Results 2,441-2,460 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 51 together. Ireland has continuously demonstrated strong leadership within the EU on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We have called consistently for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and increased access to scaled-up aid. Ireland’s position on the EU-Israel Association Agreement is just one element of our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is committed to continued close engagement with the Palestinian Authority, including in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. On 28 May, Ireland formally recognised the State of Palestine in an expression of support for the two-State solution in the midst of the conflict. I firmly believe that it is time Palestine takes its full place amongst the nations of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over 700,000 passports this year, and current demand forecasts indicate that over a million passports will issue by the end of the year. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within or before advertised turnaround times, with the majority of adult online renewal applications issuing within two working days. Passport turnaround times...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government looks forward to working closely with the Executive, particularly through the framework of the North South Ministerial Council, on the many areas where North-South cooperation makes a positive difference to the lives of the people of this island. This includes the work of InterTrade Ireland, whose mission is to support businesses to take advantage of north–south...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together. Irish passports do not have a minimum validity requirement while travelling to the UK or within the EU. When travelling within the EU and UK with an Irish passport, it should be valid for the duration of the stay. The Department of Foreign Affairs publishes advice for outward travel in respect of over 200 countries. The advice provides an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the applications, taken action as appropriate and will contact the applicant directly in relation to the application.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Legal Cases (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy that there have been no legal cases taken by my Department or by State agencies or bodies under my Department's aegis, against another Department, Government agency or State body in any of the past five years.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have provided the following table which details the number of females in the Permanent Defence Force, in the requested ranks broken down by Branch and rank, as at 30 June 2024. The total number of female members of the Permanent Defence Force stands at 556 as of this date, while the number of females in the requested ranks totals 167 personnel. - Army Air...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am informed by the Military Authorities that Single Living-In and Multi-Occupancy accommodation is provided for operations and training purposes. As such the occupancy levels across the Defence Forces changes frequently due to training and operational requirements. Given the granular nature of the information requested in the first part of the question, it could not be collated in the time...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: It has not been possible to collate the required information in the time allowed to respond. I will respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Defence provides an annual grant to the Irish Red Cross Society, which is a contribution towards the salary and administration costs of running the Society’s headquarters. The annual grant also includes the Government’s annual contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The funding provided, over the years from 2019 to date in 2024, is as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: In July 2022, Government approved the move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces. This provides for a rise in the Defence budget to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, as part of annual Estimates processes. This level of funding increase would allow for the required substantial...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Capital investment in Defence is primarily directed at providing sufficient military capabilities, across land, air, maritime and cyber domains, to meet specific roles assigned to the Defence Forces. In the main, this investment is utilised for the acquisition of defensive equipment and the construction or upgrade of Defence Forces built infrastructure. It enables the Defence Forces to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: As of 01 July 2024, Ireland is contributing 441 Defence Forces personnel to overseas missions and locations, which reflects the Government's continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security. The main mission in which personnel are currently deployed is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 356 personnel. Information relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department provides support to two recognised Veterans Associations. These Veterans Associations, which represent all former personnel, are óglaigh Náisiúnta na héireann (ONE) / the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA). My Department engages on an ongoing basis with these Veterans Associations and with...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that based on the information available to them as at July 12 2024, the following table details projected mandatory retirements on age grounds, the only discharges that can be accurately predicted into the future, from 2024 to 2030. Year Total* 2024 36 2025 95 2026 105 2027 110 2028 106 2029 91 2030 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: A wide range of medical services are provided free of charge to members of the Permanent Defence Force, including an annual medical examination. I am informed by the military authorities that the associated cost to the organisation of providing a full medical examination to an individual member of the Defence Forces would cover a diverse range of factors, including:Salary costs for the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government and the Government decision in December 2020 which also agreed its terms of reference and membership. The report was published on the 9th February 2022. The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The provisions for pay and allowances for both the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) are set out in Defence Force Regulation S.3 and RDF pay rates are linked with the PDF rates of pay. In addition, the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association (RDFRA) currently receives an annual subvention of over €62,000 from my Department, in addition to the...