Results 45,301-45,320 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government is committed to restoring the strength of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and last year saw positive growth in terms of the number of personnel completing a growing number of training days with the result that there has been an increase in the budget for the RDF this year. The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government remains fully committed to the advancement of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). A RDF recruitment competition was relaunched in October 2023, where, to date, there are over 800 live applications resulting from this campaign. There has been ongoing and recent progress on the medical phase of the induction process with work completed on streamlining the two-stage medical...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Following the establishment of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA), the Director of ORA, who holds the rank of Colonel, advises that their immediate focus is on the development of a Regeneration Plan, in addition to focusing on general recruitment into the RDF. As the Deputy will be aware, a recruitment competition was launched in October 2023. This competition is ongoing and the ORA...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together. The First Line Reserve (FLR) is intended to provide a pool of trained personnel who are available at short notice to supplement Permanent Defence Force (PDF) units in times of emergency. There is currently no set establishment for the FLR. The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF)...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The White Paper on Defence recognised the need for the Department of Defence to continue to engage in developing and deepening bilateral relations with potential like-minded partners to secure Ireland’s position in current and future international crisis management operations. The Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces further supported this view. A joint civilian/military...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It has not been possible to provide the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once it becomes available

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It has not been possible to provide the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once it becomes available

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that it is not possible to provide the data in the format requested by the Deputy, without an extensive exercise in tracking, on an individual application basis, applicants that were inducted and subsequently completed their training. Additionally, applications made in any one year may not complete the recruitment process within that year, and thereafter...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the numbers within the civil service grades employed within my Department across various locations. Recruitment is ongoing with a view to the filling of current vacancies. It should be noted that the number of Assistant Secretaries includes the Defence Forces' Head of Transformation and Head of Strategic HR, who are among 13 civil servants from the Department who...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 5 March 2024, the Government approved an increase in the maximum age of recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force to 39 years for those roles with a current recruitment age below 39 years. The measure will take effect from 29 March 2024 and will apply to General Service Recruits, Cadets and certain specialists. This increase was facilitated by a decision to increase the mandatory...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Mr. Peter Burke, TD, is the current Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence. The Minister of State assists and performs functions, including Oireachtas business, as assigned by me as Minister for Defence on my behalf. Responsibilities of the Minister of State include the following: Deputising for the Minister on Defence matters; Taking all or specific stages of Defence legislation...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question. It is important to state that defence and security remain national competences and will continue to require unanimity in EU decision-making. Any decision to alter these arrangements would require a change to the European treaties. Furthermore, the specific character of Ireland's security and defence policy, as set out in the protocols attached to the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: What I articulated in my reply was the factual position currently. Through our work on the Middle East, we have demonstrated that we have an independent foreign policy position and that we are working to bring other member states with us. The Deputy has discussed the Middle East a great deal in the House, but I will bring something to his attention. At the Foreign Affairs Council, FAC,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have noticed a trend in that the Deputy tends to try to create wedge issues or sow confusion and doubt. Defence and security remain national competences and will continue to require unanimity in EU decision-making. That is the bottom line. Trade, including the conduct of trade agreements, is an EU competence. That has been the case for a considerable time and has been advantageous to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: No, I am not.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It requires unanimity-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not conceding anything.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: As far as I am concerned, it requires unanimity. What I would have preferred would have been to be able to do more on Gaza and for 26 member states to count for something.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for tabling this question. To date, Ireland has participated in 14 projects with the European Defence Agency, EDA, six of which are completed and eight are ongoing. These projects include areas such as joint procurement, cyber, military search capability, maritime surveillance and counter-improvised explosive devices. Ireland's participation in EDA projects is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: First, any iteration, change or shift in CSDP within the EU will have to have respect for what we term the "specific characteristics" of policies of certain states including Ireland, Austria and Malta. That statement was made in the context of the Russian threat to the security of Europe. There is a real sense of vulnerability in terms of the war economy that is now, in essence, the driving...