Results 2,741-2,760 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am conscious of the very challenging situation in relation to managing and reversing the poor water quality in Lough Neagh. Lough Neagh has been discussed in North South Ministerial Council meetings. At the NSMC plenary meeting in April 2024, which included the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, Ministers discussed environmental challenges including those facing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Protection (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: In November 2023, my Department received an invitation from the Department of Justice to provide observations on a review of the Safe Country of Origin list for applications from Algeria under the International Protection Act 2015. My Department provided comments on a number of potential factors including, domestic stability; security challenges; the asylum and protection framework;...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR or Naturalisation. Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together. The Department's Litigation Branch manages the administration of litigation claims taken against the Minister for Defence. In doing so, the Branch works closely with both the State Claims Agency (SCA) and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO). It should be noted that Civil claims arising from incidents involving the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (3 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 for the acquisition of defensive equipment and the construction or upgrade of barracks infrastructure. Defence Equipment capital expenditure projects are often...

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

Micheál Martin: We dealt with this issue substantially, but I thank the Deputy for raising it. The report of the independent review group, IRG, established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces, was published following Government approval on 28 March 2023. The Government agreed to progress the 13 recommendations contained in the report. Some actions have already been completed,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Maritime Jurisdiction (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: If I can return to the Deputy's earlier question on Europe, we had the Committee Stage debate today and some Members were in attendance. There has been a nervousness in this House about participating in PESCO, for example. Historically, Ireland's level of participation has been low. For the life of me I cannot understand this. Tomorrow in the Dáil we will have the debate on this. We...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 97 together. I wish to reassure the Deputy of my ongoing commitment, as Minister for Defence, to the removal of the blanket exemption which currently applies to the Defence Forces in the Organisation of Working Time Act. Significant progress has been made recently on this body of work. Earlier this year, I approved the final management position,...

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

Micheál Martin: The Deputy may have missed an earlier answer to this. I have progressed this. I have got agreement with the defence representative organisations on an agreed military management position following discussions. It has been sent to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The legislative process has commenced. I made it a priority when I became Minister for Defence to introduce...

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

Micheál Martin: We are progressing the legislation now. We agreed a position more than seven weeks ago; I would say perhaps two months ago.

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

Micheál Martin: That is all done now.

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

Micheál Martin: Apologies to the Deputy for interrupting. That is all done. That negotiation process is well and truly over for quite a while now. It has gone to the Department of enterprise. The next challenge is to make sure we get the legislation drafted and published and, with the co-operation of everybody in the House, to get it through the House. That would the desired objective, probably now in...

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...