Results 3,821-3,840 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. At national level, representation on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning by both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, ensures the fullest coordination...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Candidates applying for positions in the Defence Forces are required to meet specific criteria, which include medical standards for military service, as laid down in Defence Forces Regulations. These medical standards are based on the professional advice of the Medical Corps and having regard to the nature of the job, the duties of military service and the training exercises undertaken by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: It was a great honour to be given the opportunity, once again, to attend and speak at PDFORRA's Annual Delegate Conference (ADC) on 15 May last, at the Slieve Russel Hotel, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan. At this conference I had the opportunity to address delegates on a number of key issues currently facing the Defence Forces, whilst acknowledging a wide range of improvements that have been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Since the events of 14th December 2022, in which Private Seán Rooney was killed and a number of his colleagues from the 121st Battalion were injured, I have consistently expressed both my and the Government's determination that all of the facts and circumstances of the incident are fully established and that no stone is left unturned to ensure that those responsible are brought to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I assume that by vacant properties the Deputy is referring to residential properties. Based on information provided by military authorities, there are seventy-eight (78) vacant residential type properties under the remit of my Department. I am advised that none of these properties can be occupied without considerable refurbishment and were built before the Building Regulations and associated...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The decision in question, as ruled by the Adjudicator under the Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Forces, is one which found against the prohibition of Defence Forces personnel, serving in a specific post, from being able to affiliate with Representative Associations. This ruling is currently under appeal to the Defence sector Arbitration...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have provided the following details in respect of Naval Service personnel who have discharged between 2020 and 2024 (as at 31 May 2024). Naval Service Discharges 2020 – 2024 (as at 31 May 2024*) Year Numbers of Discharges 2020 102 2021 103 2022 102...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Since becoming Minister for Defence, I have been absolutely clear on the need for urgent transformation of the culture in the Defence Forces. My Department has and continues to work tirelessly with Defence Forces’ colleagues to take the steps required to bring about the culture change that is so urgently required. This represents a significant programme of reform and culture change...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Oireachtas Committees (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: On the 11th June, the Government approved Ireland’s participation in two Permanent Structured Cooperation projects - (1) The Network of Logistic Hubs in Europe and Support to Operations project and (2) The Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection project; and in two European Defence Agency projects - (1) Defence Energy Managers Course II and (2) Cyber Defence Exercises. In line...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Over the last number of years members of the Defence Forces have benefitted from a range of pay increases associated with national pay agreements. In addition to these pay increases, members of the Defence Forces have further benefitted from specific recommendations arising from the Report of Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF), which was established by Government in December 2020. It...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 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 and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: As I have already stated publicly , since becoming Minister for Defence 18 months ago, I have been absolutely clear on the need for urgent transformation of the culture in the Defence Forces. I wish to reiterate in the strongest possible terms that the Defence Forces is not a place where someone convicted of serious physical assaults, sexual offences or domestic or gender-based violence can...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Policies (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Over the past four years, my Department has achieved much progress across a number of policy areas, framed by our commitments under the Programme for Government and the Department’s Statement of Strategy. Delivery of services to Irish citizens has remained central to our work. Following disruptions in the first year of the pandemic, the Passport Service began scaling up towards...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Passport Services (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this is a paper application which was received on 7th June 2024. The turnaround time for paper applications is 8 weeks. This application is within the turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Meetings (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I attended the most recent meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday 24 June. Discussions at the Council focused on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, the Western Balkans, Georgia and the Great Lakes Region. The Foreign Ministers of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia joined the FAC...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The role of the Consulate General in Hong Kong is to develop relations between Ireland and Hong Kong across a range of political, economic and people-to-people activities, to provide services to the Irish community, and to report on developments in Hong Kong. There are three diplomatic staff posted from the Department of Foreign Affairs and two locally engaged staff. The Consulate General...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Developing and maintaining foreign language proficiency is an essential part of an effective diplomatic and foreign service. The Department aims therefore to provide the supports and resources staff need to achieve an enhanced level of foreign language proficiency from online training, group classes, one to one classes to immersion courses. Staff preparing for posting to an Embassy or...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Military Neutrality (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland works closely with the other militarily neutral and non-aligned countries in Western Europe that are not members of NATO. In this context, in December 2023, Ireland joined Switzerland, Austria and Malta in submitting a non-paper and accompanying letter which addressed our engagement with the organisation. As I have already outlined, this non-paper and letter focused in particular...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Passport Services (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service initially requested further supporting documents from the applicant on 16th April 2024. However, the application remained incomplete. The final set of further supporting documents were received from the applicant on 24th June 2024. The turnaround time following receipt of additional documents is...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: United Nations (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: At its forthcoming 79th session in the autumn of 2024, the UN Sixth Committee (Legal Affairs) will further examine the International Law Commission’s Draft Articles on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity. The Sixth Committee will consider once again the ILC’s 2019 recommendation to elaborate an international convention on the basis of the Draft Articles, and is...