Results 47,101-47,120 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: We are proceeding with that but as with the purchase of any major defence platform and complex project, it requires the finalisation of required capabilities to enable the specification of requirements to be defined before a tender competition can go to the market, and work is ongoing in this regard. An estimate of the cost of the MRV will only be known, of course, once the tender...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Again, those specifications are being worked on but the multi-role nature of the vessel is important. Drug interdictions generally are intelligence-led. They have been extremely successful in recent years, notwithstanding all the negative commentary. The bottom line is that the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service, the Air Corps and the Army Ranger Wing, worked exceptionally well...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 88 together. I thank the Deputies for raising these questions. As I have publicly stated, since becoming Minister for Defence 18 months ago, I have been absolutely clear on the need for urgent transformation of the culture in the Defence Forces. As I have done earlier this evening, I wish to again reiterate in the strongest possible terms that the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes, members of Defence Forces have been discharged as result of criminal convictions in the courts. Apart from the discharge process, there is an existing local leave mechanism that can be used. On 27 June, lest there be any doubt, I instructed that anyone who had been convicted and is awaiting an appeal or is before the courts on the charge of rape or sexual assault be immediately placed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: When the report of independent review group of 12 months ago was published, I immediately took the decision and gave an instruction to the military that all sexual assault allegations were no longer to be dealt with by the military courts or under military law and that all sexual assault and rape cases were to be referred to the civil courts. That has been the position for over 12 months. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 65, 71 and 90 together. I thank the Deputies for their questions. As they are aware, the Defence Forces is a disciplined service with an extensive suite of regulations that govern all aspects of military life. The regulations have been used effectively to discharge personnel in cases where such personnel have received a conviction. Subject to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I immediately asked for report on the situation after the court sentence was announced in the case of the appalling attack by Crotty on Natasha O'Brien. As the matter is under appeal, I cannot comment any further on it other than to say that I have received a report from the Chief of Staff identifying 68 cases where there have been some convictions, where some are still before the courts and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Some are not.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Discharged.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The ones on sexual assault are on leave locally so they are not in service.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I again clarify for Deputy Moynihan that enlisted personnel can be discharged for any one of 26 reasons outlined and identified in Defence Forces regulations. Of the 68, somewhere in the mid-40s are still before the courts. We have to allow due process to take its course. I take a view, which I have made clear to the Chief of Staff, that where someone is guilty, particularly of a section 3...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 75 and 91 together. I thank the Deputies for their questions. I can confirm there has been engagement with the Chief of Staff and we yesterday to discuss these very serious issues. Following a recent case, I was informed on Friday, 21 June of another case involving a member who is still serving after being convicted of assault causing harm. In light...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I said earlier that I think the level of violence in our society, against women in particular, is at an alarming level. People will say we had it in the past and so on. We have discussed this among other issues. I find it unconscionable, and I cannot understand how people can engage in such violence against fellow human beings on the streets or in any location. However, we have to do a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry. It is two years.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Peter Ward's function relates to assessing whether the existing Defence Forces regulations are fit for purpose in this context, as well as relating to the military liaison office, and carrying out a high-level analysis of it. There are 68 cases, going back about two years or maybe just a bit before that. The tribunal of inquiry is going to take a lengthy time. It is going back 40 years...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes, the terms of reference will be published tomorrow morning. I had hoped it would happen for Question Time tonight but I will have them published tomorrow, because I want to get a comprehensive analysis. People are saying we do not have this or that. I have to be careful because there is another case, on which we got a separate report, that is now in a process, but it is nonetheless...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is simply not fit for purpose and that is manifest again in how this situation has evolved.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 109 together. As the Deputies are aware, retention is not influenced by a single factor. Rather, multiple interconnected factors are responsible for retaining people in any organisation. In common with other militaries internationally, the Defence Forces are facing a challenging environment. As Minister for Defence, in addition to a programme of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: That will be provided for in legislation that is under way. My understanding is that was agreed by Cabinet and will happen. It is a minor legislative amendment. I think it is in the justice (miscellaneous provisions) Bill but I can confirm that for the Deputy. Following the most recent pay increases of 2.2% recruits, after doing the leaving certificate or whatever, on completion of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: To be fair, the move to the age of 60 was massive and was received very positively on the ground in the Defence Forces. I am conscious there are people who are nearing that age who are anxious we would progress the legislation to include the age of 62. I will come back to the Deputy with precise timelines. Whether we will get it through before the summer recess, or not, remains to be seen...