Results 2,861-2,880 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I wish to thanks the Deputy for his question. At the outset, I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims and all of those injured and affected by the tragic events of 14 April 1979 at the Glen of Imaal. As the Deputy is aware, an investigation was carried out by the Defence Forces immediately after the incident. Subsequently, a number of litigation cases were...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: International Agreements (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's relationship with NATO has always been conducted through Partnership for Peace (PfP), of which Ireland has been a member since 1999 following Government and Dáil approval. Participation in PfP is seen as fundamental to Ireland being able to meet its obligations in providing professional peacekeepers for international crisis management and peacekeeping operations mandated by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the Working Time Directive , earlier this year, I approved a management position on the implementation of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces, including protections for military activities, deemed outside the scope of the Directive, due to their nature. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment are working to develop the appropriate legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 to 114, inclusive, together. Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2026. Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are progressing across both policy and operational strands of planning, led by my Department in close cooperation with the Department of the Taoiseach, and with input from all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Social Enterprise Sector (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has a range of programmes available that provide support to organisations, among them social enterprises. In line with the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019-2022, I take the term social enterprises to refer to businesses whose core objective is to achieve a social, societal or environmental impact. The table below outlines...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Officials from the Irish Secretariat in Belfast regularly engage with Northern Ireland officials about ongoing efforts to tackle paramilitarism, including the recent commitment in the Northern Ireland Executive's draft Programme for Government to refresh the Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime Programme. There is also very close, ongoing co-operation between the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Honours (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Independent Review Group (IRG) report was significant in its scope and findings. It made a number of recommendations in respect of the issue of award of medals, honouring the role of families and the support they provided to veterans and in respect of veterans affairs. The Deputy may wish to note that, with one exception, the IRG did not recommend the award of any further medals. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Social Enterprise Sector (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not provided funding to social enterprise organisations or bodies in the period in question.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Budgets (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The 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 in July, 2022. This provided for a rise in the Defence budget to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, as part of the annual Estimates process. The Estimates process encompass a twelve month funding cycle, and is set...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: With its approval of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, the Government committed to a range of actions to address pay and recruitment issues in the Defence Forces. These include a number of projects undertaken to bolster the attractiveness of a career in the Defence Forces, and cover a range of measures which will improve pay and conditions. It is also worth noting in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that as of 31 August 2024, the latest date for which such information is available, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,426. I have acknowledged in the past the recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces. To address these I have introduced a number of measures. These include an increase in recruitment age to 39 years...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. I am advised by the Military Authorities that all equipment is regularly inspected, maintained and tested in line with the Safety,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together. The primary function of training in the Defence Forces is to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable them to fulfil the roles laid down by Government. The Defence Forces conduct training under four broad categories, namely: Leadership, Skills, Career, and Collective. Leadership Training is the medium through...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Table below contains the strength for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and Reserve Defence Force (RDF) as of 31 August 2024, the latest date for which such figures are available: PDF RDF Army 5,961 1,456 Naval Service 745 97 Air Corps 720 N/A ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces. A number of initiatives to both attract females and to retain serving female members are in train. For example: Steps being taken to encourage increased female recruitment include engagement with girls schools The appointment of a female member of staff to engage with female candidates A...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The main day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. In relation to fisheries protection, the Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Forces continually monitors staffing requirements and vacancies which can arise as a result of factors such as retirements and promotions. All promotions throughout the three Services i.e. the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps are administered promptly and there are no delays currently. To date in 2024, a total of 181 Officers have been promoted to vacancies across the Army,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are a range of allowances available to Defence Forces members on overseas deployments, which have been received by personnel over the past ten years where eligible. The two most common are Overseas Peace Support Allowance (OPSA) and Overseas Armed Peace Support Allowance (OAPSA). Overseas and Armed Peace Support allowances are paid along with the pay of the members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Forces continue to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including security operations, critical supports to An Garda Síochána and ATCA supports to other Government Departments and Principal Response Agencies. I am committed to ensuring that the personnel of the Defence Forces continue to be equipped and trained to best international standards and I can confirm...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am advised by the military authorities that, as at 31 August 2024, the whole time equivalent strength of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was 563. A breakdown of this strength, by Branch and by rank is provided in the attached table. In line with current policies and commitments, a number of initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation...