Results 3,601-3,620 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Sanctions (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland implements both sanctions as adopted by the United Nations Security Council, and EU restrictive measures adopted within the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The sanctions adopted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine are the most expansive and hard-hitting in EU history, including extensive import and export bans, travel and transport bans, asset freezes, and media...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over 650,000 passports to date this 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. There are currently no backlogs and 95% of applicants apply through Passport Online which is now available to 99.9% of all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the application and progressed as appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have been advised by the military authorities that no competitions for the Defences Force School of Music have been held to date in 2024. A recruitment campaign for instrumentalists resulted in 7 instrumentalists being inducted in September 2023. A Captain level (Conductor) appointment is anticipated from the Conductor campaign which closed in December 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Travel (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The competitive process for the purposes of delivering a replacement aircraft for the Ministerial Air Transport Service is well advanced with the restricted Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) stage complete and a number of aircraft manufacturers having passed to the Invitation To Tender stage, which is ongoing at present. A Civil Military Project Team comprising Officials from my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that there is one person currently undertaking the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) Officers Course and their expected qualification dates are as follows: ATC Qualification Estimated Qualification Date Tower Q3 2024 Radar Q4 2026 A new Air Traffic Controller cadetship competition was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that there are currently 24 trainee pilots, comprised of 11 cadets completing military training which is required before they commence their Pilot Wings course, and a further 13 officers undertaking pilot training. The table below provides the details requested by the Deputy: Air Corps Class / Course Number of Personnel ...

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: What I am now hearing from Sinn Féin is that it will oppose our participation in the PESCO projects that are before us today for approval.

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin is going to oppose a proposal for four to six members of the Defence Forces, per year, to participate in an energy management course that will cost €1,500. It is doing so for reasons I do not know. That is Sinn Féin's foreign policy for you. We have 17 installations. The Defence Forces are the biggest users of energy in the public service. Why is there an...

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: On the pay issue, there are significant changes. We have removed the requirement for a private to mark time for the first three years. We have provided for payment of the full rate of military service allowance to all. The patrol duty allowance is being doubled. New public service pay agreements will apply. All of this means that on completion of training, which takes approximately 24...

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves Ireland's participation in the following: (i) two Permanent Structured Cooperation Projects in accordance with the Programme for Government commitment: (a) Network of Logistic Hubs in Europe and Support to Operations, and (b) Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection and the associated Category B European Defence Agency support to the...

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Connolly made a very disingenuous presentation. I have condemned Israel's bombardment of Gaza, but it is never good enough for the left because it has always attempted to use the Middle East and Gaza as-----

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----a wedge issue continually. Ireland has demonstrated, through its policy on the Middle East and Gaza, its independence and farm policy. For God's sake acknowledge it.

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland recognised the State of Palestine with Spain and with Norway, but you could not reference that. You had to try to give the impression that Ireland was a party to genocide. How dare you say that in this House?

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The self-righteousness of the far left in this country really frustrates me. What did you not talk about today? What did Sinn Féin not talk about today? What did Deputy Paul Murphy not talk about today? One of the proposals before the House to approve today is whether we participate in an energy management course which costs €1,500 and €5,000 per member, of which...

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are four programmes. There are two PESCO programmes, one about the critical seabed and the subsea which relates to how we co-operate with and learn from others and protect our undersea infrastructure, including sea cables which sustain thousands of jobs in this country. What planet are you on? What bloody planet are you on?

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is no vote today on the triple lock. It is mentioned in the report. That will come with legislation. There is a vote on whether we participate in subsea cable projects under PESCO. There is a vote on whether we participate in cyber exercises under PESCO. We should. We saw what happened with the attack on the HSE. The only way we will be resilient in terms of cyber security in...

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Since Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, the number of cyber attacks has grown exponentially. That is a reality.

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are cyber attacks left, right and centre. We have to build up resilience. These are modest proposals before us. The PESCO proposals are very modest. Yesterday, at the committee there was the Chair and two members. There was no evidence yesterday that people were exercised about this.

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Cronin suggested that I made a light case for the PESCO projects. I did not. I was quite comprehensive and substantive. The Deputy's spokesperson could not make it yesterday; he asked for a debate at the committee but was not in a position to attend, which can happen. The bottom line is that I attended the committee yesterday for an hour and 45 minutes. There was no real argument...