German-led EU Battlegroup in 2024/2025. This will be the eighth occasion on which the Defence Forces have been part of an EU Battlegroup and the first since 2020. The Battlegroup will be stood-up during 2024 and will be on standby throughout 2025. Battlegroups are a key component of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Communications (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department, the Department of Defence operates an X account, primarily used to highlight significant announcements and to support Department promoted events. X is the main social media account operated by the Department of Defence and this account is not verified through a subscription fee. My Department has a Social Media Policy Guide in place. This guide advises users when sharing and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Honours (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together. The awarding of medals is a matter for the military authorities. As the Deputy may be aware, Defence Force Regulation (DFR) A9 sets out the qualifying criteria required to be awarded such Defence Force Medals. I am advised that, in general, medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces on the basis of various criteria such as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Advertising (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department has spent the following on advertising on the X/Twitter website. This was done by the Office of Emergency Planning to highlight the Be Summer and Be Winter Ready Campaigns. The OEP has not advertised with X (formerly Twitter) since March 2023. Year X (formerly Twitter) 2019 Nil 2020 Nil 2021 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The 'Triple Lock' provides that contingents of the Defence Forces may only be despatched for overseas peace support operations where that deployment is (i) approved by the Government, (ii) approved by a resolution of Dáil Éireann if the proposed deployment if of more than 12 personnel and (iii) that the operation is mandated or authorised by the United Nations As I indicated in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (6 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together. Article 40.2.2 of the Constitution states that “No title of nobility or of honour may be accepted by any citizen except with the prior approval of the Government.” The reference to "title of nobility or of honour" has been interpreted, in accordance with advice from the Attorney General, as referring to honours conferred by or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (6 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the case highlighted by the Deputy, which was brought to the attention of my office directly by the person concerned. Officials from my Department have responded directly on the matter raised.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (6 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Over the past year, my Department has achieved much progress in a number of policy areas, framed by our commitments under the Programme for Government, and the Departmental Statement of Strategy. This progress has been achieved against the backdrop of an increasingly unstable and complex geopolitical context, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the crisis in Sudan, and now the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Neutrality (6 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The training referred to in this question was in relation to the NATO Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC) evaluation that took place in Kilworth Training Camp, in November 2023. OCC is an evaluation and feedback process that provides for external evaluation by trained evaluators of declared military capabilities in accordance with NATO standards. Ireland has engaged in this programme...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (7 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants. I would ask the Deputy to encourage his constituents to use the Passport Online service which is the quickest, most efficient and cheapest way to apply for a passport.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (7 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Demand for Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen in 2022. Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Policies (7 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Programme for Government contains an ambitious range of commitments concerning the Defence sector that my Department will continue to implement over the lifetime of the Programme. One of the key commitments was to establish a Commission on the Defence Forces. On the 15th December 2020, the Government approved terms of reference and the membership of an independent Commission on the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question; I am not at liberty to discuss or comment on any protected disclosure, however, I am assured by Military Management that the Defence Forces affords all legal protections to personnel making protected disclosures and is on record for encouraging members to speak out against abuse of any kind either through official Defence Force channels or by...