Results 47,281-47,300 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: The issue is that Senators are seeking legal guarantees in respect of the representative function of the representative associations. That is secure; I made sure of it. I went back to check it. The Attorney General is clear that this is achieved in the section relating to prejudice.
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: We indicated earlier that we believe a political Independent is covered by the term "political organisation".
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: As we speak, any consequences fall to the Minister to decide under the 1954 Act. The level of delegated authority is quite low. In fact, I envisage that the new CHOD legislation we discussed earlier will create a far more sensible picture in respect of disciplinary matters and so forth. As it stands, any discharge, for example, inevitably wends its way to the Minister and, ultimately, to...
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: As the Senator knows, one rarely gets into the precision of a concentration of a substance in primary legislation.In the making of these regulations, the Minister of the day will take advice.
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: I thank the Senator for bringing his experience to bear on this debate. Essentially, what is happening here is that we are amending the principal Act to say a member of the Defence Forces shall be subject to drug testing in accordance with regulation made under this section. The Minister may, in relation to members of the Defence Forces, make regulations to provide for the establishment,...
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: I will be in the other House at 5.15 p.m. to seek Dáil approval to start PESCO and EDA projects.
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: I do not believe it should be as huge as is being presented.
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: What time is the Debate due to end in this House?
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: I am available until 4.45 p.m.
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: I will come back to that issue on Report Stage.
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: I thank Senators for raising this issue. What is the context? Why is there a recommendation for an external oversight body? Its genesis is in the independent review group, which recommended not just the establishment of such an external body but also that the Secretary General would be a member of it.
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: When I debated this in the other House, and prior to the publication of the independent review group report, almost every person in that House, representing different parties, asked whether I would accept all of the recommendations. They asked me to give a commitment that I would accept all of the recommendations or whether I would welch and do this. I met the independent review group,...
- Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: That will not really be the case because the recommendation was for an EOB into the Defence Forces, not the Department, arising out of testimonies and the work of the IRG. The evidence is conclusive that previous iterations of independent monitoring groups, which had representatives on them, did not work. Everyone looked after their particular agenda. I have been in this position for 18...
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: I am pleased to report to the committee on Irish Defence Forces participation in United Nations missions in 2023. This report was laid before Dáil Éireann on 3 May 2024. The following motion was placed on the Order Paper for Dáil Éireann and has been referred to this committee: That Dáil Éireann approves: ... (II) the report by the Minister for Defence...
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: No, it has to come to the Government first.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: At a European level, there has been a strategic assessment of the mission. A decision will be made at European level as to the continuation of the mission. We have six members on it. They are stationed at the operational headquarters in Rome and are serving in staff officer posts. In the summer of 2023, 58 personnel were deployed as part of Operation Irini for a period of six weeks. I...
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: My point is that what PESCO is about is improving our capabilities. The EDA is about improving our capabilities. On issues like cybersecurity and undersea cables, collaboration is the name of the game. Why? The reason is that there is a lot of expertise about the place and we have to share knowledge. When the HSE was attacked, two of the first countries that contacted us - and I was...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: Ar dtús báire, caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil an Rialtas sásta agus den tuairim go gcaithfimid gach aon iarrachta a dhéanamh chun liostaí feithimh na leanaí atá ag feitheamh ar obráidí scolóise a ísliú chomh tapa agus is féidir linn. Is é seo aidhm an Rialtais agus aidhm gach éinne sa Teach seo. Tá an...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: An audit, by definition, happens after a particular programme of action has taken place. You cannot audit something within three weeks of the money being allocated. That does not make any sense.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2024)
Micheál Martin: That is what the Deputy is suggesting.