Results 2,621-2,640 of 10,790 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: I welcome the progression of this Bill, which contains a number of important provisions with regard to both sexual offences and human trafficking. New national referral mechanisms for victims of human trafficking will be a very positive and important step and stand as the type of additional human trafficking measures for which Sinn Féin and many others have long advocated. Likewise,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: Hear, hear.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: I revert to RACO's appearance before the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence earlier. It made a very powerful presentation. One of the criticisms that was set out was that the organisation, that is, the Defence Forces, continues to prioritise costly labour-intensive recruitment policies in favour of tangible retention initiatives. We know there is a need for recruitment...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: I think I heard the Tánaiste correctly when he outlined the figures indicating that so far this year there have been 20 new members of the Reserve. He said there is room for improvement. I would suggest that is the understatement of the year. The first problem we have, as we have with the Defence Forces overall, is that there is a retention crisis. It was put very eloquently at the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: There are huge swathes of the country now where there is no visible evidence of a Reserve being in place at all. That is systematic and I would argue it is getting to the point where it is existential in terms of the crisis that is being faced. The representative body the Tánaiste mentioned told a previous member of the Oireachtas committee that the next few years may see the last...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: 73. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the establishment figure of the Reserve Defence Force and its current strength; the number of applicants in 2022 and 2023 and the number inducted; his proposals to introduce employment protection measures for Reserve Defence Force members who deploy on a voluntary basis in support of the Permanent Defence Force; and his proposals to reverse...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: Today, the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, was before the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. In outlining the changes that have occurred during this Government's time in office, one speaker said, "The only thing that really has changed is the strength of the organisation, and not for the better". Nowhere is that more true than in the numbers of...

School Transport 2023-2024: Statements (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: I welcome the opportunity to debate the issue of school transport but not the need to debate it in yet another autumn. The Minister will recall that when we raised this issue last year we were told to wait for a review of school transport, which at that stage had been ongoing for one and half years. It has now been ongoing for two and a half years and we still do not have it. All the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Current Issues Facing Members of the Defence Forces: Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: No, it is about school transport, which is equally as important.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Current Issues Facing Members of the Defence Forces: Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: I apologise for interrupting. My questions relate primarily to the working time directive. It is a good segue. I was conscious reading the statement earlier that we are all aware of A Tale of Two Cities. What the committee has had over the past week is a tale of two virtually parallel worlds, one that was presented by the Department last week which was a tale of great progress,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Current Issues Facing Members of the Defence Forces: Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: I will only be out for perhaps ten minutes.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: 168. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the target date by which he intends to achieve Level of Ambition 2 of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42646/23]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: 88. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a tribunal of inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints process in the Defence Forces into workplace issues will include in its terms of reference the examination of cultural issues within the Defence Forces and the treatment of those arising from having engaged in complaints procedures in the past. [42543/23]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Policies (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: 96. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his proposals to provide increased support for veterans' associations. [42544/23]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: 117. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he intends to publish a general scheme of the Bill to apply the Working Time Directive to members of the Permanent Defence Forces; the timeframe for same; and if he intends to provide an allocation in Budget 2024 for the purpose of implementing the Working Time Directive. [42531/23]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: 102. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will review the decision to reject a submission advocating in favour of awarding a military medal for gallantry to a person (details supplied). [42532/23]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: 105. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the main capital acquisitions of the Defence Forces in 2023 and the associated costs; the proposed main acquisitions for 2024 and the estimated costs; and the primary acquisitions required under Level of Ambition 2 of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces. [42541/23]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: 143. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the competent agency for providing personal security clearance in the State; if provision for such clearance is provided exclusively for those employed by the State or if it can be attained by private citizens; if, in the case of the latter, the manner in which Irish citizens seeking employment requiring European Union personal security...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: 144. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of requests received for personal security clearance received from those not employed by a Government Department or body under the aegis of a Government Department; the number of which were subsequently directed to An Garda Síochána via the Department of Justice in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form, by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (3 Oct 2023)

Matt Carthy: 145. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagements that he has had with his European and international counterparts regarding ongoing political unrest in Niger; the number of Irish citizens who have registered their presence with his Department; if there is an Irish embassy outside of Niger accredited to that state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42679/23]