Results 381-400 of 20,001 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: heading (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The former Naval Service flagship vessel LÉ Eithne was decommissioned in 2022. In July 2022, the then Minister for Defence accepted the recommendation of the joint civil-military Working Group on Decommissioning that the decommissioning and disposal of three (3) Naval Service ships, namely LÉ Eithne P31, LÉ Orla P41, and LÉ Ciara P42, should be progressed as soon as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)/drones are deployed across several branches of the Defence Forces and are primarily used for reconnaissance and target spotting. These assets have no lethal offensive capabilities. Drones are also used by the Civil Defence in search, rescue and recovery of missing persons and have proven very capable in the field by enabling inaccessible areas to be searched...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: heading (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: In January 2022, the Government announced a COVID-19 Pandemic Recognition Payment (PRP) for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. At Government level, the Department of Health has primary policy responsibility for this initiative, with the consent of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, as it was then. The payment is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The conditions for entry to and service in the Permanent Defence Force are subject to review, having regard to the needs of the organisation, the development of best practices and the maximisation of potential avenues to increasing recruitment. Since the introduction of psychometric testing for general service recruits, the military authorities have revised the approach to such testing a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 39 together. As Minister, I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future. The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and its report was published on the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces, including the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: In December 2023, the Government approved the drafting of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023. It is intended that this Bill will provide for various amendments to be made to the Defence Acts 1954 to 2015, one of which will be to provide for the protection of the term “Óglaigh na hÉireann”. This proposed amendment reflects the central aim of the Private...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 50 together. The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government and the Government decision in December 2020 which also agreed its terms of reference and membership. The report was published on the 9th February 2022. The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The EU and its Member States, including Ireland, have significant strategic interests in identifying and addressing security challenges linked to the coastal defence, and Ireland takes part in a range of EU initiatives in this regard. In October 2023, the EU approved its revised EU maritime security strategy (EUMSS) and action plan, aimed at addressing security challenges at sea....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Civil Defence (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I would like to thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to provide an update in relation to this new initiative in the Civil Defence Sector. It would be remiss of me at the outset, not to acknowledge the importance of Civil Defence and the role of Volunteers serving their communities. The organisation has a proud history of voluntary service and indeed I was very honoured to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 52 together. As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced that Government had approved an increase in the mandatory retirement age in the Defence Forces to 60 years, and the maximum recruitment age for all personnel to 39 years. These changes will come into effect from 29 March 2024. The recruitment and retention challenges experienced by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The strategic objective for the RDF is the development of a Reserve Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis, with the Permanent Defence Force, both on-island and overseas. This is an underlying message in the Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces. The structure and strength of the RDF is a key focus of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used by the Department of Defence for the acquisition of defensive equipment for the Defence Forces. Central to those procurement procedures are EU law requirements that have to be complied with. This is to ensure fair competition, transparency and equal treatment between suppliers through the advertising of the tender...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 46 together. The development of a primary radar capability was one of the key recommendations made in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. Demonstrating the Government’s commitment to implementing this recommendation, one of the Early Actions identified in the subsequent High Level Action Plan published in response to the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Aircraft (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced in order to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out all of the roles assigned to it by Government. Enhancing the physical working environment and equipment for our Defence Personnel is key feature of the recently published Strategic Framework...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Legislative Programme (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The general scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023 was approved by Government in December 2023 and published in January of this year. This bill addresses the following issues: 1. To establish on a statutory basis an External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces in line with recommendations in the Report of the Independent Review Group – Defence Forces; 2. To resolve an...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland will be using its well-established partnership with the UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. As this involves supplies that are already pre-positioned in the region, there is no requirement at present for the use of an Irish military aircraft. A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the capabilities of the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The issue of awarding medals to the men of “A” Company, 35th Infantry Battalion has been addressed on a number of occasions over the years. A review conducted in 2004 by military officers, the purpose of which was a broad examination of the Jadotville case, concluded with a recommendation that the events of Jadotville and the contribution of the 35th Battalion be given...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced that Government had approved an increase in the mandatory retirement age in the Defence Forces to 60 years, and the maximum recruitment age for all personnel to 39 years. These changes will come into effect on 29 March 2024. The recruitment and retention challenges experienced by the Defence Forces are well documented and Government...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I wish to assure the Deputy of my commitment to the removal of the blanket exemption which currently applies to the Defence Forces in the Organisation of Working Time Act . Following extensive consultations involving the PDF Representative Associations and civilian-military management, I am pleased to say that an agreed policy position was submitted to me on 20 December last. This was in...