Results 45,341-45,360 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am just making the point it is open to countries to apply if there are United Nations training programmes. We do not get to decide who is or is not a member of the United Nations, although we can have a say in it if there are votes and so on. To respond to Deputy Ó Snodaigh, again, the trade law is there with respect to public procurement and tendering. I certainly have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Again, the principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. Deputy Carthy knows that and Deputy Ó Snodaigh knows that. It is an EU law requirement and is in accordance with the defence and security directive. I do not know whether the Deputies are saying explicitly that we should simply break the law-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: They said we should campaign. I do not think we are not in a position to do that, although we have written to the EU with Spain. Ours are the two countries in the EU that have written to the EU in respect of the trade association agreement with Israel, and Ireland has said we want a review and examination of that in the context of our view on Israel's non-compliance with the human rights...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question. I appreciate his ongoing commitment to issues at Portlaoise prison and the work he continues to do. The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I take the Deputy's point. That is why I have acted on this. A deployment of 50 personnel was traditionally in situ at any given time, with a resource commitment of 100 personnel in total accounting for those resting or on stand-by. The current resource commitment is 16 personnel. Any resources released by the step-down in commitment will be redeployed into regenerational capacities and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: As I said to the Deputy, the traditional resource commitment of 100 personnel is now down to 16. I have instructed that there be a further phased reduction. There has been a substantial reduction in line with the security assessment and in consultation with the Department of Justice, following recommendations from the Commission on the Defence Forces. I am conscious, since I met the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: White Papers (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The White Paper on Defence sets the defence policy framework out to 2025 and covers all aspects of defence within the broader security policy framework. Since publication of the White Paper in 2015, a total of 95 separate projects were identified for completion over a ten-year period. Project and programme management governance arrangements were put in place to monitor the ongoing status of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: White Papers (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The strategic framework on the transformation of the Defence Forces, that I published in September, is the overarching document and our focus is on implementing that in accordance with the timelines that have been set within that framework. We need one clear overarching document. That covers all aspects, both of the Commission on the Defence Forces and the independent review group...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: White Papers (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is extensive training within the Defence Forces. When they eventually leave, many people come out of the Defence Forces very well qualified and eagerly sought after. This is a problem in some respects because we are anxious that people would stay longer in the Defence Forces. That is why we have improved conditions and pay, as well as retirement ages more recently. Significantly, we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the question. In fairness, the Deputy has an eagle eye on equipment and opportunities for the Defence Forces. My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy. We are committed to ethical equipment procurement. It is the ideal. Also, in terms of an earlier question from Deputy Mick Barry, we need to procure ships, aircraft, equipment and weaponry. There is a need so there is a need for a defence industry. It seems there are mixed views about that in the House. There is almost a sense here that we should have no...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: My hope is that by the time this Dáil comes to a conclusion, the gap between induction and retirement will have been closed in the first instance and then hopefully there will be a net increase after that. I am concerned about the recruitment system within the Naval Service and Defence Forces and it needs to change. We brought in consultants from the private sector to examine...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: They will be deterred by intelligence and proper co-ordination among various countries and agencies. This is what happened recently when a major intervention took place. The Defence Forces successfully landed on a ship and intervened to carry out the largest drugs seizure in the history of the State. Maritime surveillance is not solely carried out by Naval Service ships. We also have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is no argument but that we have a recruitment crisis in the Naval Service. I am very clear on that. That is why we have taken a range of actions since I became Minister with responsibility for the Naval Service, including bringing in CPL to look at the recruitment processes. Moreover, the navy has hired a specialist agency for the specialists required to man ships. We have doubled...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department's litigation branch manages and co-ordinates litigation claims and, in so doing, works closely with both the State Claims Agency, SCA, and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, CSSO. The Deputy will be aware that all claims for personal injuries taken by current and former members of the Defence Forces have been delegated to the SCA. The SCA manages and provides legal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I do not disagree although some of these could be personal injury awards or occupational injuries that occurred during the course of people’s duties and people are entitled to seek redress. I would prefer mediation but under the law - the Oireachtas has provided for this - the State Claims Agency deals with claims on behalf of the State and that includes the Department of Defence in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: To be clear, the Women of Honour group did see the terms of reference before publication. As there was a series of drafts of the terms of reference that went to and fro between the Women of Honour, their legal representatives, the Department and me, what the Deputy said is not correct. I want to be very clear about that. It was a long enough process to finally conclude the terms of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Over the period 2020 to 2024, the combined budget has increased from €1,040 million to €1,250 million, an increase of €210 million, amounting to an increase of over 20% in that period. The increases are available in tabular form, which the Deputy can get in the various aspects of the Revised Estimates Volume. On using capital, there was a practice in the Department...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ní aontaím in aon chor leis an Teachta. Níl aon amhras orm ach go bhfuil muintir na tíre ag cur béime ar ghnáthchúrsaí an tsaoil. Níl muintir na tíre ag lorg olltoghcháin ag an bpointe seo. Tá siad ag lorg dul chun cinn ó thaobh cúrsaí tithíochta agus sláinte. Ní labhróimid faoin...