Results 47,241-47,260 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin is going to oppose a proposal for four to six members of the Defence Forces, per year, to participate in an energy management course that will cost €1,500. It is doing so for reasons I do not know. That is Sinn Féin's foreign policy for you. We have 17 installations. The Defence Forces are the biggest users of energy in the public service. Why is there an...

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: On the pay issue, there are significant changes. We have removed the requirement for a private to mark time for the first three years. We have provided for payment of the full rate of military service allowance to all. The patrol duty allowance is being doubled. New public service pay agreements will apply. All of this means that on completion of training, which takes approximately 24...

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves Ireland's participation in the following: (i) two Permanent Structured Cooperation Projects in accordance with the Programme for Government commitment: (a) Network of Logistic Hubs in Europe and Support to Operations, and (b) Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection and the associated Category B European Defence Agency support to the...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank Senators Craughwell and Wall for their contributions. This was discussed in the other House when Deputy Howlin tabled a similar amendment. I indicated to him that I had instructed my officials to examine the chain of command and the entire Defence Act 1954, insofar as it relates to proper structures. The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended a chief of the Defence Forces, a...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Senator McDowell has experience of how Government works. Essentially, there is no secrecy about this at all. This was in the Commission on the Defence Forces in broad brush strokes in terms of the idea of amending the 1954 Act with a completely new chain of command, but particularly a new position of CHOD. We have no issue with summarising this in terms of what is in the heads, but then...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I accept the Senator's right to raise it, but I will not insert this into this Bill given that we are doing a comprehensive overhaul of the 1954 Act and of the chain of the command. That is my argument, really.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Again, there is no secrecy here. The Government is entitled to draft a Bill. It is a very fundamental point.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Senator is showing a latter-day-----

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Perhaps it is from in his days as Attorney General. I do not either; there is no point. There is no issue with the principles.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: There has been a very sensible discussion of these issues. I refer to creating the position of the CHOD and joining the three services together in terms of a joint services approach with each having its head or chief of service. Then, we would have a vice CHOD as well in terms of the upper structure. The issues that will ultimately remain to be determined, which is the edifice,...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Senator will see that when the Bill is published.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is an executive function to draft a Bill. Senator McDowell knows that as well as anybody.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Senator does. Come on.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is exactly the point. It is far more transparent today.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I told the House what we agreed. In fairness, I outlined the broad direction of travel. Everybody knows it. The Commission on the Defence Forces was not the Legislature but it gave the broad outline of what would transpire. The Government must have the capacity to draft the Bill. As we know, the pre-legislative scrutiny process allows for very wide discussion. Some of the...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is an interesting question, which plays to a certain agenda. The hostility to the Department that comes across in some of Senator Craughwell's presentations worries me at times. That is genuinely the case.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department represents the civilian wing of the Government. I have met the Chief of Staff separately on occasion. He would be the first to say we need a de facto collaborative approach in real time. I am not clear on the rationale for writing out the Secretary General, whoever that may be at any time, if Senator Craughwell accepts the primacy of the civilian authority.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I did not say the Senator is, but I get a sense of that though.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Senators for the amendments, which relate to sections 11 and 24. I make the fundamental point that section 11(1A)(a) contains the phrase "while in uniform or otherwise making himself or herself identifiable as a member of the Permanent Defence Force". If a member of the Defence Forces turns up at a school as a parent and does not indicate that he or she happens to be a member,...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not sure about political controversy, because one person's mundane political matter is another person's political controversy. It is not clear how that would add clarity. People did listen to Senator McDowell about the issue of independence. It was noted. I am informed that it has been reflected upon and it is believed that the term "political organisation" covers and will be...