Results 45,121-45,140 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: A wide range of medical services are provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force. These include an annual medical examination, sick parades, attendance at GP surgery outside of sick parade and out-of-hours GP services, prescription services, laboratory services, physiotherapy, chiropody, radiology, ophthalmic examinations, in-patient and outpatient public hospital charges, routine...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: As of 09 February 2024, the most recent figures available, Ireland is contributing 530 Defence Forces personnel to overseas missions and locations. The two main missions in which personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 332 personnel, and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 132 personnel. I am advised...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: In 2023, I sanctioned, with the agreement of the Minister and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform, the implementation of the Decision of the Arbitration Board under the Schemes for Conciliation & Arbitration for the Civil Service, Defence Forces and Teachers regarding the Claim by the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) for an...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has always been and continues to be a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping. Our commitment and support for the role of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations. This commitment is also expressed in our engagement in the EU's Common...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA) was established in 2021 with a mission “to ensure Ireland develops appropriate, leading edge and trusted defence and security capabilities in the land, sea, air, space and cyber domains, in order to protect our society, create jobs, drive research and enhance Ireland’s economic growth”. National Defence Industry...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The only State body currently under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board which is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927. The secretary to the Board is provided from my Department’s staff. No redundancies, or ‘exit-packages’ were paid to staff or personnel at any level of seniority in my Department, however a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The only State body currently under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board which is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927. The secretary to the Board is provided from my Department’s staff. I can confirm there has been no exit, severance or redundancy packages of €200,000 and above granted by my Department in any of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: A limited set of Ministerial Personal staff, namely Ministerial Civilian Drivers and Ministerial Advisors were entitled to redundancy/severance packages following formation of a new Government in 2020. On receipt of advice from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) outlining severance terms, a total payment of €42,670.46 severance pay issued from my Department. Any...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Carthy for raising the question. In Gaza, Palestinian civilians are living in conditions that no human being should have to endure. Gaza is on the brink of a man-made famine. Every day without a ceasefire brings this truly horrific prospect ever closer. I share the deep concerns of this House about the current war and it must end. This is why, every day, my focus remains...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: That reply was not one that has been issued for the past number of months or years. If Deputy Carthy listened to it carefully he would see that. All of us in the House have to make a decision on whether we just want to be performative or we want to be impactful. I believe we want to be impactful. The Arab peace initiative is fairly imminent. I believe it is dependent on a ceasefire and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I never said Deputy Carthy was disingenuous. I do not know where he invented that from. I did not use it at all in my reply.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt Deputy Carthy. I have to correct a false assertion that he made. What I did say was that there is a difference between being performative and being impactful. I respectfully suggest, through the Chair, that Deputy Carthy's tendency is to the former. He is into performance on this and into rhetoric and soundbite. He does not give credit for, or acknowledge, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Human Rights (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will firstly respond to the question Deputy Howlin has asked about an independent investigation into the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians as they sought aid in Gaza by saying that like him, I am appalled by the horrible deaths of Palestinians queuing for aid in Gaza City last week. I join the calls made by EU High Representative Borrell and UN Secretary General Guterres, among others,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Human Rights (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: One of the factors in that appalling incident last week concerning the more than 100 people who were killed was a breakdown in the social order. In my view Israel bears responsibility for that. A number of Gazan policemen were targeted. They were there to at least try and organise the distribution of aid for the UN agencies and then they were targeted by Israeli forces, so they have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Human Rights (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I think we have taken every step open to us in this regard. We showed leadership when UNRWA first came under threat. We were one of the first to come out and say-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Human Rights (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is, and to undermine it. A significant decision was communicated to us by the President of the European Commission, and this happened directly on account of our stance on the issue. Canada has now followed in restoring aid to UNRWA, so the dial is shifting in that regard. The key issue is that the international community has to put as much pressure on as possible and keep the pressure...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: First, I continue to engage with my European Union counterparts on the crisis in the Middle East. I have made Ireland's position on the conflict clear at the Foreign Affairs Council. I have consistently urged the European Union to support an immediate ceasefire and to impose sanctions on violent Israeli settlers. I called on the European Commission and on European Union partners to restore...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: There have been different views across the European Union for a considerable length of time on the Middle East and particularly on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Because of history going back to the Second World War, the Holocaust and so on, people, particularly in Germany but also elsewhere, look at the conflict through a different lens from others in Europe, including...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is not long since the Deputy and his party were making admirable comments about President Ursula von der Leyen in this very Chamber.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not into the demonisation of individuals. I would say, on the credit side, that President von der Leyen was impactful in respect of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was very well handled by the European Commission and nobody can deny that. When I was Minister for Health in the early 2000s, Europe was at nowhere near that level of cohesion, as Deputy Howlin would agree, in terms of getting...